Posted on 04/23/2024 12:26:38 PM PDT by Morgana
Fans of The Simpsons were in for a shock this weekend when the long-running series killed off a supporting character.
The supporting figure made their debut on the show in December of 1989 — almost 35 years ago — in the series premiere episode, the Christmas-themed Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire.
In the latest episode — featuring the punny title Cremains Of The Day — viewers learned that Larry the Barfly had died.
Larry had been a member of the intoxicated ensemble frequenting Moe's Tavern, and he was voiced by Spinal Tap star Harry Shearer, who is known for bringing to life a bevy of characters, including Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns, his assistant Smithers, Principal Skinner and the Reverend Lovejoy, among many others.
The show, which came under fire from overly sensitive viewers last year over scenes in which Homer comically strangles his son Bart, often featured Larry alongside the much more prominent Barney Gumble, the comical drunk whose slurred delivery often steals scenes set in the bar.
Although Larry had been around for decades, he never took a prominent role in any episode, and almost nothing was known about the character's backstory.
That changed with Sunday's episode, as he was posthumously revealed to be named Lawrence Dalrymple.
In Cremains Of The Day, Homer and his other drinking buddies explored Larry's surprising history while realizing that they barely knew him.
Simpsons fans reacted on social media with a mixture of surprise and mock shock at the news of the minor character's death.
'Not Larry!' joked one fan who also posted a gif of Marge and the children looking looking stunned.
'Just learned they are killing off Larry on The Simpsons tomorrow. I need a minute,' joked another person.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
RIP Larry the Barfly
Who is stunned that a background character who I don’t know if they ever once had a speaking role got killed off?
I think he did utter a few words and belched a lot
The creators missed a HUGE opportunity — Larry the Barfly should have gone trans, gotten Rush’s chopadickoffame operation and grown some huge boobs.
In case you missed it on the funeral home sign.
“Morning Glory Funeral Home”
We’ll “wake” you up before you “go-go”
AT least he only died once. How many times was Kenny killed?
Wanna bet they will bring him back like they did JR Ewing?
Wait the Simpsons is still on?
Don’t remember “Larry”, as I have rarely viewed the ‘toon...but that was enough for me to regard it as a fairly accurate representation of the average American domestic situation...Stupid husband, more intelligent wife etc...
I laughed out loud when I saw that.
They “disappeared “ Abu years ago.
You bastards! You killed Kenny!
Oops, wrong animated cartoon series.
I think that same chart could be applied to Network TV in general.
I remember watching The Simpsons at 7pm on Sunday instead of Sixty Minutes. Especially if the NFL late afternoon game was on Fox.
Peak Simpsons had Conan Obrien writing with Phil Hartman. Once they started including modern events it went to crap.
The Simpsons Movie was great, but the show itself went downhill after the movie.
cirrhosis, right???
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