# Harry Shearer Leaves The Simpsons **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 14, 2015, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017 "2015-05-14T11:09:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/21 "2015-05-14T14:18:13Z")
Shearer was on the WTF podcast a month or so ago and talked about the Simpsons briefly. Throughout the interview we was pleasant but also seemed rather grouchy (he couldn’t even muster a compliment for his long time comedy buddy Michael McKean). He was very pragmatic about his contributions to the Simpsons and understood both sides – clearly he is (was) being paid an incredible amount of money for work that is relatively easy and something just about anyone else in the world would kill to do. On the other hand, part of the Simpsons’ success is clearly because of him and the work of the other voice actors and Fox is making Burns Money Vault levels of cash due to their efforts. He understood that he is both overpaid and underpaid for the enterprise. The Simpsons could survive without him. It would definitely change the dynamics of the show, but it can chug along anyways. They could even be meta about it and put all of his characters on a bus or change their voices or have him come back to guest once or twice. And yeah, it’s gone on too long and it’s not good and Homer is a jerkass now and it should be put out to pasture yadda yadda yadda. I agree that the show is far removed form its heyday and has lost much of what made it great in its best years. It’s still better than many of the other sitcoms that are out there now. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/22 "2015-05-14T14:22:19Z")
[Confirmed that he is gone and that his characters will be recast.](http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/with-harry-shearer-gone-heres-what-the-simpsons-will-do-with-mr-burns-flanders-more#mKto0zxzXu2ET16S.99) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/23 "2015-05-14T14:25:22Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > No I wasn’t referring just to you since the thread in general had a knee-jerk reaction to “it’s about the money!”. > > Although to address your post, I still don’t think it’s about the money but that he’s probably just bored. He’s one of the best at what he does at what he does, but you can only do the same thing over and over and over again before you go crazy. It’s why Jordan played baseball, The Rock started acting, every rockstar tries to play sports and every athlete tries to be a rockstar. > > He’s been “excellent”-ing and only “excellent”-ing for damn near 30 years, he wants to say another catchphrase for once in his life I imagine that’s not it; just how much effort is being a voice actor for the Simpsons? He’s also steadily acted as a character actor during the show’s run, and dabbled at directing as well. If he’s getting bored, I’d think it’s more like bored with working, and he might be looking to retire; he is 71 after all. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/24 "2015-05-14T14:28:08Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Shearer was on the WTF podcast a month or so ago and talked about the Simpsons briefly. Throughout the interview we was pleasant but also seemed rather grouchy (he couldn’t even muster a compliment for his long time comedy buddy Michael McKean). He was very pragmatic about his contributions to the Simpsons and understood both sides – clearly he is (was) being paid an incredible amount of money for work that is relatively easy and something just about anyone else in the world would kill to do. On the other hand, part of the Simpsons’ success is clearly because of him and the work of the other voice actors and Fox is making Burns Money Vault levels of cash due to their efforts. He understood that he is both overpaid and underpaid for the enterprise. > > The Simpsons could survive without him. It would definitely change the dynamics of the show, but it can chug along anyways. They could even be meta about it and put all of his characters on a bus or change their voices or have him come back to guest once or twice. > > And yeah, it’s gone on too long and it’s not good and Homer is a jerkass now and it should be put out to pasture yadda yadda yadda. I agree that the show is far removed form its heyday and has lost much of what made it great in its best years. It’s still better than many of the other sitcoms that are out there now. I came on to mention that episode of WTF but I was going to be less diplomatic. Maron basically said that Shearer has a reputation for being a dick and difficult to work with. Shearer said nothing to refute that notion even though it was an entertaining interview. I was unaware of a lot of his early career as a child actor and beyond. It is his life and career and he can do what he wants with it. Who am I to judge? But I can’t help but think that he is now fabulously wealthy because his fellow castmates stood as a united front with him to get paid what they are worth. Leaving them now seems like a dick move. Or maybe they are rich enough that they don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/25 "2015-05-14T14:33:59Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I imagine that’s not it; just how much effort is being a voice actor for the Simpsons? He’s also steadily acted as a character actor during the show’s run, and dabbled at directing as well. > > If he’s getting bored, I’d think it’s more like bored with working, and he might be looking to retire; he is 71 after all. He does not sound ready to retire. He recently did his Nixon thing that I was completely uninterested in. He certainly doesn’t sound 71 or ready to slow down. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/26 "2015-05-14T14:43:42Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > [Confirmed that he is gone and that his characters will be recast.](http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/with-harry-shearer-gone-heres-what-the-simpsons-will-do-with-mr-burns-flanders-more#mKto0zxzXu2ET16S.99) Will we be able to tell the dee-diddly-ifference? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/27 "2015-05-14T16:20:35Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Did anyone actually read the article? > > It says that he’s not leaving because of money, but because he’s (apparently) not allowed to do other voice work and he wants to do more than just Simpsons > > I can’t (really) fault him for that Wait a second. Look at[Nancy Cartwright’s credits](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004813/?ref_=nv_sr_1) on IMDB. She’s been doing a number of non-Simpson roles all along. Why would her contract allow it, but not Shearer? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/28 "2015-05-14T16:36:49Z")
Because she’s Bart Simpson and who the hell are you? ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/29 "2015-05-14T17:08:38Z")
He’s also supposed to be a pain to work with so maybe they didn’t really want to fight too hard over it. (Its all friend of friend stories I’ve heard from people I know in the sound business) Did anyone used to listen to his radio show on public radio in LA - Le Show? It was the worst thing I had ever heard on broadcast it was like bad college radio. I wasn’t surprised when it was cancelled unceremoniously. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/30 "2015-05-14T17:38:27Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Wait a second. Look at[Nancy Cartwright’s credits](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004813/?ref_=nv_sr_1) on IMDB. She’s been doing a number of non-Simpson roles all along. Why would her contract allow it, but not Shearer? Could be that the latest contract says “guest spots ok but no long-term projects.” Cartwright hasn’t started a regular non-Simpsons gig since 2007 and their “big” contract was signed in 2008 for the 20th season. Her gigs did go through 2010 but no doubt the contract can say “no new regular gigs but you can finish your existing contracts.” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/31 "2015-05-14T17:41:22Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Will we be able to tell the dee-diddly-ifference? Well, Shearer wasn’t the original voice of Burns. He was played by Christopher Collins early in the show’s first season. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/32 "2015-05-14T17:45:46Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Wait a second. Look at[Nancy Cartwright’s credits](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004813/?ref_=nv_sr_1) on IMDB. She’s been doing a number of non-Simpson roles all along. Why would her contract allow it, but not Shearer? I thought of this over lunch actually > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Could be that the latest contract says “guest spots ok but no long-term projects.” Cartwright hasn’t started a regular non-Simpsons gig since 2007 and their “big” contract was signed in 2008 for the 20th season. Her gigs did go through 2010 but no doubt the contract can say “no new regular gigs but you can finish your existing contracts.” This was basically what my reasoning was as well. Maybe the newest contract they signed said basically “Only work for us now” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/33 "2015-05-14T18:13:17Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Wow. Okally-Dokally then. > > End of an era. Other than Phil Hartman’s tragic death, has there been any other major voice actors to leave the show? Didn’t Homer originally have a different voice actor? ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/34 "2015-05-14T18:20:00Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Didn’t Homer originally have a different voice actor? Nope, it was always Dan Castellaneta though he started out with a Walter Matahau-esque voice that’s changed over the years into what you hear now. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/35 "2015-05-14T18:21:15Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Didn’t Homer originally have a different voice actor? No, Dan C did Homer’s voice as Walter Matthau until he found his voice, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/36 "2015-05-14T18:35:08Z")
> [@TaoPilot](#): > > I agree with you, they’ll find a way to keep him. If any of them were going to leave on principle, they’d have done it at least 15 years ago. The situation changed this year. In addition to doing voice work on _The Simpsons_, Shearer does a radio show called _Le Show_. Because of this other job, Gracie Films (the Simpsons studio) had more difficulty scheduling Shearer’s voice work than they had with the other performers. There was a clause in the new contract saying that the performers couldn’t work other jobs without Gracie’s permission. The other performers signed it but Shearer apparently did not want to be in a position where Gracie could order him to quit his radio job. So he decided to not renew his contract with Gracie. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/37 "2015-05-14T18:38:08Z")
Shearer has a history of bad endings to long relationships. KCRW booted his radio show after decades. Apparently he’s no longer on speaking terms with flow Spinal Tappers Christopher Guest and Michael McKean. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/38 "2015-05-14T19:40:35Z")
Some good info here from show runner Al Jean. Shearer never even had to leave the house to do table reads or recording. > **['Simpsons' showrunner on Harry Shearer's exit: 'We're still hoping he might...](https://ew.com/article/2015/05/14/simpsons-harry-shearer-exit-al-jean/?hootPostID=275ef3eb3b20906a71a8f84b5c409004)** > > 'Simpsons' showrunner on Harry Shearer's exit: 'We're still hoping he might come back' ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/39 "2015-05-14T20:04:42Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The situation changed this year. > > In addition to doing voice work on _The Simpsons_, Shearer does a radio show called _Le Show_. Because of this other job, Gracie Films (the Simpsons studio) had more difficulty scheduling Shearer’s voice work than they had with the other performers. > > There was a clause in the new contract saying that the performers couldn’t work other jobs without Gracie’s permission. The other performers signed it but Shearer apparently did not want to be in a position where Gracie could order him to quit his radio job. So he decided to not renew his contract with Gracie. It sounds like they were bending over backwards for him. They were willing to let him record anywhere in the world and just send it to them on his schedule. > [@Acsenray](#): > > Shearer has a history of bad endings to long relationships. KCRW booted his radio show after decades. Apparently he’s no longer on speaking terms with flow Spinal Tappers Christopher Guest and Michael McKean. Also Albert Brooks. And Lorne Michaels. And I forgot how many others. I was disappointed when I found out how big a prick he is. Still love his work. But he is totally unrepentant about it. He is an interesting character. I just wouldn’t want to work with him. [Here is the WTF episode.](http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_578_-_harry_shearer) It is worth a listen. He’s had a very interesting career. Note: it does focus a lot more on SNL than the Simpsons because of Maron’s unhealthy Lorne Michaels obsession. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017/40 "2015-05-14T20:07:36Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > Some good info here from show runner Al Jean. Shearer never even had to leave the house to do table reads or recording. > > [http://www.ew.com/article/2015/05/14/simpsons-harry-shearer-exit-al-jean?hootPostID=275ef3eb3b20906a71a8f84b5c409004](http://www.ew.com/article/2015/05/14/simpsons-harry-shearer-exit-al-jean?hootPostID=275ef3eb3b20906a71a8f84b5c409004) > [@](#): > > Would you describe yourself as hopeful then that this could be resolved? > > I have no idea. I didn’t know he was going to tweet last night. That was very surprising. And the tweets were confusing because he had an offer. It wasn’t like we didn’t offer him a substantial thing. No. 2, he mentioned that he wanted to do outside projects. Everybody on the show does lots of outside projects. He actually gets to record on the phone and do the [table] reads on the phone. So we’ve never kept him from doing that stuff. So that’s one confusion I had. For the last several years, he’s done reads on the phone. He doesn’t always participate. We’ve excused him for several and he records, as long as it’s done in time, when it’s convenient for him. So it’s not a scheduling thing. And he says it’s not a money thing. So I’m not sure what he’s thinking. For most of the last few years he has been in London. The show isn’t keeping him from that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-shearer-leaves-the-simpsons/720017.md?page=3)