# The Simpsons is killing off a character - who will/should it be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 1, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128 "2013-10-01T20:01:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/61 "2013-10-03T12:05:51Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > How many ‘Homer and Marge are fighting’ or ‘Homer doesn’t get Lisa’ or ‘Bart does something and feels guilty’ stories have they had? Plenty, but they don’t stand up at press releases or interviews beforehand and announce that at some point in the season “Homer and Marge are going to have a fight” in an attempt to pique viewers interest and get them watching. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/62 "2013-10-03T14:42:53Z")
when other shows do a gimmick the script pages are on colored pages. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/63 "2013-10-03T15:40:40Z")
Many people who still watch the Simpsons have developed a reflex response to any “it’s gone downhill” comments - I think that’s Marley’s thing here. Anyone can see that announcing an upcoming character death is a stunt unlike guest appearances. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/64 "2013-10-04T02:28:57Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > And they did a third when Maude died and it really didn’t go so well. > > The fact that this episode is heading down that path again isn’t a good sign. And a fourth when they killed Fat Tony. Though they sort of did that one before when they killed Snowball II (replaced by an identical double who then even winds up with the original’s name). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/65 "2013-10-04T02:30:58Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Anyone can see that announcing an upcoming character death is a stunt unlike guest appearances. I didn’t deny it’s a stunt. I said it’s irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/66 "2013-10-04T02:44:20Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > And a fourth when they killed Fat Tony. Though they sort of did that one before when they killed Snowball II (replaced by an identical double who then even winds up with the original’s name). That was a little different because the story and marketing weren’t based on Fat Tony dying. They were about Homer joining the mob. Fat Tony dies at the end of the second act, I think. This sounds more like the Maude episode, and that was pointless and a shame. They decided to kill the characters because the actress who played her asked for a small raise and the people in charge said no, for whatever reason. Of course a year or two later they gave her that raise, only now her main character was dead. In this case I’m assuming they have an actual story in mind and not just expediency to get rid of a character to save a few pennies. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/67 "2013-10-04T02:56:23Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Many people who still watch the Simpsons have developed a reflex response to any “it’s gone downhill” comments Yeah, I don’t get it. I don’t want to be the old fogey who says “in the good ol’ days,” but the Simpsons has been unremarkable for about the last 15 years. Once upon a blue moon I find an episode that makes me chuckle, but it’s not the same. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/68 "2013-10-04T03:13:35Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, I don’t get it. I don’t want to be the old fogey who says “in the good ol’ days,” but the Simpsons has been unremarkable for about the last 15 years. Once upon a blue moon I find an episode that makes me chuckle, but it’s not the same. I was about to raise an objection to that, but I really can’t. Season 10 was the last good season and Season 11 had the last great episodes. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/69 "2013-10-04T03:55:40Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I was about to raise an objection to that, but I really can’t. Season 10 was the last good season and Season 11 had the last great episodes. I had to look up the dates for that, but that sounds about right to me. 1999-2000 is about the last Simpsons season I enjoyed. It was getting a bit odd in the late '90s (I seem to recall the season with Homer eating the chili pepper having his hallucinations as being when it started transitioning into less-than-greatness). I watched on and off for a few seasons beyond that, but it hasn’t been “must watch” TV since about then. Too bad, as during its heyday, it was far and away my favorite TV program. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/70 "2013-10-04T19:58:25Z")
I’m predict Comic Book Guy, just to be different. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/71 "2013-10-04T21:18:46Z")
Worst. Prediction. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![67java89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/aeb1de/32.png) [@67java89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/67java89)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/72 "2013-10-05T19:52:21Z")
I think it’s going to be Krusty the Clown or Barney. Either would make for a funny funeral. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/73 "2013-10-05T23:24:38Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > That was a little different because the story and marketing weren’t based on Fat Tony dying. I was just saying, it was another way they killed off a character is all. ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/74 "2013-10-06T01:59:25Z")
This was my favorite show for years and years. I gave up several years ago, only checking out Treehouse of Horror annually. Plus the movie. I loved the movie. I’m hoping whoever dies doesn’t mess up The Simpsons Tapped Out game, which I am hopelessly addicted to. So with my viewing being limited, I’m going to go with Patti or Selma. Why? Why not? ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/75 "2013-10-06T10:00:52Z")
You guys need to think bigger. What’s the biggest character on The Simpsons? Why, the town of Springfield itself! Obviously, “actor” is meant in the metaphorical sense. The ones who bring life to a locale in an animated show would be the animators of course, and since the show has won Emmy awards in animation for episodes featuring Springfield, it fits perfectly! You heard it here first, they’re killing the town of Springfield this season. Or maybe they’ll just play it safe and kill Rabbi Krustofski. The cowards. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/76 "2013-10-06T10:31:52Z")
I hope it’s Gil. Given how long it has been since I last saw a new episode of the Simpsons, I don’t know if that wish might reveal that it has been a **long** time since I saw The Simpsons. Anyway, I’m sure the character never earned anyone an award. Gil sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/77 "2013-10-06T11:19:56Z")
> [@Eliahna](#): > > I hope it’s Gil. > > Given how long it has been since I last saw a new episode of the Simpsons, I don’t know if that wish might reveal that it has been a **long** time since I saw The Simpsons. Anyway, I’m sure the character never earned anyone an award. > > Gil sucks. Oh come on now, Gil is Charlie Brown grown up. You can’t kill Charlie Brown! You might as well snuff out a puppy. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/78 "2013-10-06T13:04:25Z")
> [@Garula](#): > > You guys need to think bigger. What’s the biggest character on The Simpsons? Why, the town of Springfield itself! > > Obviously, “actor” is meant in the metaphorical sense. The ones who bring life to a locale in an animated show would be the animators of course, and since the show has won Emmy awards in animation for episodes featuring Springfield, it fits perfectly! You heard it here first, they’re killing the town of Springfield this season. _The Simpsons_ already did [it](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trash_of_the_Titans). (Not counting _THoH_s.) ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/79 "2013-10-06T13:23:11Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Oh come on now, Gil is Charlie Brown grown up. You can’t kill Charlie Brown! You might as well snuff out a puppy. No, “Charlie Brown grown up” was Harvey Pekar. And he’s already dead. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128/80 "2013-10-06T22:38:33Z")
[QUOTE=Shakes] Oh come on now, Gil is Charlie Brown grown up. You can’t kill Charlie Brown! You might as well snuff out a puppy. [/QUOTE] > [@Flywheel](#): > > No, “Charlie Brown grown up” was Harvey Pekar. And he’s already dead. And Gil is based on Jack Lemmon’s Shelley Levine from **Glengarry Glen Ross** with a little bit of Willy Loman thrown in. Anyway, has anybody thought it could be the dog, Santa’s Little Helper? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simpsons-is-killing-off-a-character-who-will-should-it-be/670128.md?page=5)