What happened to Phil Hartman's Simpsons characters after his death?

DeadlyAccurate · July 13, 2005, 12:23pm

I’ve only seen The Simpsons on DVD, so I’ve only seen the first five years. What happened to Hartman’s characters after his death? Did they disappear from the show?

Mr.Blue_Sky · July 13, 2005, 12:32pm

They just don’t show up anymore.

What_Exit · July 13, 2005, 1:03pm

Simpsons retired Phil’s characters (Lionel Hutz/Troy McClure).
They also retired LunchLady Doris the Lunch Lady/School Nurse when Doris Grau passed away.

Hey_It_s_That_Guy · July 13, 2005, 1:05pm

Gil (the character based on Jack Lemmon’s pathetic salesman from Glengarry Glen Ross) now fills the role of “incompetent lawyer” that Lionel Hutz once played.

middleman · July 13, 2005, 1:31pm

I like the Gil character. But when he played the lawyer, it felt so hollow.

NicePete · July 13, 2005, 5:43pm

They sleep with the fishes.

KGS · July 13, 2005, 5:57pm

They retired Lionel Hutz, Troy McClure & Lunch Lady Doris; however, they do show up in the background from time to time. They just don’t speak anymore.