Summary
36 seasons in, it doesn’t appear that there’s still any plan forThe Simpsons' run to come to an end. However, from here one out, the massively popular animated series will have to find a way to move on without one of its longest running voice actors.
The Simpsonsjust kicked off its newest season at the end of September and while fans of the longest running show on television are always fearful of hearing the next season will be its last, that doesn’t appear to be in the works yet. Despite that incredibly long run, the Fox series has also benefitted from keeping the vast majority of its cast together. The familiarity of the voices and thecharacters inThe Simpsonsis in fact, likely one of the reasons it’s continued its popularity for nearly four decades. When a voice actor decides to leave the show, it’s quite eyebrow-raising.
Milhouse Is Leaving The Simpsons
It’s safe to say eyebrows were raised earlier this week when reports surfaced that Pamela Hayden, the beloved voice of Milhouse Van Houten is retiring immediately.The last time fans ofThe Simpsonswill get to hear Hayden’s character is in November 24’s “Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes.” Interestingly enough, this is much later in the season a “Treehouse of Horror” usually airs. It’s possiblethat the Simpsonsshowrunners decided they wanted to position the episode for the announcement so that fans could make sure tohear Hayden’s performance one more time.
While Hayden is best known for voicing Bart Simpon’s best friend she is also the actor behindschool bully Jimbo Jones. Like many of the actors onThe Simpsons, Hayden has also voiced secondary characters including Ned Flanders’ son Rod, Chief Wiggum’s wife and Ralph Wiggum’s mother Sarah and Lisa Simpson’s friend Janey Powell. Those worried about never seeing any of these characters again can rest easy as the show has every intention of casting a replacement.
Milhouse was not a member of The Simpsons cast of characters when the show first debuted. Hayden and her character joined the show after Bart’s buddy first appeared in - of all things - a Butterfinger commercial. Soon after, the showrunners realized that Bart needed someone to hang out with in the school cafeteria as well as get into various fits of mischief.
Milhouse was named after former president Richard Mlhous Nixon and has long been one of the The Simpsons' favorite punching bags.
Milhouse was named after former president Richard Mlhous Nixon and has long been one of theThe Simpsons' favorite punching bags. For most of Hayden’s run, he and his family have had one horrible mishap after another befall them to the point where it’s often looklike they’re cursed. It will be interesting to see just how quickly the show finds a new voice actor for Bart’s best friend and how long it takes before he makes another appearance.
