The Trouble With Harry or Not Excellent

For years I wondered what would happen if one of The Simpsons voices died, or couldn't continue.  It's finally happened--Harry Shearer has left the show.  Not sure why.  It's got to be one of the best gigs in town--do a little voice work (no costumes, no memorizing, etc.) and make millions.  Who'd quit that?

But he has (and it figures it'd be the prickly Shearer).  When Phil Hartman, who did recurring bits, died, the show retired his characters.  But it can't be done so easily with Shearer.

There are six main voice actors on the show (along with a few other regulars who fill in generally less important voices).  There's Julie Kavner, mostly Marge, but also her sisters Patty and Selma.  There's Yeardley Smith, who's Lisa.  There's Nancy Cartwright, who's mostly Bart, but also does Todd Flanders, Ralph Wiggums, Nelson Muntz, Kearney and a few others.  These three, as important as they are, would be a lot easier to replace than the other three, Dan Castellaneta, Hank Azaria and Shearer.  Combined, they probably do about 80% of the audience favorites.

Castellaneta, first and foremost, is Homer.  But he's also Krusty, Groundskeeper Willie, Grampa Simpson, Barney Gumble, Mayor Quimby, Sideshow Mel, and quite a few others. Azaria is Apu, Chief Wiggum, Professor Frink, Moe, Comic Book Guy, Duffman and a whole bunch of others as well.  And among the numerous Shearer voices are Ned Flanders, Monty Burns, Smithers, Otto, Kent Brockman, Reverend Lovejoy, Principal Skinner and Doctor Hibbert.

Yes, I know there are people who can duplicate these voices.  But I have to think someone with a good ear could tell the difference. I guess it's a good thing I stopped watching regularly a few years ago.