After it was recently revealed that a major character will be killed off on The Simpsons, the speculation mills have started churning out theories and lists of the candidates most likely to exit the show.

The show's executive producer, Al Jean, announced news of a character leaving the show during a conference call with reporters earlier in October.

"We're actually working on a script where a character will pass away," Jean said. "I'll give a clue that the actor playing the character won an Emmy for playing that character, but I won't say who it is."

Almost every member of the core ensemble has won an Emmy, including Dan Castellaneta (Homer, Barney, Krusty), Julie Kavner (Marge, Patty, Selma), Hank Azaria (Apu and practically everyone else on the show), Nancy Cartwright (Bart) and Yeardley Smith (Lisa).

In a later interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jean explained the team felt it was important to do this for the emotional core of the show and while the story was being produced, it might even feature on the show's next season.

"We are doing this story for the same reason we do all others -- we think it has a good emotional through line," Jean said. "The story will be produced this year though it may air in season 26."

The publication made a list of the characters most likely to be killed off the show, and even Homer Simpson is on it:

  • Anne Hathaway as Penelope (2010)
  • Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson (2009)
  • Kelsey Grammar as Sideshow Bob (2006)
  • Castellaneta as various characters including Grampa Simpson, Barney, Krusty, Groundskeeper Willie, Mayor Quimby, Sideshow Mel (2004)
  • Hank Azaria as various characters including Chief Wiggum, Moe, Cletus, Apu (2003)
  • Azaria as various characters including Comic Book Guy, Moe, Wiggum (2001)
  • Azaria as Apu (1998)
  • Castellaneta as Homer (1993)

The Week took more details into account and suggested that Hathaway's character was not a regular, so she could not qualify. It also ruled out the exit of the pivotal characters Homer, Marge, Bart, or Lisa. The publication narrowed it down to Sideshow Bob (voiced by Grammar) and Krusty the Clown's father, Rabbi Hyman Krustofski (voiced by Jackie Mason). However, with Sideshow Bob at the center of The Simpsons ride at Universal Studios, the magazine concluded that Krustofski would be the one to say goodbye.

The last time a character was killed off on the show it was Maude Flanders, who died after falling off a grandstand at the racetrack. She was wife of the Simpsons' next-door neighbor, Ned.

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