Spoiler alert: This article contains details about the “Cremains of the Day” episode of The Simpsons.
The Simpsons Fans were shocked when an original character was killed off in the series’ April 21 episode, “Cremains of the Day” — something that has only been done eight other times in the series’ 34-year history.
The episode, which was the 15th installment of the 35th season, saw the death of longtime Moe’s Tavern customer Lawrence Dalrymple – also known as Larry “The Barfly.” Although the character didn’t play a major role in the series, his death still resonated with audiences.
According to Tim Long, co-executive producer of The Simpsonsno matter how small Larry’s role was, because the characters in The Simpsons don’t die often — “so it’s a big problem when that happens,” he said TMZ.
In fact, Larry is only the ninth recurring character killed during The Simpsons‘ over three decades — likely to maintain the show’s comedic heart, according to Mike Amato, who maintains a blog about The Simpsons.
“Recurring character deaths don’t happen often in this series,” Amato told Yahoo Entertainment.
“Even though this series has told very emotional and moving episodes about death since the first few seasons, I understand how [the writers] we’re not looking forward to writing a story about characters grieving the loss of someone on a funny comedy show ‘haha’,” he added.
For Amato (who has been blogging his journey of rewatching the series, episode by episode, since 2011) The Simpsons is a sweeping social satire that never shies away from difficult topics – but those emotionally tense moments need to be balanced by humor.
“The show was always at its best when it managed to balance the more honest and serious emotional elements with humor,” Amato said. “Some of the crowning moments of this series are when I find myself laughing and crying at the same time.”
Who was Larry ‘The Barfly’?
While Larry may not be as famous as other supporting characters from the long-running show — such as Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns or Krusty the Clown — he has appeared in nearly every season since the show’s 1989 debut episode, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open fire.”
Since then, Larry has frequently been portrayed in scenes set at Moe’s Tavern drinking alongside friends Homer, Lenny, Carl, Barney, and Sam (another enigmatic barfly seen throughout the series).
However, if viewers missed Larry, they’re not alone. In “Cremains of the Day”, after attending Larry’s funeral, Homer and the staff at Moe’s Tavern reflect on how little they knew about their longtime drinking companion – despite Larry considering them his best friends and referring to to the group as “Moe’s Bros.”
Although the cause of Larry’s death is unknown – after Moe kicks everyone out, Larry lies motionless at the end of the bar until his friends finally realize he has passed away – it’s a significant change.
Larry joins a very short list of characters in The Simpsons who were killed: “Bleeding Gums” Murphy (1995), Frank Grimes (1997), Maude Flanders (2000), Amber Simpson (2006), Clancy Bouvier (2006), Mona Simpson (2008), Fat Tony (2010) and Edna Krabappel (2013).
The fans are eating a cow, man
As the longest-running American animated, sitcom, and scripted television series, The Simpsons has accumulated millions of fans around the world, many of whom have watched the show their entire lives.
While Homer and the gang at Moe’s Tavern may not have paid much attention to Larry, the superfans did — and are feeling his loss deeply.
DID THE SIMPSONS KILL LARRY? RIP FOR A REAL
– dama margera (@damienfarronMMA) April 25, 2024
According to Long, the creative team wanted Larry’s death to have an emotional impact on fans.
“I’m sorry if some fans are upset, but we really wanted to use Larry’s death as a way to show that even the most peripheral people in our lives have dignity and worth, and that we really shouldn’t take anyone for granted,” he reported. Variety.
Al Jean, showrunner and executive producer of The SimpsonsI didn’t want to comment.
“Cremains of the Day” is now streaming on Disney+.
