Mr. Burns Silenced as Harry Shearer Apparently Leaves “The Simpsons”

FOX(NEW YORK) — Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner and other residents of Springfield may soon be silenced, as the guy who voices them, Harry Shearer, has apparently parted ways with The Simpsons for the just-announced seasons 27 and 28.  The show is currently in season 26.

On Wednesday evening, Shearer, a former castmember of Saturday Night Live and star of movies like This Is Spinal Tap and Godzilla, tweeted about The Simpsons executive producer, saying, “- from James L.  Brooks’ lawyer: “show will go on,  Harry will not be part of it, wish him the best.”

Shearer followed that with, “This because I wanted what we’ve always had: the freedom to do other work. Of course, I wish him the very best.”

Shearer has had a prickly relationship with the long-running show for a long time; back in 2004 — 11 years ago, mind you — he dissed the series to the Irish Examiner as having creatively run out of gas. Despite the cast’s salary at the time being a reported quarter million bucks a year for what amounts to just short stints in a studio, Shearer was quoted as saying, “It’s possible to make a very nice living and still get totally screwed.”

Al Jean, the Fox series’ showrunner didn’t hold back, calling Shearer a “malcontent” to the New York Post at the time, adding, “For someone earning millions off the show this year…I just think it’s unfathomable for him to take a shot at us.”

In 2008, the cast held out for more money — $500,000 per episode, allegedly — but settled for $400,000 per show, according to reports. In 2012, the cast renegotiated a pay cut, but one not as severe as the network was seeking.

Last week, Fox put out a press release announcing the renewal through 2017, but did not include the names of any of its voice cast — prompting Shearer to tweet sarcastically, “Doesn’t this show have a cast?”

TMZ says Shearer had issues with merchandising money the show rakes in and other aspects of his current contract. However, this time, he was the lone salary holdout; Dan Castellaneta (Homer, others), Julie Kavner (Marge), Nancy Cartwright (Bart, others), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), and Hank Azaria, (Moe, Apu, others) have already re-signed and are already working on season 27.


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