Another Character Bids Farewell
Well, “The Simpsons” has done it again—yet another beloved character is gone. This time, it’s Alice Glick, the church organist, who passed away unexpectedly during a sermon in the recent episode titled “Sash to Sash.”
Alice Glick, who had been a fixture on the show for 35 years, was initially voiced by Cloris Leachman until her passing in 2021, after which Tress MacNeil took over the role. Many fans are not thrilled about this development.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Alice has faced peril. Back in Season 22, she was attacked by wild robopets and made several appearances afterward, both alive and as a ghost.
However, according to executive producer Tim Long, this time it is official: Alice is really gone. He noted, “In a way, Alice the organist will live on forever through the beautiful music she made. But in another, more important sense, yes, she’s as dead as a doornail.”
Fans took to social media to express their shock over Alice’s surprising exit. One user exclaimed, “Oh my god! Someone please update the Simpsons wiki about Alice Glick.” Another chimed in, “Rest in peace, Mr. Glick! I think this is the second time they have killed Mr. Glick.”
A few viewers even compared her demise to that of Larry “The Barfly” Dalrymple, who met his end in an episode titled “Cremains of the Day” the previous year.
“First it’s Larry, now it’s Alice Glick,” one observer tweeted. “The Simpsons are killing everyone…”
Co-executive producers Cesar Mazariegos and Jessica Conrad had previously discussed the decision to kill off Larry and addressed whether music teacher Dewey Largo would be next. Conrad stated, “If you really believe we’re going to kill him off-camera over something like this, you’re welcome to be outraged.”
“The Simpsons” faced criticism in June for the death of family matriarch Marge Simpson during a flash-forward scene in the Season 36 finale. Executive producer Matt Selman dismissed the backlash as “ridiculous.”
He further illustrated, “Obviously, all future episodes of The Simpsons are speculative fantasies, so they’re all different every time. Marge will probably never die again.” In essence, he suggested that the show’s universe thrives on unpredictability.
Selman also welcomed the backlash, arguing it shows the relevance of “The Simpsons” and its characters after more than 35 years on air. “I think this speaks to the fact that people care about Marge,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s probably good for business even if these ridiculous and misleading stories get spread.”
Having debuted on Fox in 1989, “The Simpsons” remains the longest-running animated show on television. In April, it was renewed for an additional four seasons.
