'The Simpsons' reveals 'forever' retirement of character after 30 years
'The Simpsons' reveals 'forever' retirement of character after 30 years
KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY Wed, January 7, 2026 at 2:31 AM UTC
0
Oh yeah — "The Simpsons" is seemingly saying goodbye to another character after almost 30 years.
In the Jan. 4 "Severance" parody episode "Seperance," Barry Duffman revealed that his Duff Beer mascot, Duffman, and his "oh yeah" catchphrase were being sent out to pasture.
"I have two words to say to you: Oh yeah!," Duffman told Homer, Marge, Lisa and Bart after entering their home and ripping off his disguise. As the family exclaimed "Duffman!" the character revealed, "Not anymore, actually."
"The Duff Corporation has retired that character forever," Barry said, wearing a dress shirt, blue tie and slacks reminiscent of Mr. Milchick from "Severance." As it turns out, he now works for the EOD (Enthusiasm on Demand), "The Simpsons'" version of "Severance's" Lumon Industries.
Duff Beer spokesman Duffman was seemingly retired after nearly 30 years in the Jan. 4, 2026, "Simpsons" episode “Seperance."
He continued, "All the old forms of advertising are now passé. Corporate spokesmen, print ads, TV spots. Today's kids, they can't even sing the jingles."
'She's dead as a doornail': 'The Simpsons' killed off a character introduced in 1991
At the end of the episode, Barry shows up in front of Bart and Lisa donning a robe and looking an awful lot like Petey (who underwent reintegration in "Severance"), revealing he'd undergone "de-seperance."
"I'm feeling great!" he said with Duffman's signature hip-thrust.
USA TODAY has reached out to the show's representatives for more information.
Hank Azaria would 'dread' voicing Duffman: 'It actually does hurt'
The Hank Azaria-voiced character first appeared on "The Simpsons" in 1997, in the Season 9 first episode, "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson." Though the spokesman is played by different actors in the "Simpsons" canon, he always shows up in his Superman-like red cape and blue body suit, red "Duff"-emblazoned cap and beer can belt.
Advertisement
1 / 0The 20 best TV shows of 2025
Looking for something good to watch? Amid the deluge of television in 2025, here are the very best, starting with number 20: "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" (Paramount+)
The voice actor – who also voices several other characters, including Moe and Chief Wiggum – has previously spoken out about having difficulties with Duffman's lines.
"Duffman will blow me out in a second. I have to save Duffman for the end," Azaria told Conan O'Brien in 2020. "I actually dread it. It's like, 'Oh no, I've got Duffman to do today.' It actually does hurt. I'm not complaining; this is a very good job."
Azaria, who admitted "my voice blows out rather easily," then revealed that "I got my vocal cords insured."
USA TODAY has reached out to Azaria's representatives for comment.
At long last: 'The Simpsons' returning to the big screen after nearly 20 years
Which characters has 'The Simpsons' killed off?
In the Nov. 16 episode "Sashes to Sashes," which aired on Nov. 16, organist Alice Glick suddenly collapses while Rev. Lovejoy is giving a sermon. Everyone in the church gasps, and Mrs. Glick is shown lying dead on the organ. Mrs. Glick, who was previously killed by a robotic baby seal in 2011, was introduced all the way back in Season 2, in the 1991 episode "Three Men and a Comic Book."
1 / 0See Teyana Taylor, Ariana Grande in the best celebrity photos of January
New year, new star sightings. With the Oscar nominations in sight, celebrities are kicking off 2026 on the awards circuit, stepping out at events like the Palm Springs International Film Awards and Critics Choice Awards.Scroll through for the best celebrity photos of January so far, starting with Teyana Taylor at the Palm Springs Film Awards on Jan. 3, 2026, in California.
Cloris Leachman originally voiced the role, though Tress MacNeille later took it over.
Despite having a loose sense of canon and existing in a world where its characters largely don't change or age, "The Simpsons" has occasionally killed off established characters during its run. Ned Flanders' wife, Maude, famously died in a 2000 episode, and a memorable 1995 episode emotionally killed off Lisa Simpson's mentor, saxophone player Bleeding Gums Murphy.
"The Simpsons" returned for its 37th season in September, and the long-running series has already been renewed through Season 40. A second "Simpsons" feature film is also in the works and scheduled for release in July 2027.
Contributing: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Simpsons' retires Duffman after 30 years
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
