Okily Dokily! ‘Simpsons’ Wundervoice Harry Shearer Inks New Deal

In May, Harry Shearer announced that he was moving on from The Simpsons after more than a quarter century with perhaps the most iconic series in American television history. It was a bummer since Shearer, an original cast member, was the voice behind so many of the show’s most memorable characters, including Mr. Burns, Reverend Lovejoy, and Dr. Hibbert. At the time, Shearer expressed that he wanted “the freedom to do other work.” But yesterday, EW reported that Shearer had revered course:

Shearer has signed the same contract as did the other five primary voice actors—Dan Castellaneta, Yeardley Smith, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, and Hank Azaria—keeping the show’s original cast fully intact, EW has learned. These deals, which run for four seasons (including a network option for seasons 29 and 30), are estimated at more than $300,000 per episode. Fox recently renewed The Simpsons for a 27th and 28th season, which will bring its episode tally to 625.

Here are a few clips of Shearer’s wonderful work, which will be back in action—and in new form—shortly:

…as Ranier Wolfcastle (“Master your ass”):

…as Principal Seymour Skinner (“That’s your third helping young man—it’s making you fat and soft and tender”):

…as Ned Flanders (“…Harry Potter went straight to hell for…”):

…as Dr. Hibbert (“Oh man, is this gonna hurt…”):

…as Otto Man (in which he hums Black Sabbath):

…as Montgomery Burns (“Oohhhh, I need some more ether…”)”

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