The Simpsons has killed off a longtime character that appeared on the popular show for 35 seasons.
In the most recent episode of the long-running cartoon, Springfield’s church organist Alice Glick dropped dead in the midst of a sermon.
As Reverend Timothy Lovejoy Jr. began addressing the church at the beginning of the season 37 episode titled Sashes to Sashes a massive note rang out from the organ with the reverend calling Alice out for being “a bit much”.
But when she didn’t respond, Reverend Lovejoy appeared concerned before it was revealed that Alice had died suddenly, falling onto the church organ.
She was later honoured in a memorial service held by Springfield Elementary School where it was revealed that she had left her entire estate to the school to fund a new music program.
The character made her debut on the show in the season two episode Three Men and a Comic Book.
Since then, she became a recurrring minor character in the show, often appearing at the hospital or at the Springfield Retirement Castle.
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In her first appearance on the show she was voice by Cloris Leachman but has been voiced by Tress MacNeille in every other appearance since then.
While her death appeared final this time, it’s not the first time audiences have been left to think she had died.
In season 22, Alice was attached by a rogue Robopet leaving fans wondering if she had died.
But she returned for several future episodes – at times alive and at times as a ghost.
It appears this time she is dead for good with executive producer Tim Long confirming her death in a statement to People.
“In a sense, Alice the organist will live forever, through the beautiful music she made. But in another, more important sense, yep she’s dead as a doornail.”
The popular cartoon has a habit of killing off characters in shocking ways.
Just last season, the show killed off the beloved Marge Simpson in a flash forward scene in the Season 36 episode titled Estranger Things.
The jaw-dropping revelation comes in a musical montage scene where Homer, Bart, Lisa and Maggie stand around their mother’s grave.
They are joined by other members of The Simpsons world, her tombstone reads: “Marge Simpson: Beloved wife, mother, pork-chop seasoner”.
A musical monologue in the background sings: “Marge passed before Homer if you can believe it”.
The episode ends with a Simpsons-esc Ringo Starr meeting Marge in the clouds.
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