Key Takeaways
- Pamela Hayden’s retirement after 35 years as a key cast member raises questions about the future of The Simpsons.
- The show faces challenges as the original cast ages and potentially retires, impacting iconic characters and voice changes.
- In light of voice changes, declining viewership, and changing quality, it may be time to consider ending the long-running series.
Pamela Hayden recently retired as a voice actor on The Simpsons after an incredible 35-year stint as one of the show’s main stars. Considering the impact she had on the series, her retirement became a significant talking point, and it did bring the show’s future into question.
The Simpsons has been running consistently since 1989 and is currently in its 36th season. It’s a historic run that has certainly created some unforgettable television episodes, but a major change to the cast could be the sign needed to bring an end to life in Springfield.
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Who Did Pamela Hayden Voice?
Hayden brought her skills to The Simpsons for over three decades, which is an immense stint for any actor to have on a show. During that time, she was able to voice a plethora of characters, although her primary role has been as Bart Simpson’s loveable best friend, Milhouse Van Houten. The young boy might not be a member of The Simpsons family itself, but he’s one of the key characters in the show who is involved in countless iconic episodes and storylines.
Milhouse is a beloved character with an iconic voice in the show. He constantly misses out on the big moment and can be quite unlucky, but he’s still beloved. His friendship with Bart is one of the best relationships in the entire series, and the idea of Hayden no longer playing that role will take a lot of getting used to.
However, Milhouse isn’t the only character Hayden lent her voice to. Over the years, she’s voiced the likes of Jimbo Jones, Rod Flanders, Sarah Wiggum, Martin Prince, Janey Powell, and many other smaller roles. This proves her versatility as a voice actor, and finding someone capable of taking on as many roles as Hayden has been able to do will not be a simple task.
The Cast Are Getting Older
While The Simpsons might be able to adapt its animation style to ensure that it continues to stay up to date with modern trends and what people expect from a show in 2024, time doesn’t stand still for the cast. While their faces aren’t shown, which means they can be replaced, as has been the case with Hayden, their voices are so iconic that diehard fans will be able to spot the difference, no matter how talented the replacements are.
Even those who aren’t retiring see their voices change due to their aging. That’s been the case with Julie Kavner, who primarily plays Marge Simpson, among other characters, as her voice sounds different from it did many years ago. She’s no longer able to reach the high register that Marge is notorious for, but that can be jarring to audiences because the character on-screen isn’t aging like the actor is in reality.
However, that’s something that The Simpsons are going to have to deal with in the coming years as the original cast begins to wind down their availability for such a demanding role. More actors will look to make the decision that Hayden has done recently, and while The Simpsons showrunners will look to replace them to keep it going, that’s not always going to be possible, and those with a keen ear will always be listening out for any tweaks.
Now Is The Time To Say Goodbye To Springfield
The Simpsons has been around for so long that there are always questions surrounding when the series could be brought to an end. The series is still popular, but it doesn’t get talked about in the same manner it did during its peak, and when that change happens, it normally becomes inevitable that a show will end. Iconic characters such as Marge and Milhouse have slight voice changes, and the controversy surrounding why Apu is no longer part of the series all point toward how much the show has changed over the years.
The show doesn’t get the same viewership that it once did, and no matter how many great episodes still pop up, there is the question of the general quality and whether it’s worth continuing at this stage. Only so many stories can be told within the Springfield world, with the characters that exist before the series become repetitive or start to dip in quality because the plots are a stretch. Some argue that The Simpsons has already reached that point, and there only a finite amount of celebrity cameos or new characters that can be introduced to keep things fresh when the show is ultimately based around one small family.
As it stands, the show has been renewed until through 2025, which will pass the 800-episode mark, a tremendous achievement for any show. However, The Simpsons hasn’t been renewed for season 37 yet, and seeing iconic members of the cast like Hayden now deciding to step down, the signs could all be pointing to The Simpsons coming to an end in the near future, which could be a fitting time to wrap things up before it becomes too stale and people lose interest completely.
