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When Marcia Wallace unexpectedly passed away in 2013, the producers of “The Simpsons” were taken by surprise. It was decided that Wallace’s character, Bart’s teacher (and Ned Flanders’ second wife) Edna Krabappel, would also die. But executive producer Al Jean said he still bothered him that Wallace and Ms Krabappel didn’t get a proper shipment. Until now.
On Sunday’s episode of “The Simpsons,” titled “Diary Queen” (696th episode of the show), Bart discovers Ms. Krabappel’s diary and finds out how much she truly believed in him – and it inspires him. The episode features Wallace’s voice, taken from previous episodes.
According to executive producer Al Jean, he used two lines from Wallace, previously used in the series, to integrate him into the script. “The Simpsons” licensed use with Wallace’s estate, which was compensated for his appearance. Wallace is also credited with the guest appearance in the episode.
“Sadly, it was a very surprising death,” Jean said of Wallace’s death. “I had no idea she was so sick that very close to when it happened. So we never got a chance to say goodbye to him on the show, and it’s a small attempt to do so. And, you know, she was loved so much by everyone who worked on The Simpsons, that we just wanted to give her one last moment on the show in her memory. It’s just that, it’s nothing more, but we thought she was the best.
On “The Simpsons,” Ms. Krabappel’s death was mentioned, but Jean said it was decided that the character’s cause of death would not be revealed.
“I don’t think people these days necessarily want to know how a character died,” he said. “But we reveal a little more about [Mrs. Krabappel] and then a little more about her life and how the character felt when she passed away.
Wallace, who died at age 70, won an Emmy for Outstanding Voiceover Performance on “The Simpsons” in 1992. She was also well known for her role as receptionist Carol Kester on “The Bob Newhart Show” and was later a regular on game shows, as well as guest stars on shows such as “ALF”, “Full House”, “The Brady Bunch”, “Murphy Brown”, “Taxi” and “Murder, She Wrote”.
Wallace’s last episode “The Simpsons”, “The Man Who Grew Too Much”, aired in March 2014. Ms. Krabappel’s death made Flanders a widower for the second time, after the death of his first wife, Maude.
“When we made them a couple, for me it was an interesting move to attract opposites, which people often find confusing on TV, but it happens forever in real life,” Jean said. “People like Krabappel and Flanders really become couples. The intention was not to make Flanders such a tragic figure. However, since that is the case, I think it kind of unintentionally deepened his character – he’s someone who really tested his faith, who’s been a very good person and things very difficult for him. have arrived. So within the limits of fiction, we tried to explore that with his character on the show.
Reusing Wallace’s two lines on Sunday’s episode, Jean said he knew diehard fans would recognize them, but he believed they were appropriate for this storyline. And with that, “this will be his last appearance,” he says. “We just wanted to send the character correctly, in a way that I think isn’t trying to be exploitative.”
Meanwhile, as “The Simpsons” hits 700 episodes next month, Jean said he was also particularly excited for viewers to see the show’s February 28 episode, “Yokel Hero,” which features guest star Albert Brooks returns.
“It’s a long guest appearance, almost the entire third act,” Jean said. “And of course, [Brooks] It’s still hilarious and it was really funny recording it, both to hear what he’s talking about when it’s not the lines and then when it’s the lines, what he adds to it.
As to whether “The Simpsons” will dive deeper into the COVID-19 pandemic, Jean said the show may well stick to the reference she made on the episode “Treehouse of Horror” on the show. last fall. “Everyone has come to the same conclusion that you’ll want to watch these shows in five years,” he said. “And I have to think things will be a lot better by then. It is a very strange time, but it will not be forever.
Here is a teaser of the episode and the return of Wallace:
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