The Simpsons turned Milhouse into one of the most important side characters, and his impact on the show cannot be understated.
Per EW, the show has recast the actor voicing Milhouse in the show, with singer Kelly Macleod set to make her debut as the character in Sunday's season 36 finale episode, "Estranger Things." The move comes following Hayden's decision to retire. Macleod is best known for her stint in the roack band Private Life, and actually appeared on The Simpsons in the season 33 episode, "Bart the Cool Kid," where she performed a song.
What This Means For The Simpsons
It's The End Of An Era For A Show That Has Constantly Evolved Over Time
A show that has run as long as The Simpsons has is no stranger to change, and Hayden's retirement signals the end of a voice actress who has been a part of the show since its beginnings. Whilst she will be a big miss for The Simpsons, its uncanny ability to evolve and subtly reinvent itself through the years will help with Macleod's approach to the character. The transition will be a gradual one, with Macleod's debut set to be a stripped-back role in a finale episode that sees Milhouse only given one line.
The Simpsons season 36 finale airs on Fox on Sunday, May 18.
The singer's true tenure as Milhouse will begin with The Simpsons season 37, as she looks to put her own mark on the iconic role. The show is no stranger to recasting roles, with characters such as Carl Carlson recast over the course of the show's run. Hayden's voice work was iconic in itself, and it will be interesting to see whether Macleod will try to mimic her voice, or to go in a completely different direction with how she chooses to voice the character. Her familiarity with the show should help to make the transition a smoother one.
Our Take On Milhouse's Recasting
It's A Good Opportunity For The Show To Try Something New As It Nears A Potential End
Earlier in the month, Fox announced that it had renewed The Simpsons for four more seasons, taking the show to a total of 40 seasons. This feels like it would be a good end point for the show, which leaves four more seasons for Macleod to explore the role of Milhouse, and for the show to try something a little different. Whilst The Simpsons recast Mr. Burns and Ned Flanders early in its run, Milhouse is one of the most iconic recent characters to have been recast, and this will help to usher in a new era for The Simpsons.
Source: EW
The Simpsons is a long-running animated TV series created by Matt Groening that satirically follows a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield. Homer, a bit of a schmoe who works at a nuclear power plant, is the provider for his family, while his wife, Marge, tries to keep sanity and reason in the house to the best of her ability. Bart is a born troublemaker, and Lisa is his super-intelligent sister who finds herself surrounded by people who can't understand her. Finally, Maggie is the mysterious baby who acts as a deus ex machina when the series calls for it. The show puts the family in several wild situations while constantly tackling socio-political and pop-culture topics set within their world, providing an often sharp critique of the subjects covered in each episode. This series first premiered in 1989 and has been a staple of Fox's programming schedule ever since!
- Cast
- Tress MacNeille, Yeardley Smith
- Showrunner
- Al Jean
- Directors
- David Silverman, Jim Reardon, Mark Kirkland
- Writers
- Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, Sam Simon
- Franchise(s)
- The Simpsons
- Seasons
- 36
- Story By
- Matt Groening and James L. Brooks
Your comment has not been saved