Originally appeared on E! Online
Oh yeah, the rumors are true.
“The Simpsons” retired one of their longest running characters on episode 13 of season 37 as Barry Duffman, a.k.a. Duffman — the spokesperson for the show’s Duff Beer — announced that he would be retiring as the beer brand’s mascot.
“I have two words to say to you,” Duffman told Homer, Marge and their family as he entered their home in the episode. “Oh…yeah!”
“Not anymore, actually,” he continued. “The Duff Corporation has retired that character forever. All the old forms of advertising are now passé. Corporate spokesmen, print ads, TV spots. Today’s kids can’t even sing the jingles.”
While Duffman appeared throughout the rest of the episode as he tried to recruit Homer to a corporation called EOD in the episode titled “Seperance”— a parody of “Severance” — he wasn’t wearing his Duffman costume, instead opting for a look inspired by “Severance’s” Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman), proving that he has fully retired the mascot life for good.
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The Duffman first appeared in the 1997 episode “The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson,” wearing his Duff-branded cap, sunglasses, cape, bodysuit and utility belt of beer. He has been voiced by Hank Azaria for his run on the series, where he’s best known for yelling his “Oh yeah!” catchphrase.
And, fans were sad to see Duffman go, with one writing on X, “Noooooooo not Duffman!!! My favorite beer guy ever.”
Another joked, “Thank you for 30 years of amazing service and commitment to the Duff brand. May your 401k keep you happy in retirement, Duffman.”
However, despite the popularity of the Duffman, Azaria has confessed that among the many characters he voices on “The Simpsons” — which includes Moe, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy and so many more — the beer mascot is one of his least favorite.
“Duffman will blow me out in a second,” he shared with Conan O’Brien in 2020, “I have to save Duffman for the end and I actually dread it.”
Azaria added, “It actually does hurt, but I am not complaining.”
The mascot’s official retirement comes less than three months after “The Simpsons” killed off Springfield’s First Church organist Alice Glick, one of the show’s longest running characters.
Although she had seemingly been killed off once before, executive producer Tim Long confirmed at the time that the organist had said goodbye for good.
“In a sense, Alice the organist will live forever, through the beautiful music she made,” he told People in a November statement. “But in another, more important sense, yep she’s dead as a doornail.”
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Hank Azaria is paying tribute to Matthew Perry, in an emotional Instagram video. On Sunday, “The Simpsons” actor reflected on the sudden passing of his pal and credited the “Friends” star with helping him get sober.
