The beer-slinging mascot Duffman, a staple of Springfield and pop culture for more than 30 seasons, was officially retired in Sunday’s, Jan. 4, episode “Seperance.”
In a storyline echoing the modern world’s changing tastes, the man behind the mask, Barry Duffman, arrives at the Simpson home — this time not in his usual cape and spandex, but a drab business suit.
He explains that the Duff Corporation has discontinued the character, calling Duffman “passé,” and admits that new generations no longer respond to catchy jingles.
The episode is a pointed parody of Apple TV's “Severance,” with Duffman, now working for “Enthusiasm on Demand,” telling Homer his days as a commercial icon are truly over. The show’s writers mark this as a “forever” exit, closing the book on one of the show’s longest-running and most recognizable recurring faces.
This major farewell comes just weeks after the series stunned viewers by killing off another Springfield regular.
Alice Glick, known affectionately as Mrs. Glick, died suddenly during a church service on Sunday, Nov. 16, in the episode “Sashes to Sashes.”
First voiced by Cloris Leachman and later by Tress MacNeille, Mrs. Glick was a fixture in the community, famous for her eccentricities and her memorable run-ins with Bart Simpson—including the time she paid him just 25 cents for hours of yard work (read more here).
With Duffman’s exit, “The Simpsons” signals a new era, rethinking its approach to classic characters and Springfield’s ever-growing cast. Fans are left reminiscing about the good old days—and wondering which familiar face might disappear next.
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