In order for an animated television show to run like a well-oiled machine, every single person needs to hold their own, regardless of where they stand on the metaphorical totem pole. If one part fails, the entire operation could be doomed.
That's why the animators are held to same standards and expectations as the voice actors, and for 27 of The Simpsons' 28 seasons, Alf Clausen has played the pivotal role of the show's composer. Whenever you saw a musical number on The Simpsons, Clausen's fingerprints were all over it.
On Wednesday, Varietylearned that Clausen had been fired from the show. Clausen says he received a call from producer Richard Sakai explaining that the program was looking for “a different kind of music." Clausen led a 35-piece orchestra which created the music for each episode, an aspect Simpsons creator Matt Groening insisted on having since the start of the show. Variety speculates that "cost-cutting measures" could have been catalyst for Clausen's departure.
Since joining The Simpsons in 1990 following his work on the first "Treehouse of Horror" episode in season two, Clausen won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics in consecutive years (1997 and 1998). He's received 21 total nominations throughout his time on the show. Clausen is believed to have more Emmy nominations (30) than any other musician.
It's difficult to predict when exactly Clausen's absence will be felt by viewers, but something will feel different this upcoming season. That's what happens when you let go of someone who has scored more than 560 episodes of the series—including this one.
