https://tv.yahoo.com/blogs/tv-news/simpsons-death-premiere-211611929.html Warning: This post contains heavy speculation and possible spoilers (if we guessed right) about Sunday's season premiere of The Simpsons. Unless you've been trapped underneath a passed-out Barney Gumble for the last year, you've heard that The Simpsons plans to kill off one of its characters on this week's Season 26 premiere. And this isn't some Family Guy fake-out, either. In a conference call last week, executive producer Al Jean told reporters: "When we kill them, they stay dead." (In your face, Seth MacFarlane!) [Photos: The Best. Episode. Ever. For 55 'Simpsons' Characters] With news of the death first breaking last October, Jean has been dropping hints about the victim's identity for nearly a year now — enough hints that we think we can piece together which Springfield citizen actually bites the dust. Have we cracked the code? Jean admits that "some people have guessed it correctly, and some are really, really off." Let's see which one of those we are! First, let's review all the evidence we have so far: * Jean has said repeatedly that the actor or actress playing this character has won an Emmy for the role. That sounds like a big clue… until you realize that all six members of the Simpsons main cast — Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith, Nancy Cartwright, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer — have won Emmys for their Simpsons work. But keep in mind: Jean dropped that hint before Shearer won his first Emmy last month. So we can at least assume that favorites like Ned Flanders and Principal Skinner are safe. The other Simpsons actors to win an Emmy: the late Marcia Wallace (Mrs. Krabappel); Jackie Mason (Rabbi Krustofski); Kelsey Grammer (Sideshow Bob); and Anne Hathaway (Princess Penelope). Mrs. Krabappel and her laugh were already retired following Wallace's death last year, and we doubt they'd bring back Anne Hathaway just to kill her off — much less try to hype that as a shocking death. [video=youtube;A-dCDe5xsqc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-dCDe5xsqc[/video] Get a sneak peek at Sunday's Simpsons season premiere right here: * In an April conference call with reporters, executive producer Matt Selman said they had informed the actor of his or her character's fate, and "what we told the performer is, 'This does not mean the end of your participation in The Simpsons.'" But they obviously wouldn't need to say that to any of the main cast members who play multiple roles on the show. So now we're honing in on the actors who won an Emmy for playing a single role on The Simpsons. [Related: 'The Simpsons' to Meet Their 'Tracy Ullman' Former Selves] * On that same call, Jean corrected some reports that the victim is an "iconic character": "I'd like to say it's a great character, but I never used the word 'iconic.'" So it sounds like this character is decidedly not iconic. * The title of Sunday's season premiere is "Clown in the Dumps," with Krusty the Clown (Castellaneta) announcing his retirement after being insulted at a cable TV roast. Remember: Sideshow Bob was Krusty's TV sidekick before he turned into a murderous lunatic, and Rabbi Krustofski is Krusty's father, who reunited with his estranged son in Season 3's "Like Father, Like Clown." Hmmm. * Last week, Jean told reporters that Frasier star David Hyde Pierce will guest star in the season premiere, and that he can't say more or "it'll blow the secret." Back in Season 8, Pierce joined his Frasier co-star Kelsey Grammer and played Sideshow Bob's brother Cecil in "Brother From Another Series." Hmmm. * When asked by a reporter, "Does religion play a part in the death situation?" Jean simply said "Yes." HMMMMMM. OK, we think we'd like to solve the puzzle, Pat. The Springfield citizen who dies on this week's episode is… Rabbi Krustofski! Jackie Mason won an Emmy for playing him, but he hasn't played any other roles on the show. Rabbi Krustofski is not iconic, by any means. The episode title, "Clown in the Dumps," promises a sad Krusty, which would make sense if his father died. And he's a rabbi, so religion would naturally play a part in his death. [Photos: Check Out Pics From 'The Simpsons Take the Hollywood Bowl'] The David Hyde Pierce guest spot smells like a red herring: Perhaps Cecil reunites with his brother at Rabbi Krustofski's funeral? Yep, all signs are pointing towards dear old Papa Krustofski, who's appeared in ten episodes over the years, joining Maude Flanders and Bleeding Gums Murphy in that Springfield in the sky. Of course, we reserve the right to be very wrong about this. All these clues that Jean has dropped could just be an elaborate head-fake, and we could be mourning the loss of Mr. Burns come Monday morning. No, not Mr. Burns! Oh, why do the good always die so young?
