The Simpsons Retires Duffman After 28 Years

In a poignant nod to evolving times, the long-running animated series The Simpsons has retired its iconic beer mascot Duffman after nearly three decades on the air. The character, known for his bombastic persona and signature catchphrase "Oh yeah!", bid farewell in the January 4 episode of season 37 titled "Seperance," a parody of the Apple TV series Severance.

Duffman, whose civilian identity is Barry Duffman, made an unannounced visit to the Simpson family home in Springfield during the episode. Voiced by Hank Azaria, the character explained his departure in his trademark third-person style. "The Duff Corporation has, uh, retired that character forever," he told Homer and Marge Simpson. "All the old forms of advertising are now passé. Corporate spokesmen, print ads, TV spots. Today's kids can't even sing the jingles."

The episode delved into Duffman's transition, portraying him attempting to recruit Homer for a job at Enthusiasm on Demand, a shadowy corporation promoting undercover marketing tactics. Homer briefly joined, undergoing a fictional "seperance" procedure that split his work and personal selves, highlighting the psychological toll of such corporate enthusiasm....