Although “The Simpsons” exists in a perpetual purgatory where no one ages, the show has said goodbye to several characters over the years. Poor old Snowball, I died before the series premiered, and Lisa had to say goodbye to Bleeding Gums Murphy in season 6. Maude Flanders then became the most important and enduring character to be killed off when she fell to her death in season 11. But long before one of those beloved “Simpsons” characters left the bucket, Abe Simpson lost his brother, Hubert, in a short film from the “Tracey Ullman Show” years.
It’s strange to think that the longest-running scripted series on television began life as a series of shorts intended to serve as bumpers between commercial breaks. But that’s exactly how the “Simpsons” began its life in the sketch comedy series “The Tracey Ullman Show.” On April 5, 1987, audiences first met Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Marge and Homer as cartoon characters crudely drawn from creator Matt Groening’s sketches. These shorts had a surreal quality due to the quirky animation style, even more unhinged and wacky than the first seasons of “The Simpsons” proper, and the bizarre sound effects. But they were charming in their own way and clearly well-received enough to launch what would become the defining show of the ’90s.
Once that change happened and “The Simpsons” moved to prime time, however, it left its “Tracey Ullman” years behind, as evidenced by the fact that Hubert Simpson – who died in the “Ullman” short “The Funeral” – has never appeared in flashbacks or even been mentioned in the long-running series since.
The Simpsons said goodbye to Hubert Simpson and never looked back
In “The Funeral”, Homer and Marge tell the children that they will attend the funeral of their “elderly uncle” Hubert Simpson. Bart is excited about seeing a dead body in real life, but once the family stands in front of the open casket, he immediately faints. We don’t see much of old Hubert, other than a glimpse of a man who looks a lot like Homer and Abe Simpson lying in his coffin. Otherwise, there’s not much else going on in “The Funeral,” which, as charming as it is for an early “Simpsons” short, is pretty tame stuff compared to what the show would go on to do in terms of pop cultural satire. Meanwhile, Hubert Simpson remains somewhat of a mystery. Presumably he was Abe Simpson’s older brother, but the short doesn’t learn anything about him.
Once it became a full-fledged series, “The Simpsons” had no problem killing off several recurring characters, ultimately leading to the untimely death of fan favorite Fat Tony. But the series did not develop or revisit the character of Hubert Simpson at all. He doesn’t appear in any flashbacks and no one talks about Hubert anymore. Yet he holds the title of first person to die in the history of the series.
Interestingly enough, Tracey Ullman’s dislike of “The Simpsons” almost led to an early grave for the series itself. It was Fox chairman Ancier who ensured that animated bumpers remained and ultimately allowed “The Simpsons” to become what it did. Now in its 37th season and well past its peak, perhaps it’s time for the series to revisit Hubert Simpson.
