'The Simpsons' Season 26 Spoilers: Who Died In The Premiere? 'Clown In The Dumps' Recap

"The Simpsons" Season 26 premiered on Sunday, Sept. 28, with the promise that one resident of Springfield would die in episode 1. The long running FOX comedy had some fun with the audience speculation on which character would go before the episode even began with Bart (Nancy Cartwright) writing “Spoiler Alert: Unfortunately, my father doesn’t die” on the chalkboard in the famous opening credits gag. However, fans would not have to wait too long to find out who actually did die.

The premiere episode began with Krusty the Clown (Dan Castellaneta) in a sour mood after a comedy special roast (featuring Jeff Ross and Sarah Silverman as themselves) had him feeling irrelevant and past his prime. At Bart’s suggestion, he went to see his Rabbi father (Jackie Mason). However, all his father had to say about his comedic career was “eh,” before dropping dead. With his father dead, Krusty began experience a “crisis of concscience” about his comedy, believing his work never amounted to anything. He announced his retirement at his next show taping.

Meanwhile, after attending the funeral of Krusty’s Dad, Lisa (Yeardley Smith) was worried about Homer’s (Dan Castellaneta) health and diet habits. She became obsessed with keeping him alive and trapped in a bubble wrap cocoon to protect him. It works when we he is later hit by a bus.

Back at Krusty’s house, the clown passed out after a bender and visited Jewish Heaven, where he again ran into his father who urged him to help people with his life. He woke up and opened an animal shelter to do some good in the world. When it failed to improve his mood he went back to the temple with Bart where he realized watching his father’s favorite rabbi recite his jokes that his dad really did think he was funny.

“The Simpsons” returns next week with an all-new episode, Sunday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. EDT on FOX. The Simpsons family was also was featured in a “Family Guy” crossover later Sunday night.

What did you think of “The Simpsons” premiere? Did you find the death suprising? Tweet your thoughts to @Ja9GarofaloTV.