The Simpsonshas now recast a longtime recurring character. The long-running animated sitcom, which is currently airing season 36, recently lost one of its core voice actors when Pamela Hayden announced her retirement in November 2024. The actor, who voiced Bart’s best friend Milhouse Van Houten and the bully Jimbo Jones among many other characters, gave her final performance on the show ahead of the upcomingSimpsonsseason 37, in the 2024 episode “Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes.”
PerEntertainment Weekly,the role of Jimbo Jones has been given to comedian and actor Mo Collins, who played recurringPawnee Todayhost Joan Callamezzo in 19 episodes of the classic NBC sitcomParks and Recreation. Hayden played Jimbo from seasons 2 through 36 after taking over the role from Tress MacNeille. Collins will now step into the role beginning with season 36, episode 14, which is titled “P.S. I Hate You” and is set to air on April 13. While the role of Milhouse will also be recast, that announcement has not been made at the time of writing.
What This Means For The Simpsons
Mo Collins Has The Right Level Of Experience For The Role
While Mo Collins is not primarily known as a voice actor,she has already performed in a wide variety of animated seriesthat have prepared her to take over thePamela HaydenSimpsonscharacter. Her animation career began in the early 2000s with Nickelodeon shows such asAs Told by GingerandInvader ZIM, and branched out to include iconic projects such asKing of the Hill,Family Guy, andPhineas and Ferb. Her longest-running voice gig so far has been the Bill Burr seriesF is for Family, in which she has played various roles in 44 different episodes.
Why The Simpsons Retires Some Characters & Recasts Others
The Simpsons' has a history of recasting some characters after their actors retire or pass away, but some have been fully retired from the show.
Additionally, her long resume of live-action performances sees her well-prepared to take on the iconic role. While Hayden leaves big shoes to fill, Collins has brought her signature comedy stylings to many live-action series which have absurd moments and sometimes border on cartoonish, includingArrested Development,Workaholics,Parks and Recreation. She also showcased her ability to seamlessly step into a wide variety of roles asa long-running cast member on the sketch comedy seriesMad TV.
Our Take On The Simpsons' Recast Character
Jimbo Could Be The First Of Many
While characters onThe Simpsonshave been recast in the past, including the switch that brought Pamela Hayden to the role of Jimbo in the first place, the show has also retired characters, particularly when the voice actors portraying them have died. However, as the long-running show continues to air,it seems likely that recasting will become much more commonas its record-breaking run approaches the end of its fourth decade, meaning that the recasting of Jimbo and Milhouse will likely be a test for how well that process works for maintaining audience interest in the show.
The Simpsons
Cast
The Simpsons is an animated series set in the fictional town of Springfield, following the daily lives of the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Premiering in 1989, the show is renowned for its satirical commentary on politics, media, and American culture, featuring numerous celebrity guest appearances.
