Alf Clausen, a two-time Emmy winner and a composer for The Simpsons for 27 years, has been fired from the show. Clausen revealed to Variety that he got a call from Simpsons producer Richard Sakai saying that the company was looking for “a different kind of music” and that he would no longer be working for the TV show.
Clausen has scored more than 560 episodes of the series, starting in 1990. He is allegedly the most-nominated composer in the history of Emmy, with a total of 30 nods.
Although FOX has not revealed why Clausen has been fired, he uses a 35-piece orchestra every week — something that Simpsons creator Matt Groening insisted on back when the show started. With the costs of musicians, recording studios and orchestration, millions of dollars are put into the show’s music every year.
“Sad news of Alf Clausen.” Seth McFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, tweeted. “He reinvented the sound of prime-time animation. I hope The Simpsons keeps the orchestra. Big part of a great show.”
Danny Elfman’s infamous Simpsons composition will likely continue as the show’s theme. Learn more about the situation on Variety.
Sad news of Alf Clausen. He reinvented the sound of prime-time animation. I hope The Simpsons keeps the orchestra. Big part of a great show.
— Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) August 31, 2017