Praise the Lord! TV's favourite cartoon Evangelical is not leaving our screens after all. As reported by this site in May, Ned Flanders' Simpsons future was left hanging by a thread when voice actor Harry Shearer was unable to agree a pay deal with the show's producers. However, the show's official Twitter account this week announced that "all principal cast members" have now signed up for its 27th season.
Shearer had previously stated that he turned down the offer to work on the show for another year because he wanted "the freedom to do other work", but while the details of negotiations haven't been released, that hurdle appears to have been overcome.
It's great news for fans of the show, and particularly of Shearer's iconic over-the-top evangelical Christian. Along with Shearer's other characters – including Mr Burns, Smithers and Principal Skinner – Flanders will return with his trademark cheeriness and hopefully a few more of those moments when he reflects some of the more positive aspects of the faith. It's a resurrection story in keeping with his closely observed religion.
Five great Ned Flanders lines...
5. "I'm not thinking straight, why did I have that wine cooler last month?"
4. "Say your prayers, Simpson... Because the schools can't force you like they should!"
3. "Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins the movie by telling you how it ends. Well, I say there are some things we don't want to know. Important things."
2. "I wish we lived in a place more like the America of yesteryear that only exists in the brains of us Republicans."
1. "Ok, boys, when you meet Jesus, be sure to call Him Mr Christ."
Martin Saunders is a Contributing Editor for Christian Today and the Deputy CEO of Youthscape. You can follow him on Twitter: @martinsaunders
