'Simpsons' Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders Voice Actor Harry Shearer Not Signing for Another Season?

The most admirable thing about The Simpsons staying on the air for as long as it has is its ability to stay consistent whether it pertains to the characters remaining true to their original roots or that the voice actors behind the characters performing the near-impossible task of staying with the show. In a field where it's almost impossible to keep your core group together, The Simpsons has been able to do just that. Recently though rumors of dissention have been heard around the famed FOX series' ranks. Sources close to the show told TMZ that Harry Shearer, voice of Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders and Seymour Skinner, has not yet re-signed.

According to TMZ, Shearer was the only cast member to not re-sign for the next two seasons. They're reporting he has been having issues with merchandising payments.

While this is what TMZ is saying, Simpsons creator Matt Groening claims the Shearer news is completely false. On Saturday night, Groening told photographers that everyone signed. That "everyone" includes Shearer.

If the Shearer news is correct and the voice star won't indeed be signing, that would be another huge loss for the Simpsons crew. Back in March one of the show's co-creators, Sam Simon, died at 59. He lost his life after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2012.

Al Jean, the Simpsons executive producer, says Simon was a great man in all aspects of his life.

"He was a genius and a great humanitarian in ways public and private. I personally owe him more than can be repaid, but I will do my best to help every animal I can in his memory."

Simon gave away most of his fortune in his last days to animals who have been abused and put in harmful situations. The donations went exclusively to a foundation named Fusion.