Regardless of how you feel about The Simpsons in its current form, there's no denying the fact that Sunday's episode was a poignant one.
The episode (entitled 'Homer Is Where The Art Isn't') struck a chord with fans and those involved with making the show, as it was the last one written by long-time screenwriter, Kevin Curran, who died in 2016 following a battle with cancer.
Saturday Night Live host Bill Hader guest-starred as detective Manacek in the episode, which some fans of the show have described as the funniest of the 29th season so far.
And executive producer Matt Selman confirmed on Twitter that the instalment was Curran's last, telling his 24k followers: "This episode was written and inspired by our pal Kevin Curran, who died in 2016.
"Kevin would have loved Manacek's unflappable charm and casual sexism."
Advert
Many fans took to Twitter to pay their respects again and to praise the episode for its humour.
One wrote: "Kevin Curran ended his career on a great note. #TheSimpsons' biggest strengths these days is when they go for original ideas."
Curran wrote 11 Simpsons episodes during a long career on the show.
He started working with the show in 1998 as a consulting producer and remained there until 2015.
After his death, The Simpsons shared an image of Curran - drawn in the show's signature style - in the episode 'There Will Be Buds'. His friends from the long-running programme also shared some of their favourite memories of Kevin.
"Here's a college story you might like: Kevin lived in Dunster House, where someone had meticulously created a large, cutesy gingerbread replica of the campus which was displayed in the lobby," said Al Jean, showrunner for The Simpsons.
"One night, no doubt after a beer too many, Kevin came in and smashed the gingerbread house to bits. Today it would be a micro-aggression at least, but back then, I admit I really laughed when I heard what he did."
He won six Emmys during his career as part of the writing team for The Simpsons as well as for working on Late Night with David Letterman.
"I consider myself a working writer," Curran told the Christian Science Monitor in 1991.
"I don't think of what we do as art. It's one step above seals juggling balls on their noses. I always hoped someone would just pay me [half a million dollars] to drink beer around the swimming pool. I'm very disappointed I have to do anything at all," he joked.
Curran attended Harvard University and was also known for his work on sitcoms like Unhappily Ever After and Married... With Children.
He was in a previous relationship with English novelist and screenwriter Helen Fielding, creator of Bridget Jones, and is survived by their two children.
Featured Image Credit: 20th Century FoTopics: TV and Film, the simpsons, US Entertainment