"Simpsons" show runner Al Jean has all but confirmed that Krusty the Clown or his father Rabbi Hyman Krustofski is the "major character" the show will be killing off in the first episode of season 26, revealing that the death episode will be title 'A Clown in the Dumps'.

It looks as though the clown might take his final bow, a death that would probably hit Bart the hardest given how many times the pair have teamed up to take on Sideshow Bob and for general hijinks. Jean said at a Television Critics Association panel on Sunday that his clues have been "obvious" as to which character dies, adding to gasps from the audience: "It's called A Clown in the Dumps."

He said that the character's voice actor has won an Emmy for his work on the show, which means we Krusty's father Hyman Krustofski  (Jackie Mason) or Sideshow Bob (Kelsey Grammer) however, with both actors having won awards for their contributions.

Here are all the clues Al Jean has let slip: the rabbi might not be a "major character", but Jean did recently admit that the Springfield resident who dies isn't "iconic". "The character that dies is portrayed by an actor who won an Emmy for playing that character," he previously told TV Line. "People who reported on it then reported we were killing an 'iconic' character; I'd like to say it's a great character, but I never used the word 'iconic'. "It's a terrific character and it [happens in] our premiere this coming year.'

At the panel, Jean told how the character will get a death fitting of its importance to the show.

"It turned out bigger than we thought it was going to be," he explained, but hinted there won't be a mass cull as he added: "It's not going to be this blood bath where they all get murdered.

If anything, though, the buzz says volumes about the show's still-impressive following going into Season 26. Speaking of which, despite a heartbreaking Emmy snub, Jean remains confident about its future. "We've been so lucky to have such a great run. I think it's going to go on for a while," he said.

In other "Simpsons" news, series producers are planning a cross-over episode with "Futurama," guest appearances from Jane Fonda and William DaFoe (who plays Bart's new teacher) and Sarah Silverman. Also, the debut of the much-touted episode penned by Judd Apatow, which the director originally wrote and submitted to the show prior to hitting it big. That will air in January, said Jean.

Producer Al Jean announces the much anticipated crossover episode between The Simpsons and Futurama is set to air in November

The "Simpsons-Futurama" crossover episode has finally been given a date months after it was first announced at last year's Comic Con. The Simpsons producer Al Jean announced during the show's Television Critics Association panel on Sunday that the episode, entitled Simpsorama, will air in November as part of the show's 26th season.

Simpsorama, which sees the cast of "Futurama" sent back in time to stop Bart drastically changing the future, will feature most of "Futurama's" original voice cast including Billy West, John DiMaggio, and Katey Sagal. This will be the second speaking appearance of a "Futurama" character in "The Simpsons" after season 16's Future-drama.

"Futurama," created by The Simpsons creator Matt Groening and writer David X. Cohen, ended last year after Comedy Central picked the show up for a final two seasons. The show had previously aired on Fox between 1999 and 2003 but was later cancelled and a number of successful direct-to-DVD episodes were released leading to Comedy Central's acquisition of the cartoon comedy, which they ran for four seasons, then cancelled again. 

You can check it out for yourself when "The Simpsons" 26th season premieres this September 28 on Fox.