The Simpsons season 26 opener will feature the the death of a beloved character and speculaation is ripe on the internet. 

Last October, Al Jean, who runs The Simpsons announced that the long-running animated series would be killing off a major character. Jean broke the news at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in America. Jean said the death "turned out bigger than we thought it was going to be" but "it's not going to be this blood bath where they all get murdered." Jean also said it will be "an emotional story," and hinted that the actor won an Emmy for voicing the part and that the character was on

The Simpsons for at least two episodes. Jackie Mason won an Emmy for playing Krusty's father, Hyman Krustofski and Kelsey Grammar won an Emmy for his role as Bart's nemesis Sideshow Bob. 

Dan Castellaneta (Homer), Hank Azaria (Apu, Moe, etc.), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Julie Kavner (Marge), Marcia Wallace (Edna), and Yeardley Smith (Lisa) also won Emmy awards and have been in more than two episodes. 

Den of Geek is predicting that the character will be Jackie Mason.

Last season, The Simpsons producers said they were going to kill of a beloved character and wound up creating a character, called the most beloved person in Springfield, Chip Taylor. That same episode came out after the death of former Bob Newhart actor Marcia Wallace, who voiced Edna Krabappel. As a tribute, Bart wrote "We'll really miss you, Mrs. K" only once on the school blackboard.

Most magazines are predicting that the beloved character will be our favorite nicotine-patched kiddie show host, Krusty the Clown. The episode is called "Clown in the Dumps." 

The premiere episode of The Simpsons season 26 will be broadcast on Sept. 28 on Fox.