Editing Troy McClure (section)

==Character==

===Creation===
[[File:Phil as Chick-1-1.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Phil Hartman]] voiced Troy McClure]]
McClure was based on the typical "washed up" Hollywood actor. [[B movie]] actors [[Troy Donahue]] and [[Doug McClure]] served as inspiration for his name and certain character aspects.<ref name=first/><ref name=inter>{{cite interview|last=Groening|first=Matt|subject-link = Matt Groening| interviewer = [[Terry Gross]]| title = Fresh Air| publisher = [[NPR]]| work = [[WHYY-FM]]| url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4249835| location = Philadelphia| date = December 29, 2004| access-date = June 9, 2007}}</ref><ref name="sprcon">{{cite book |last1=Reiss |first1=Mike |last2=Klickstein |first2=Mathew |title=Springfield confidential: jokes, secrets, and outright lies from a lifetime writing for the Simpsons |date=2018 |publisher=Dey Street Books |isbn=978-0062748034 |page=100|location=New York City}}</ref> Doug McClure found the homage funny and his children called him "Troy McClure" when his back was turned.<ref name=first/><ref name="sprcon"/> According to show creator [[Matt Groening]], [[Phil Hartman]] was cast in the role due to his ability to pull "the maximum amount of humor" out of any line he was given.<ref name=inter/> McClure's visual appearance is similar to that of Hartman himself.<ref>{{cite video|people=Weinstein, Josh|year=2006|title=The Simpsons The Complete Seventh Season DVD commentary for the episode "[[The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular]]"|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> When he was designed, McClure was given an extra line under his eyes to suggest that the character had gotten a [[facelift]].<ref>Bird, Brad. (2003). Commentary for "Homer Alone", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref>

In a very brief appearance in the [[The Simpsons (season 2)|season 2]] episode "[[Bart's Dog Gets an "F"]]{{-"}}, Troy was voiced by [[Dan Castellaneta]].<ref>{{cite video|people=Jean, Al|year=2002|title=The Simpsons The Complete Second Season DVD commentary for the episode "[[Bart's Dog Gets an "F"]]{{-"}}|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>

===Development===
According to executive producer [[Al Jean]], the writers often used McClure as a "panic button" and added the character when they felt an episode needed more humor.<ref name="Jean">Jean, Al. (2003). Commentary for "Homer Alone", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref>

McClure's character is most developed in "A Fish Called Selma", which provides a more in-depth look into his private life and backstory.<ref name=fcs/> [[Showrunner]]s [[Bill Oakley]] and [[Josh Weinstein]] were fans of Hartman, and wished to make an episode entirely about McClure in order to give Hartman as much to do as possible. From this came the idea of McClure's marriage to [[Selma Bouvier]], as she was "always marrying people".<ref name=fcs/> Animator [[Mark Kirkland]] was particularly pleased that McClure was the star of the episode. He enjoyed interpreting Hartman's voice-over performances, and the episode allowed him and the other animators to "open [McClure] up visually as a character".<ref name=fcs/>

Throughout "A Fish Called Selma", it is hinted that McClure engages in strange sexual behavior. The writers did not initially know what the "unsavory" sexual preference would be, but eventually decided on a fish fetish, using a suggestion from executive producer [[James L. Brooks]]. Josh Weinstein described the fish fetish concept as "so perverted and strange, it was over the top."<ref name=fcs/>

===Retirement===
Phil Hartman was murdered in 1998.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9805/28/hartman/|title=Phil Hartman, wife die in apparent murder-suicide|access-date=June 8, 2007|date=May 28, 1998|publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Rather than re-casting the role with a new voice actor, the production staff retired McClure, along with Hartman's other recurring character, [[Lionel Hutz]].<ref name=inter/> McClure last appeared in the season ten episode "[[Bart the Mother]]", which was dedicated to Hartman.<ref name="finalep">{{cite news|title=Tributes to a Star And His Voices|date=September 23, 1998|work=[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]]|first=Virginia|last=Rohan|page=Y8}}</ref> Before his death, Hartman had often expressed an interest in starring in a live-action film about McClure, which would be penned by some of the show's writers.<ref>{{cite video|people=Oakley, Bill|year=2006|title=The Simpsons The Complete Seventh Season DVD commentary for the episode "[[Homerpalooza]]"|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> He noted that he was "looking forward to his live-action movie, publicizing [McClure's] [[Betty Ford Center|Betty Ford]] appearances."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/H/Hartman_Phil/1996/12/01/758979.html|title=Phil: The Jerky Guy|access-date=August 4, 2008|date=December 1, 1996|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer|Canoe]]|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711225150/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/H/Hartman_Phil/1996/12/01/758979.html|archive-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref> [[Matt Groening]] later told ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' that the idea never "got further than enthusiasm", but "would have been really fun".<ref name="empire">{{cite news | first = Olly | last = Richards | title = Life in Development Hell | page = 76 | work = [[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] | date = May 24, 2007}}</ref> Although retired from speaking roles, the character has still appeared in background roles in subsequent episodes,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-simpsons-gets-pointlessly-medieval-all-over-its-sea-1819040310|title=The Simpsons gets pointlessly medieval all over its season 29 premiere|publisher=AV Club|accessdate=2022-04-15|date=2017-01-10|author=Perkins, Dennis}}</ref> and is also featured on the Digital Purchase cover for [[The Simpsons (season 30)|season 30]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/simpsons-season-30-troy-mcclure-marketing/#:~:text=The%20character%20on%20The%20Simpsons,Phil%20Hartman's%20death%20in%201998.&text=The%20Simpsons%20season%2030%20is,of%20voice%20actor%20Phil%20Hartman.|title=Simpsons Season 30 Is Marketing Itself In Bad Taste With Troy McClure|accessdate=2022-04-15|publisher=ScreenRant|date=2018-11-29|author=Leadbeater, Alex}}</ref>