'Simpsons' at a Loss

11/04/1998 at 12:00 AM EST

Say goodbye to one of the characters on "The Simpsons" . . . only who? Reports have surfaced in newspapers and on web sites that during the February sweeps period Maude Flanders, wife of the annoying cheerful Simpson neighbor Ned Flanders, will kick the bucket. Makers of the 10-year-old Fox animated series refused to confirm her passing, however. Executive producer Mike Scully told USA Today that Maude is among the possibilities. The other likely suspects: principal Seymour Skinner and Moe the bartender. Still, web surfers are betting it'll be Maude -- though possibly for the wrong reason. Somehow, there's a rumor circulating that the supplier of Maude's voice, actress Maggie Roswell, has died. Not true. Rosewell's alive and kicking. Happily.