‘The Simpsons’ to feature landmark gay romance episode
Smithers is finally set to find true love later this month on Disney+
By Ella Kemp
The Simpsons is set to feature a landmark gay romance in a forthcoming episode later this month.
Mr Burns’ personal assistant Smithers, who came out as gay on the show in 2016, will take centre stage as he falls in love with a fashion designer in a new storyline.
Writers on ‘The Simpsons‘ confirmed Smithers was gay in ‘The Burns Cage’, a 2016 episode in which he confessed his feelings to his boss before being rejected.
Now, a new relationship will see Smithers find happiness but potentially at the expense of Springfield’s future. A synopsis for new episode ‘Portrait of a Lackey on Fire’ reads: “Smithers finds true love with a famous fashion designer, but will his new relationship destroy Springfield?”
Legally Blonde star Victor Garber will voice fashion designer Michael De Graff, Smithers’ new love interest.
The episode was written by Johnny LaZebnik alongside his father Rob. Sharing the news, Johnny tweeted: “i can finally come out of the closet as a d’ohmosexual. watch a very gay episode of The Simpsons on november 21, written by me and my dad.”
Discussing his experience writing the episode with his son, Rob recently told The New York Post: “To be able to work with Johnny on this was, like, such a dream and to be able to see how truly funny and talented he is was just, you know, super fun and rewarding.”
Johnny called the experience “spectacular and fulfilling”, and added: “I know my dad is a comedy writer. I grew up with him — obviously, I know he’s a funny guy. But actually getting to sit down and write jokes with him was so much fun.
“And there were some moments where I was like, ‘Dad, that’s disgusting — we can’t put that on television,’ which I didn’t expect to be saying because I’m usually the disgusting one.
“We now have this piece of content that we put into the world together that is a combined brainpower of the two of us.”
The landmark episode of ‘The Simpsons’ will air on November 21.