Portrait of a Lackey on Fire
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"Portrait of a Lackey on Fire"
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Episode Information
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"Portrait of a Lackey on Fire" is the eighth episode of season 33 of The Simpsons and the seven-hundred and fourteenth episode overall. It originally aired on November 21, 2021. The episode was written by Rob and Johnny LaZebnik and directed by Steven Dean Moore. It guest stars Christine Baranski as herself, Victor Garber as Michael de Graaf, and Christian Siriano as himself.
Synopsis[edit]
- "Smithers finds true love with a famous fashion designer (voiced by Victor Garber), but will his new relationship destroy Springfield?"
Plot[edit]
At Burns' manor, in the Hounds' Quarters, one of The Hounds gives birth, and Homer is called to be a training dummy. After enough training, Mr. Burns assigns them to some of his rich friends who need watchdogs, but he refuses Smithers' proposal to have fun with the puppies.
Later, Homer finds Smithers in a cage, whimpering over not being loved, so Homer helps him find a man. Meanwhile, after delivering all the puppies except one, he leaves the last one—a softy that refuses to bite and licks people instead—with Homer. A person who would love the puppy, Michael de Graaf, approaches him and reveals himself to be gay, so Homer takes him to Smithers.
The two connect and set up a date at Luigi's. After a successful dinner, they end up kissing at Springfield Squidport. Homer feels the connection while at Moe's, and after six weeks, Marge overhears his call with Smithers about it. She gets excited because she knows Michael from his shows and follows Homer to work, asking him questions about him.
Smithers and Michael spend the weekend together, with Christine Baranski singing for them. The next Monday, at the Power Plant, Mr. Burns doesn't even care that Smithers was gone, still figuring out a puzzle from one of the presents he got. Later, Marge meets Michael in the parking lot, where she organizes a party for them.
At the party, Michael announces he will build a new factory in Springfield, Michael de Graaf Express. However, when the family visits it, they discover his environmentally unfriendly practices. Reluctantly, Homer reveals the problem to Smithers, who goes to Mr. Burns for advice. Burns tells him to marry Michael, noting that his waste practices are even worse than his own, having managed to kill Blinky as well.
Later, an explosion and several other accidents occur at the factory. Smithers confronts Michael about it, and after Michael kicks the puppy for dropping wine on his pants, Smithers leaves him, taking the puppy with him. In the end, Smithers receives lots of hearts for his picture with the puppy, and to prevent more waste, he decides to give Burns another puzzle to keep him busy after he finishes the first one.
Production[edit]
Reception[edit]
"Portrait of a Lackey on Fire" was nominated for a 2022 Writers Guild of America award in Animation, but it lost to "Planteau" from Tuca & Bertie.[1]
Gallery[edit]
References[edit]
Promo videos[edit]
Watch Smithers meet his new boyfriend on The Simpsons at YouTube- Talk To Me About Your Love Life at YouTube
- Italian Food For Everybody at YouTube
- 'The Simpsons' landmark gay episode keeps it in the family at YouTube
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Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "Portrait of a Lackey on Fire". |
