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 broadcast season 33 of The Simpsons and the seven hundred 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]
- Waylon Smithers meets fashion designer Michael de Graaf, and the two fall in love. However, the fashion designer's environmentally unfriendly practices and his attitude towards his dog cause issues for Springfield's latest couple.
Plot[edit]
At Burns' manor, in the Hounds' Quarters, one of the hounds gives birth, and Homer is called in to be a training dummy. After enough training, Mr. Burns assigns the puppies to some of his rich friends who need watchdogs, but he refuses Smithers' proposal to have fun with them.
Later, Homer finds Smithers in a cage, whimpering over not being loved, so Homer helps him find a man. 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 and reveals that he is 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 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 care that Smithers was gone, still figuring out a puzzle from one of the presents he received. Later, Marge meets Michael in the parking lot, where she organizes a party for them.
At the party, Michael announces that he will build a new factory in Springfield, the Michael de Graaf Express. However, when the family visits, 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, 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, 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". |
- Episodes
- Episodes showrun by Matt Selman
- Episodes co-showrun by Rob LaZebnik
- Season 33
- Production season UABF
- 2021
- Smithers episodes
- Environment-themed episodes
- LGBT-themed episodes
- Romance-themed episodes
- WGA Award nominated episodes
- Episodes written by Rob LaZebnik
- Episodes written by Johnny LaZebnik
- Episodes directed by Steven Dean Moore
