The Simpsons' Smithers Comes Out Gay In 'The Burns Cage'

According to various reports, Waylon J. Smithers, Jr. will come out gay when Fox's The Simpsons returns on April 3.

The relationship between Smithers and his boss Charles Montgomery Burns is a running joke on The Simpsons.

In discussing the show's 27^th season, executive producer Al Jean told TVLine in September that the animated series would deal with Smithers' sexuality in two episodes.

“In Springfield now, most people know he's gay, but obviously Burns doesn't,” Jean said. “We deal with that in two episodes. … We actually do a lot with Smithers this year; he gets fed up with Burns not appreciating him and considers his options.”

A description of the episode, titled The Burns Cage, reads in part: “When Smithers is devastated by Burns' lack of affection towards him, Homer makes it his mission to find him a boyfriend.”