| "The Burns Cage" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 27 Episode 17 |
| Directed by | Rob Oliver |
| Written by | Rob LaZebnik |
| Production code | VABF10 |
| Original air date | April 3, 2016 |
| Guest appearance | |
| George Takei as himself | |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "If Villanova doesn't win, we lose everything" |
| Couch gag | Homer texts emojis to the family, and then someone says it needs a payoff. The developers' credits are then shown on the phone instead of the television. |
"The Burns Cage" is the seventeenth episode in the twenty-seventh season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 591st episode of the series overall. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 3, 2016.
In the episode, Waylon Smithers finally comes out as gay to his boss Mr. Burns, who rejects his love. Other characters attempt to find a boyfriend for Smithers, and he falls for Julio. Meanwhile, Milhouse competes against a new boy for the lead role in a school production of Casablanca, so he can act alongside his own unrequited love, Lisa. Openly gay actor George Takei makes a cameo as himself, and the episode features a variety of cultural references, including to Grindr, Vladimir Putin, Equus and the films of Humphrey Bogart.
The episode was written by Rob LaZebnik, inspired by when his teenage son Johnny came out. Critical reception was positive: the emotionally touching aspects of LaZebnik's script and Harry Shearer's portrayal of Smithers were praised. However, criticisms included the plot possibly ending the innuendo-driven humor involving Smithers' secret love of Burns, and an assumption that the character was being retconned due to changing attitudes on homosexuality since the series' debut. The episode was covered by international media.