| Waylon Smithers | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons character | |
 | |
| First appearance |
|
| Created by | Matt Groening |
| Designed by | Matt Groening |
| Voiced by | Harry Shearer |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Waylon J. Smithers Jr. |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Consummate executive and personal assistant to Mr. Burns at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant |
| Family |
|
Waylon J. Smithers Jr., usually referred to by the names Mr. Smithers, or simply Smithers, is a recurring character in the animated sitcom The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer. His first appearance was in the episode of "Homer's Odyssey", although his voice could be heard in the series premiere "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". He is the consummate executive and personal assistant of Springfield Nuclear Power Plant's owner Mr. Burns, and is usually treated unfairly.
Smithers's loyalty and devotion to Mr. Burns was inspired from how numerous Fox executives and staff members acted towards Barry Diller. Smithers's first name (Waylon) was derived from that of puppeteer Wayland Flowers.[1][2] The idea for Smithers's ambiguous sexual orientation came from Sam Simon. He proposed that Smithers should be gay and have an undying love for Mr. Burns. Smithers was colorized in his first appearance as black with blue hair.[3] Matt Groening, in an interview with TMZ, said that this was a mistake but the producers did not have enough money to correct it.[4]
Smithers is the loyal, obedient and sycophantic assistant to Mr. Burns, and the relationship between the two is a frequent running gag. In many ways, Smithers represents the stereotype of a closeted gay man. Numerous allusions and double entendres about his homosexuality are made, though some of the show's producers instead interpret him as a "Burns-sexual". In the season 27 (2016) episode "The Burns Cage", he officially came out as gay.[5]
- ^ Goertz, Allie; Prescott, Julia (8 August 2016). "I Married Marge (with Jeff Martin)" (Podcast). Maximum Fun. Event occurs at 61:28. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
sprconwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Waylon Smithers from The Simpsons was originally black". OMG Facts. Dose. Retrieved 10 December 2015. [permanent dead link]
- ^ "'Simpsons' Creator Matt Groening Smithers Was Black By Mistake ... DOH!". TMZ. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ McDermott, Maeve. "Smithers officially came out as gay on 'The Simpsons'". USA Today. Retrieved 1 June 2016.