EW spoke withSimpsonsexecutive producer Al Jean about the Smithers showcase.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How long was this episode truly in the making?
Time passed and we realized everyone in Springfield probably knew Smithers was gay except for the man he loved.
Credit: Fox
Rob had mentioned his son is gay, and that was what inspired him to write the episode.
We dont have big lights go off, saying, Oh, Smithers coming-out episode!
They just wanted to find him somebody that was more of a match than Burns.
When he tries to say to Burns, Im gay, we kept having Burns cut him off.
So you could keep that dynamic intact?
Burns Smithers is doomed to some unhappiness.
But in life that happens sometimes: What we want isnt exactly what will make us happy.
He doesnt want money.
And its his choice.
He would have been in a happier relationship probably with Julio, but its not what he wanted.
And sometimes what makes us happy isnt what we really want.
… What people do want is Smithers working for Burns.
Was there a lot of talk over the years of when to do a Smithers comes out episode?
Isnt there another Smithers episode in the works?
Its more of a Burns episode.
Its also a little bit based on our experiences working at the Hollywood Bowl.
But its not forwarding Burns and Smithers relationship.
Anyone else that might be gay that youre planning a big story for?Lenny and Carl?
Theres no other hidden story lines.
Lenny and Carl like each other a lot.
[Laughs]
Anything to say about that?
I think weve just made the reality so elastic that theyve clearly had girlfriends.
They could be bi for all I know.
