Fans of “The Simpsons” are in for big things once Season 28 starts, as the animated series will reach two major milestones: Its 600th episode and its first-ever hourlong episode.
The iconic show’s hourlong episode will be a hip-hop tribute to “The Great Gatsby,” with stars like Taraji P. Henson and Keegan-Michael Key providing guest voices, according to Entertainment Weekly. The news was announced on Monday during the TCA summer press tour.
As EW notes, the super-sized episode ― called “The Great Phatsby” ― will air in January and will focus mainly on Mr. Burns. The plot will mimic F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel and follow the crumbling relationship between Burns and a hip-hop mogul named Jay G. Homer will essentially be the episode’s Nick Carraway, acting as narrator.
“Burns is an old-school Gatsby and Jay G is a new-school Gatsby,” “Simpsons” executive producer Matt Selman told EW, “and their mutual Gatsbyism brings them together.”
“Part 1 of the show I would subtitle as ‘The Betrayal,’ and Part 2 I would subtitle as ‘The Revenge,’” Selman said. “It’s kind of like a two-part rap album.” (And speaking of rap, “Empire” music producer Jim Beanz is set to create some original hip-hop songs for the episode.)
Selman explained that the crew didn’t initially plan on creating this episode to be longer than the show’s usual 22-minute format, but after a successful table read, they decided to go for it. As Selman noted, there will be “greed, excess, betrayal, revenge, and ruthlessness” — and we’re here for it. Oh, and there will be a goose that is apparently very funny.
The episode will also feature subplots where Lisa — like, you know, whatever— starts dating a rich boyfriend, and Marge opens up a boutique.
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