Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Cookie is coming to “Springfield!”
“Empire” actress Taraji P. Henson is guest starring on the first ever one-hour episode of “The Simpsons.” The show airs in January on FOX.
According to the press release, the special episode is titled “The Great Phatsby,” and will feature Henson as Praline, the ex-wife of a music mogul that causes Mr. Burns (Harry Shearer) to file for bankruptcy. Burns also enlists the help of Homer, Bart and rapper Jazzy James voiced by Keegan-Michael Key. Also in the episode, Lisa (Yeardley Smith) is courted by the richest kid in town, Smithers (Shearer) begins a perilous journey and Marge (Julie Kavner) opens an obscure boutique store.
Premiering Sunday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m., Season 28 kicks off with the all-new episode “Monty Burns’ Fleeing Circus,” in which Springfield is burned to the ground, and the Simpsons beg Mr. Burns (Shearer) to fund its rebuilding. Burns agrees – with one condition: he gets to put on a variety show at the Springfield Bowl.
Additionally, the series’ record-setting 600th episode will air Sunday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. , with a classic “Treehouse of Horror XXVII” episode. In it, Mr. Burns introduces a “Hunger Games”-style contest in which Springfield’s children must fight each other; and Lisa’s imaginary best friend becomes jealous of Lisa’s real best friends.
“The Simpsons” continues to strike a chord with viewers for irreverently poking fun at anything and everything. As the longest-running scripted series in television history, “The Simpsons” has become one of the most consistently groundbreaking, innovative and recognizable entertainment franchises throughout the world. With its subversive humor and delightful wit, the series has made an indelible imprint on American pop culture, and its family members – HOMER (Dan Castellaneta), MARGE (Julie Kavner), BART (Nancy Cartwright), LISA (Yeardley Smith) and MAGGIE – are television icons.
Stay tuned…