Smithers, who is that gastropod? Why, it's Harry Shearer, the voice actor who was reportedly leaving The Simpsons. It seems that Fox and Mr. Shearer have come to an arrangement that suits both parties, and the man behind the voices of characters such as Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, Kent Brockman, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders, Reverend Lovejoy, Dr. Hibbert, Lenny Leonard, Otto Mann, Rainier Wolfcastle and Dr. Marvin Monroe will return to the series.
It's hard to know what went on behind the scenes, but according to a tweet from May, it seems as though Shearer originally thought he would not be able to continue doing other work (he hosts a radio program called Le Show and stars in YouTube series Nixon’s The One). Apparently that is no longer the case, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.
The Simpsons will premiere its 27th (!) season on September 27.
Seen something newsworthy? Tell us!