# Waylan Smithers- gay? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 30, 2002, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605 "2002-05-30T20:07:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ace\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Ace\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace_Face)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/21 "2002-05-31T04:04:27Z")
Burns: “Someone up there must like me!” Smithers: “Someone down here likes you too, sir.” Burns: “Oh, shut up.” ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/22 "2002-05-31T04:19:23Z")
Most of my favourites have already been listed here. One that’s gotten forgotten: Smithers plays (_ahem_) Deep Throat on a Republican Conspiracy. Lisa: “Why are you helping us?” Smithers: Let’s just say that some of the republican party’s policies interfere with my choice of lifestyle There was also some line about when Mr. Burns was looking for his teddy bear – and Smithers tries to be a replacement. Don’t want to butcher that line, though. – Hamish (who knows far more about gay cartoon/comic characters than is healthy for any human being :D). ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/23 "2002-05-31T04:59:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stuffy \* > \*\* > > If I’m not mistaken, there was an episode with the following exchange. > > Smithers: Mr. Burns, I love you. > > Mr. Burns: Great, thanks for making my last moment on earth uncomfortable. > > It might have been the one with the comet, but I’m sure I heard that exchange. \*\* I actually think that was the one with the angel fossil that turned out to be a gimmick for the shopping mall. (Everyone thought the world was going to end at a certain time, but in reality the mall was opening.) Could be wrong though. [singing]“Sold - separately. Why do I feel as if we’re sold, separately…?”[/singing] ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/24 "2002-05-31T05:15:49Z")
Didn’t Burns say something along the lines of “Thank you for making my last moments on earth socially awkward” in the episode where Smithers confessed his love? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/25 "2002-05-31T06:40:43Z")
I saw somewhere that the writers consider Smithers to be Burnsexual. In other words, he only has the hots for Burns. There also was an episode which had Smithers in a flashback with what apparently was his wife or SO, confessing his attraction to Burns. The scene was obviously a riff on a movie, but I’m not sure which one. Might have been _Making Love_. ---
**Author:** ![socialxray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@socialxray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/socialxray)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/26 "2002-05-31T06:50:36Z")
You’re referring to the scene where Smithers is in _Streetcar Named Desire_ (in his fantasy) and admits his love for Burns. It was just a fantasy, though, as I recall. Not a realistic flashback. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/27 "2002-05-31T06:51:16Z")
> [@](#): > > In “TV Guide,” it was noted that, in Smithers’ first appearance, there was originally a line about him having a wife and children, but the line was cut. Not that having a wife and kids would AUTOMATICALLY preclude him from being gay, of course. And it’s not like the show pays that much attention to rules anyway – this IS the show with children who haven’t aged a day in a dozen-odd years. Not to mention that Smithers was a black man in his first appearance. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/28 "2002-05-31T13:14:04Z")
Why in the world is this even being debated? Nothing could be more obvious than the fact that Smithers is gay. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/29 "2002-05-31T13:27:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Not to mention that Smithers was a black man in his first appearance. which was, for the record, an error during animation. one of the producer-thingy guys said something along the lines of ‘he’s always meant to have been the toadying white guy’. please don’t make me dig up cites. it was at [www.snpp.com](http://www.snpp.com) somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![MachV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@MachV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MachV)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/30 "2002-05-31T13:44:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stuffy \* > \*\* > > If I’m not mistaken, there was an episode with the following exchange. > > Smithers: Mr. Burns, I love you. > > Mr. Burns: Great, thanks for making my last moment on earth uncomfortable. > > It might have been the one with the comet, but I’m sure I heard that exchange. \*\* It was during the nuclear meltewn of the plant. “Oh, hot dog. Thank you for making my last moments on earth _socially awkward_!” One of the best Smithers/gay references. I also love Smithers’ little grunt when he bumps into Burns during the episode in which the two were breaking into the Simpsons’ home. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/31 "2002-05-31T13:46:13Z")
From “The Simpsons’ 138th Episode Spectacular”: **Troy McClure** : “Ambassador Henry Mwabwetumba of the Ivory Coast writes, ‘What is the real deal with Mr. Burns’ assistant Smithers? You know what I’m talking about.’ Ha ha ha, of course we do.” (A bunch of Smithers clips, showing his love for Mr. Burns, plays) **Troy** : “As you can see, the real deal with Waylon Smithers is that he’s Mr. Burns’ assistant. He’s in his early 40s, is unmarried, and currently resides in Springfield. Thanks for writing! We’ll be right back.” ---
**Author:** ![drollman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f04885/32.png) [@drollman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drollman)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/32 "2002-05-31T14:02:49Z")
How 'bout the slide show of variouuis Springfeild residents leaving Belle’s Burlesque house: (Photo of Waylon the the screen) BURNS: Waylon? SMITHERS: My parents insisted I try it once, sir. (This may not be a word for word quote, but you get the idea. (From Wiggum: Hey! You showed me twice!) Drllman-- over 200 posts with a spelling mistake! ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_dupont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea666f/32.png) [@andrew\_dupont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrew_dupont)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/33 "2002-05-31T14:48:08Z")
Oh, my…not that there’s anything to be said for anagrams, but **Waylon Smithers** is now my second-favorite anagrammable name (behind **Spiro Agnew** , of course). Waylon Smithers —\> wants him sorely Thanks for that link, **Bryan Ekers**. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/34 "2002-05-31T16:17:04Z")
Well crap, what kind of Simpsons fan am I when I screw up all the quotes. BTW, I think a couple of you were right, it was probably the meltdown episode. Any one want to take a crack at correcting the quote in my sig? Bonus points for IDing the episode. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/35 "2002-05-31T17:17:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan: \* > > **There also was an episode which had Smithers in a flashback with what apparently was his wife or SO, > confessing his attraction to Burns. The scene was obviously a riff on a movie, but I’m not sure which one. Might > have been Making Love.** > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by socialxray: \* > \*\*You’re referring to the scene where Smithers is in _Streetcar Named Desire_ (in his fantasy) and admits his love for Burns. It was just a fantasy, though, as I recall. Not a realistic flashback. \*\* Close. The flashback to Smithers’ marriage is from Tennessee Williams, but it’s _Cat on a Hot Tin Roof_. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/36 "2002-05-31T18:24:53Z")
When a tape of “Its Raining Men” flew into his car, he seemed quite pleased. If thats not a give-a-way, I don’t know what is! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/37 "2002-05-31T18:34:59Z")
**Stuffy** , from “Brother from Another Series,” the quote from Cecil should read: “I had no idea, for you see I have been on Mars for the last decade, in a cave, with my eyes shut and my fingers in my ears.” Gald to help 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/38 "2002-05-31T18:41:28Z")
…make that “happy to help” ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/39 "2002-05-31T18:55:11Z")
Thanks Max, good jog on the ID too! ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/40 "2002-05-31T19:07:26Z")
Burns: Smithers, there’s a rocket in my pocket! Smithers: You don’t have to tell _me_ that, sir. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605.md?page=3)