Danny DeVito is returning to The Simpsons in its upcoming 36th season. He first appeared as a guest star on the show back in 1991. After many years, he’ll be back on screen in a new episode.
In the show’s second season, Danny DeVito voiced Herb Powell, Homer’s long-lost brother, in the famous episode “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” At San Diego Comic-Con, series writer and producer Michael Price accidentally revealed during an interview with the Four Finger Discount podcast that DeVito will guest star in the Season 36 premiere, titled “Bart’s Birthday.” Price hinted that DeVito would reprise a character he had played on the show before.
Although Price didn’t directly say that DeVito would be voicing Herb, it’s likely since DeVito has only voiced Homer’s brother on the show. Since the episode centers on Bart’s birthday, it makes sense that Uncle Herb might show up for the celebration. DeVito will join several other big guest stars in the episode, including Tom Hanks, John Cena, and Conan O’Brien.
Herb Powell’s Big Debut on The Simpsons Back in 1991
In Herb’s first episode, Homer finds out that his half-brother owns a car company that’s struggling to come up with a new idea. Homer suggests a strange idea, which Herb decides to use. However, when the car is revealed, it becomes a joke, leading Herb to go bankrupt and leave town upset with Homer.
In 1993, DeVito returned as Herb in a Season 3 episode called “Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?” In this episode, Herb invents a device that translates baby talk for parents, but he needs help from his brother Homer and the Simpson family for research. The invention became a huge success, and before Herb left, he gave each Simpson family member a special gift, including a vibrating recliner for Homer.
DeVito returned as Herb for a third time in a brief cameo during a Season 24 episode in 2013 called “Changing of the Guardian.” In this episode, Homer and Marge decide to choose a legal guardian for their kids in case something happens to them. They call Herb, but he tells them he’s broke again, so Homer hangs up the phone. Herb had been mentioned a few times in earlier episodes, but this was the first time DeVito voiced the character in years.
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The Simpsons will be back on Fox with the Season 36 premiere on September 29, 2024. Until then, you can watch past episodes with DeVito as Herb Powell on Disney+.
Source: Decider