Fox to Air One-Hour Episode of ‘The Simpsons’

Animated mainstay “The Simpsons,” which will surpass the 600-episode mark in October, will be featured in its first ever one-hour episode in January. In the expanded installment, “The Great Phatsby,” featuring Emmy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson (“Empire”) as a guest voice, Mr. Burns (Harry Shearer) tries to relive his glory days, and crosses paths with a mysterious music mogul. After being conned by him and reduced to bankruptcy, Mr. Burns seeks revenge on the music producer with the help of Homer, Bart, rapper Jazzy James (guest voice Keegan-Michael Key) and the mogul’s ex-wife, Praline (Henson). 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. ET, 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.