The Simpsons Brings Back a Guest Star From 17 Years Ago for an All-New Role

The following contains mild spoilers for The Simpsons Season 36 Episode 4, ‘Shoddy Heat,’ now streaming on HuluThe Simpsons brings back a guest star from season 19 for an all-new role in season 36. The Simpsons has become one of the biggest metrics of fame in Hollywood, with the long-running animated series boasting nearly a thousand guest stars throughout its run. These range from sports stars and prominent politicians to popular musicians and legendary actors. For the most part, The Simpsons offers celebrity guests the chance to poke fun at themselves or take on a ridiculous role in the world of Springfield.

However, some guest stars got the chance to leave their mark on 36 seasons of The Simpsons and play different characters from different corners of the universe. The latest celebrity to receive this distinction returns to the program after seventeen years, taking on a character that fleshes out Abe Simpson’s story. It’s a fun performance, but also very different from her previous appearance on the show.

Topher Grace’s Season 36 Simpsons Character Is Different From His Season 19 Role

Topher Grace played Bart’s new friend and Abe’s former partner

Topher Grace returns to The Simpsons in season 36, but in an entirely different role than her previous appearance in season 19. In season 36’s “Shoddy Heat”, Grace appears as William “Billy” O’Donnell. Former partner of Abe Simpson when he was briefly a private investigator before the events of The SimpsonsO’Donnell disappeared years ago. This kicks off the episode’s plot, as Lisa works to uncover the truth about her fate. It’s a smaller but fun role for Grace, who plays the character as a goofy but pragmatic foil to the comically serious Abe.

This is a far cry from Grace’s former role in The Simpsons. In season 19 of “The Debarted”, the That 70s show star played Donnie. A new student at Springfield Elementary who quickly befriends Bart, Donnie is secretly an informant for Principal Skinner and Superintendent Chalmers to monitor Bart’s pranks.. Although O’Donnell is important to “Shoddy Heat” more as a plot device than a character, Donnie’s growing reluctance to turn against Bart serves as the main emotional arc of “The Debarted.” However, both episodes serve as parodies of crime thrillers like Vice Miami or Those who leftgiving them a thematic connection.

Topher Grace is the rare Simpsons guest star with several unique roles

Most guest stars perform or get a Springfield resident

Although there have been hundreds of notable guest stars The Simpsons Over the years, Topher Grace is among the few who have actually appeared on the series in different roles. For the most part, guest stars in The Simpsons play a character (such as Kelsey Grammar’s longtime role as Sideshow Bob) or as parodies of themselves. However, some performers were cast in multiple roles. This includes regular guests such as Jon Lovitz, the late Phil Hartman and Albert Brooks playing various The Simpsons characters from the show’s early days.

There were a few more exclusive guest stars who joined the show to play various roles in different seasons. This includes Anne Hathaway, George Takei, Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader. Topher Grace can now count himself among the few actors with multiple appearances in The Simpsons out of a parody of his public persona. Grace fits in well The Simpsonswith a dry delivery in Season 19 and Season 36 that highlights how easily he fits into the blunt and silly world of Springfield.