Few single-episode characters on The Simpsons are as memorable as Frank Grimes—or Grimey, as he liked to be called.
Grimey earned everything the hard way and never let it get him down. After being abandoned and blown up, he taught himself to hear and do science. Then, he received his correspondence school diploma in nuclear physics. But in the end, he failed to wear safety gloves and was electrocuted on the job.
But what can we learn from Grimey? Why should he live above one bowling alley and below another while Homer—who, let's be honest, hasn't really worked a day in his life—gets the beautiful wife, the son with a factory, and the lobster for dinner? Why should Grimey have a tragic ending, while Homer survives for at least 20 more years and at least 19 more seasons? Certainly, Grimey isn't wrong when he calls Homer lazy and stupid. But is he kind of an asshole?
These are good questions that many of us have wrestled with for two decades.
And perhaps there will be answers when Grimey returns on in The Simpsons' 600th episode for this seasons Treehouse of Horror XXVII.
His appearance will be a cameo as a ghost among a group of Simpsons enemies.
"They're forming a sinister squadron of Simpsons enemies to try to kill the Simpsons," executive producer Al Jean tells Entertainment Weekly.
It'll be good to see you again, Grimey.
