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Tom Waits Takes Downtown Train to Springfield for ‘Simpsons’ Cameo

Tom Waits / Photo by Getty Images

As if to counter Simpsons fans’ “collective d’oh!” upon learning that Justin Bieber would be making an appearance sometime next season, the show’s producers have announced a more rock’n’roll guest appearance. Tom Waits will lend his growl to the series’ 24th season in an episode airing sometime in December. Although he won’t be wearing an eye patch or dragging a house, he will assume the role he was born to play — himself. According to Yahoo! TV, he will not sing but will introduce Homer to a group of survivalists in an episode titled “Homer Goes to Prep School.”

“We did a lot of research into the ‘prepper’ phenomenon, where people are convinced that some horrible catastrophe — like an electromagnetic pulse — is going to occur, and that people will have to survive without the grid,” executive producer Al Jean told Yahoo. “Homer becomes a prepper.”

Other actors and entertainers who are reportedly set to appear on the show’s upcoming season, which premieres September 30, include Zooey Deschanel, Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman, Fred Armisen, Patton Oswalt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ed Norton and Steve Carell.