This Week’s Episode Wasn’t the First Time ‘The Simpsons’ Clowned on Guy Fieri

This week’s episode of The Simpsons found Homer palling around with a reality TV chef named Thad, played by prolific voice actor John DiMaggio. And come to think of it, DiMaggio does have some experience when it comes to voicing cartoon celebrity chefs. 

Thad, the goateed host of Dude vs Food, has spiky bleached blond hair, a wardrobe full of horrifically garish T-shirts and frequently wears his sunglasses on the back of his head. In other words, he’s not exactly the most subtle parody of Guy Fieri. 

Although, Fieri never ed out on the set of his own show looking like the world’s tackiest bloated corpse — that we know of.

“Stew Lies” isn’t a very flattering portrayal of Fieri/Thad. While Homer is a huge fan, others aren’t so sure about his brand of “performative gluttony.” And without spoiling too much, the host doesn’t turn out to be super trustworthy. 

This isn’t the first time that The Simpsons has turned its attention to the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives host. Fieri previously popped up, albeit very briefly, in Season 23’s “The Food Wife,” when Marge dips her toe into food blogging. 

While the episode features a number of celebrity chef guest stars, including Gordon Ramsey, Mario Batali and the late Anthony Bourdain, Fieri’s role is limited to a mute cameo in Marge’s dream. He can be seen sitting on the shoulders of Paul Prudhomme in a line-up of famous chefs on bouncy balls.

More damningly, in last season’s “Thirst Trap: A Corporate Love Story,” Fieri is one of Mr. Burns’ richest, most gullible friends in the Elizabeth Holmes-skewering episode. Fieri is depicted hanging out with fellow wealthy monsters Rupert Murdoch, Bill Belichick, Jeff Bezos and George W. Bush. 

And back in 2012, an issue of Simpsons Comics introduced Gus Gustavson, another thinly-veiled caricature of Fieri, in the story “Man vs. Beast vs. Food.” After downing “two pounds of applewood-smoked bacon enrobed in three pounds of buttery-rich maple fudge,” TV’s most popular “gastro-abomination” is promptly rushed to the hospital.

Weirdly, The Simpsons’ greatest parody of Fieri may have come before he ever became famous. At the risk of spreading yet another bogus Simpsons prediction, Fieri’s whole personality is totally just Capital City Milhouse.