She deceives Homer into freeing her moments before the police arrived, who thought that the kids were merely tormenting yet another babysitter. In " Bart's Dog Gets an F " a news broadcast mentions that she has escaped from prison. She appears in " Hurricane Neddy ", pacing back and forth in a cell in Calmwood Mental Hospital. Ms. Botz's name is a parody of Gertrude Baniszewski . [ 6 ] Karl ( Harvey Fierstein ) was Homer's assistant who tried to help Homer succeed as an executive. When Homer was about to be fired for his misdeeds, Karl took the blame and was fired in his place. Karl is the first openly gay character on The Simpsons and kisses Homer after getting fired. [ 7 ] Beatrice "Bea" Simmons ( Audrey Meadows ) was Grampa Simpson 's girlfriend. They met at the Springfield Retirement Castle. After arranging a date for Bea's birthday, Grampa was forced to stand her up when Homer took him to "Discount Lion Safari". When he returned to the Retirement Castle, Bea had died and left all her money to Abe. [ 10 ] Professor Lombardo, ( Jon Lovitz ) an art teacher at Springfield Community College . He is quick to compliment almost everything he sees as art. However he does not take praise very well. He reappeared briefly in " The Ziff Who Came to Dinner " as part of a quartet of Simpsons characters who were voiced by former SNL cast member Jon