Everybody's favorite spinach-eating, pipe-smoking, Bluto-bashing, Swee'pea-raising sailor man is set to make a return to television this winter. FOX has scheduled the half-hour special "Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy" for Sunday, Dec. 19.

The half-hour episode will feature many of the most popular characters from the classic cartoon including Olive Oyl and Wimpy as the sailor travels across the Sea of Mystery to rescue is ornery Pappy.

This, however, isn't your grandfather's Popeye, or even your father's Popeye. In updating the franchise for a new generation, King Features Syndicate has allowed the character to become computer animated courtesy of Mainframe Entertainment, which animated the most recent incarnation of Spider-Man. The newly 3-D sailor will also have a new theme song by Devo veteran Mark Mothersbaugh.

The episode was co-written by Paul Reiser ("Mad About You"), a lifelong Popeye fan.

In addition to the participation of Mothersbaugh and Reiser, the producers were able to attract acclaimed voice actor Billy West to play Popeye. West is best known for his multiple roles on "Futurama," but can also be heard on "Ren & Stimpy" and as the Red M&M.

He'll be joined by Oscar winner Kathy Bates, who lends her voice to the Sea Hag, who tries to prevent Popeye from reaching his father.