WRITER WATCH
Newsarama tried to stealthily ask showrunner Al Jean why he's been showrunner for the past nine years, and he answered that the writers haven't been getting offers to work on other comedies and that comedy might finally be back on the upswing. I guess all those Judd Apatow-produced movies and animated comedies (some of them not created by Seth MacFarlane) and single-camera sitcoms like Arrested Development and The Office that have popped up in the past couple of years were actually part of a downswing?
Newsarama tried to stealthily ask showrunner Al Jean why he's been showrunner for the past nine years, and he answered that the writers haven't been getting offers to work on other comedies and that comedy might finally be back on the upswing. I guess all those Judd Apatow-produced movies and animated comedies (some of them not created by Seth MacFarlane) and single-camera sitcoms like Arrested Development and The Office that have popped up in the past couple of years were actually part of a downswing?
Nrama: But haven't you always had a philosophy of keeping the writers rotating? It kept new blood flowing.[Newsarama]
Jean: Well, it was never a philosophy. There were two dynamics at work. In the 1990's, there were a lot of comedies on the air. People who were on 'The Simpsons' got all these offers to work elsewhere. So they would leave, often to head their own projects. So we'd replace them.
This decade, unfortunately, comedy has not been doing so well. If people are doing a good job, then I keep them. So it doesn't rotate as much. Still, I'm encouraged by this year's ratings. Comedy might be back on the upswing. 'American Family' has started off really well.
Labels: NEWS OF THE NASAL, WRITER WATCH
posted 9/26/2009 | permalink
Harry Shearer Offered To Write An Episode Once
WOULD-BE WRITER WATCH
Fun factoid: According to his Twitter, Harry Shearer - the most vocal critic of the show amongst the cast - offered to write an episode a long time ago but was never taken up on it. [Twitter.com/letwits]
Fun factoid: According to his Twitter, Harry Shearer - the most vocal critic of the show amongst the cast - offered to write an episode a long time ago but was never taken up on it. [Twitter.com/letwits]
Labels: VOCAL VOCATIONS, WRITER WATCH
posted 9/24/2009 | permalink
Critic Creator Faces Critics
WRITER WATCH
Former showrunner and occasional (?) Simpsons writer Mike Reiss wrote a film, My Life in Ruins, which was savaged by critics. Reiss seems most perturbed that nobody got his nerd joke:
[Nerd World]
Former showrunner and occasional (?) Simpsons writer Mike Reiss wrote a film, My Life in Ruins, which was savaged by critics. Reiss seems most perturbed that nobody got his nerd joke:
Several critics singled me out, calling me "an idiot," "an imbecile," and "sub-literate." Now, I opened the film with an allusion to Voltaire - a sign reads "Pangloss Tours: 'The Best of All Possible Worlds'." In Candide, Dr. Pangloss utters these optimistic words before his group sets out on an utterly disastrous journey. Just like the tourists in my film! Get it? The critics didn't. Not one caught the allusion. Otherwise, they'd have called me a "sub-literate moron who reads Voltaire."
[Nerd World]
Labels: WRITER WATCH
posted 7/05/2009 | permalink
Conan O'Brien Still Afraid Of Matt Groening
FORMER WRITER WATCH
Upon being reminded that Simpsons creator Matt Groening grew up in Portland, former Simpsons writer and future Tonight Show host Conan O'Brien said this:
Upon being reminded that Simpsons creator Matt Groening grew up in Portland, former Simpsons writer and future Tonight Show host Conan O'Brien said this:
"He'll always be my boss. You know how you feel when you run into your third-grade teacher at the supermarket? Your worry that you're going to get in trouble, even if you're 45? That's how I feel when I see Matt Groening."Oregon Live]
Labels: GROEN DRAIN, WRITER WATCH
posted 3/22/2009 | permalink
Simpsons Writers Spreading Viruses???
WEB-WATCH
posted 12 July 2008 source cnet
In an episode aired in early 2003, Homer's e-mail address is revealed to be Chunkylover53@aol.com. E-mails sent to that address would receive a response from "Homer," which was actually written by writer Matt Selman (see some of the responses here). That account has remained largely dormant until recently, when it resurfaced on AIM to spread malware to those who had added "Homer" to their buddy list:
The real question: why is Matt Selman and his Simpsons co-workers spreading viruses to their fans?
posted 12 July 2008 source cnet
In an episode aired in early 2003, Homer's e-mail address is revealed to be Chunkylover53@aol.com. E-mails sent to that address would receive a response from "Homer," which was actually written by writer Matt Selman (see some of the responses here). That account has remained largely dormant until recently, when it resurfaced on AIM to spread malware to those who had added "Homer" to their buddy list:
Since then, the screen name has been inactive, until a few days ago when Chunkylover53's "Away" message appeared, prompting people to click on a link and run an executable in order to see "a *new* Internet-only exclusive Simpson's episode."
Of course, the file doesn't show a Simpsons video. It infects the machine with a Trojan that throws up error messages, crashes the computer when attempting to open Windows Explorer and drops other nasty files onto the machine, making it part of what is believed to be a Turkish botnet, according to FaceTime, which secures IM, collaboration and Web apps for corporations.
The real question: why is Matt Selman and his Simpsons co-workers spreading viruses to their fans?
Labels: THE MARGE REPORT, WEB-WATCH, WRITER WATCH
posted 7/12/2008 | permalink
Superbad Writers To Pen Episode Next Season
PARDON MY ZINGER
posted 1 May 2008 source empire
in addition to the usual ~20 other episodes that season. Also, Superbad screenwriters Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen will write one.
posted 1 May 2008 source empire
in addition to the usual ~20 other episodes that season. Also, Superbad screenwriters Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen will write one.
Labels: PARDON MY ZINGER, WRITER WATCH
posted 5/01/2008 | permalink
Simpsons Writer Has Good Taste In Music
WRITER WATCH
posted 26 April 2008 source office tally
In a fan Q+A, The Office writer Mindy Kaling (Kelly) namedrops Simpsons writer Danny Chun, who was apparently "raving about Hot Chip and Vampire Weekend like fifteen years ago." Given Mike Scully's love for NRBQ and Al Jean's love for on-the-nose musical montages, Chun needs to be promoted to executive producer immediately.
posted 26 April 2008 source office tally
In a fan Q+A, The Office writer Mindy Kaling (Kelly) namedrops Simpsons writer Danny Chun, who was apparently "raving about Hot Chip and Vampire Weekend like fifteen years ago." Given Mike Scully's love for NRBQ and Al Jean's love for on-the-nose musical montages, Chun needs to be promoted to executive producer immediately.
Labels: WRITER WATCH
posted 4/26/2008 | permalink
Greg Daniels Predicts Simpsons Ending
SMARTLINE
posted 13 April 2008 source nbc.com
Former Simpsons writer and current The Office executive producer Greg Daniels answered a question about how long The Simpsons will go on:
posted 13 April 2008 source nbc.com
Former Simpsons writer and current The Office executive producer Greg Daniels answered a question about how long The Simpsons will go on:
Simpsons will be on until the computers develop intelligence and shut down the meat people's world, or until a Mega Volcano destroys our culture, or until the per episode syndication price falls below the cost of producing an episode.
Labels: SMARTLINE, WRITER WATCH
posted 4/13/2008 | permalink
Writers Mad At Pun-Hating Internet Nerds
WRITER WATCH
posted 29 February 2008 source no homers club
Simpsons writer Bill Odenkirk posted a thread on the No Homers Club message board to respond to internet criticism for the punderful title of upcoming episode "Mona Leaves-a" (now retitled "RaMona Milendo"... or is that a joke?) and defend the use of titular punnage:
Also, thanks to intrepid reporting courtesy of yours truly, we now know the reason for the heavy usage of puns over the past five years: "Al Jean likes puns."
posted 29 February 2008 source no homers club
Simpsons writer Bill Odenkirk posted a thread on the No Homers Club message board to respond to internet criticism for the punderful title of upcoming episode "Mona Leaves-a" (now retitled "RaMona Milendo"... or is that a joke?) and defend the use of titular punnage:
Most of you are showing hate towards the episode title, Mona Leaves-a. I'm the writer for this episode, and also pitched the title. I'm here to say that it's supposed to be a bad pun...
We don't mind you people criticizing the episodes after they've aired, but judging them like you do, when all you know is the title, really makes us mad towards you. Hey, what a great pun! New episode title here we come!
Also, thanks to intrepid reporting courtesy of yours truly, we now know the reason for the heavy usage of puns over the past five years: "Al Jean likes puns."
Labels: WRITER WATCH
posted 2/29/2008 | permalink
YouTube Video of Striking Simpsons Writers
AZTEC THEATER
posted 17 November 007 source youtube
Not as funny as "The Office" writers but whatever
posted 17 November 007 source youtube
Not as funny as "The Office" writers but whatever
Labels: AZTEC THEATRE, WAGON TRAIN, WRITER WATCH
posted 11/17/2007 | permalink
Conan O'Brien Not Asked To Participate In Movie
PARDON MY ZINGER
posted 18 July 2007 source entertainment weekly
posted 18 July 2007 source entertainment weekly
Responding to a comment by current show runner Al Jean that he would have simply ''laughed'' off an invite to work on the movie, in Entertainment Weekly for its Simpsons cover story that hits stands this Friday, O'Brien deadpanned:
''I cleared my talk show schedule for a year at great financial cost to myself, got an apartment right outside the Fox lot, and told them I was ready to report to work. All I heard back was that they were having trouble finding me a parking space, and then they stopped returning my calls altogether. I am stunned and disappointed.... Truth be told, I worry that the Simpsons-writing portion of my brain has been destroyed after 14 years of talking to Lindsay Lohan and that guy from One Tree Hill, so maybe it's all for the best.''
Labels: PARDON MY ZINGER, SMARTLINE, WRITER WATCH
posted 7/18/2007 | permalink
Dana Gould Claimed By The Undead
WRITER WATCH
posted 24 May 2007 source variety
posted 24 May 2007 source variety
"The Simpsons" scribe/co-exec producer Dana Gould has set up a pair of projects, including a zombie laffer at Comedy Central... tentatively titled "The Last Larry." Partially inspired by "Shaun of the Dead," half-hour is set in a post-apocalyptic world in which the few remaining survivors are trying to get on with their lives.
"It's a very traditional sitcom set in the world of a zombie holocaust," Gould said. "I felt fairly positive after I pitched it that I wouldn't hear a lot of 'Not that idea again.' "
Comedy Central is developing a script for "Larry," which Gould would write and exec produce. Tom Lassally and Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment will also exec produce.
Gould -- who continues to perform regularly as a standup -- would star in the project, which would explore how people deal with the small things in life even after something cataclysmic.
"I hope to rip off not only 'Shaun of the Dead' but also 'Battlestar Galactica,' " Gould joked. "If I could combine those two shows in a sitcom, I think I'd be accomplishing something."
Labels: WRITER WATCH
posted 5/24/2007 | permalink
Things Learned From The Paley Television Festival
TIDBITS
posted 18 March 2007 source zap 2 it
posted 18 March 2007 source zap 2 it
- Jon Bon Jovi was going to guest star, but he backed out because "the writers had his character covered with melted cheese at one point and insult Richie Sambora at another point in the script."
- The Beatles don't like talking about The Beatles.
- Matt Groening authorized a Bart Simpson asthma inhaler.
- Executive Producer Tim Long: "America doesn't love Gil." So why would you base an entire episode around him?
Labels: SPRINGFIELD SHOPPER, WRITER WATCH
posted 3/18/2007 | permalink
Dana Gould Wants You To Throw Out Your Simpsons DVDs
WRITER WATCH
posted 22 February 2007 source citypaper
Gould: I don't want to be standing at the Pearly Gates explaining why I spent my life watching DVDs of sitcoms I'd already seen. I mean, really ... do something else. Fold up old paper bags. Make a puppet. Dress like an angel and convince a wino that he's died. Something constructive.
posted 22 February 2007 source citypaper
Gould: I don't want to be standing at the Pearly Gates explaining why I spent my life watching DVDs of sitcoms I'd already seen. I mean, really ... do something else. Fold up old paper bags. Make a puppet. Dress like an angel and convince a wino that he's died. Something constructive.
Labels: WRITER WATCH
posted 2/22/2007 | permalink
Simpsons Writers: "Apparently There's A War Or Something Going On"
WRITER WATCH
posted 28 October 2006 source tv squad
The final segment of the upcoming Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror" episode on November 5 will take a few not-so-subtle shots at the current conflict in Iraq as aliens Kang and Kodos (who are featured in every "Treehouse of Horror") attack Springfield before the humans can get their hands on "weapons of mass disintegration". The connection to the Iraq war is made obvious, and there's even a line at the end in which a character evokes the actual Iraq debacle.
posted 28 October 2006 source tv squad
The final segment of the upcoming Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror" episode on November 5 will take a few not-so-subtle shots at the current conflict in Iraq as aliens Kang and Kodos (who are featured in every "Treehouse of Horror") attack Springfield before the humans can get their hands on "weapons of mass disintegration". The connection to the Iraq war is made obvious, and there's even a line at the end in which a character evokes the actual Iraq debacle.
"Hey you know it's been more than three years, maybe we oughta get around to satirizing the war in some way"
Labels: WRITER WATCH
posted 10/28/2006 | permalink
