The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History

by John Ortved

Comedy Central

  comic books

  Cooper Point Journal

  Cops

  Cosby, Bill see also The Cosby Show

  Cosby Show, The

  Costello, Elvis

  Cribs

  Critic, The: background crossover episode with The Simpsons as new focus of Simpsons writers Al Jean and Mike Reiss

  Crittenden, Jennifer biographical sketch recalls Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein as showrunners recalls David Mirkin recalls John Swartzwelder

  Cronkite, Walter

  Cross, David

  Crowe, Cameron

  Crumb, Robert

  Csupo, Gabor: animation issues with Gracie Films background biographical sketch and question of The Simpsons authorship recalls bumper episodes of The Simpsons on The Tracey Ullman Show recalls first Groening line drawings recalls initial studio viewing of first Simpsons episode recalls treatment by Gracie Films role in color development for Simpsons drawings work on first Simpsons episodes

  Curb Your Enthusiasm

  Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The

  Daniels, Greg

  Danza, Tony

  Davis, David

  Davis, Marvin

  “Death of the Author” (essay)

  “Deep Deep Trouble” (episode)

  “Deep Space Homer” (episode)

  Designing Women

  DeVito, Danny as Simpsons guest voice

  DiCaprio, George

  Dick Tracy

  Dick Van Dyke Show, The

  Die Hard

  Diller, Barry: background biographical sketch and bumper Simpsons episodes description at Fox leaves Fox moves The Simpsons to Thursday night opposite Cosby at Paramount questions initial quality status of first Simpsons episode recalled by others recalls enmity between Sam Simon and Matt Groening recalls initial screening of first finished Simpsons episode for Fox executives relationship with Harris Katleman relationship with James L. Brooks role in giving go-ahead to The Simpsons skepticism about prime time animation shows and success of The Simpsons worries about Simpson overexposure

  Dillon, Matt, as Simpsons guest voice

  Disco Stu (Simpsons character)

  Disney

  DJ Kool Herc

  “Do the Bartman”

  “Doh!”

  Dolgen, John at Fox meeting over animation costs

  Dolph (Simpsons character)

  Doonesbury

  Downey, Jim

  Doyle, Larry: biographical sketch recalls contract negotiations with actors recalls Mark McGwire recalls Mike Scully recalls Stephen Hawking

  Duckman

  Duets

  Easton, Charleen: biographical sketch recalls David Mirkin

  Ebert, Roger

  Edge, The

  Ed Sullivan Show, The

  Edward Scissorhands

  Eisner, Michael

  Eisner, Will

  Elfman, Danny

  Elliott, Chris

  Emmy Awards, for The Simpsons

  Erikson, Steve

  Ernie Pook’s Comeek

  Estin, Ken: biographical sketch and earnings from Tracey Ullman Show and spin-offs recalls creation of The Tracey Ullman Show recalls Groening’s deal with Fox recalls how Life in Hell cartoons led to The Simpsons recalls James L. Brooks recalls Matt Groening’s game house recalls Richard Sakai

  evangelicals

  Evergreen College, Olympia, Washington

  Everybody Loves Raymond

  Fallout Boy, as Simpsons guest voice

  Family Dog

  Family Guy

  Family Matters

  Family Ties

  Fantasia

  Father Knows Best

  FCC (Federal Communications Commission)

  female writers

  Ferrell, Will

  Fierstein, Harvey: biographical sketch as Simpsons guest voice

  Film Roman (animation studio) see also Roman, Phil

  Fish Police

  “Flaming Moe’s” (episode)

  Flanders, Maude (Simpsons character)

  Flanders, Ned (Simpsons character)

  Flash, The

  Flintstones, The

  Forrester, Brent: biographical sketch recalls Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein as showrunners recalls Conan O’Brien recalls David Cohen recalls David Mirkin recalls George Meyer recalls John Swartzwelder recalls King of the Hill recalls later writers as keepers of the grail recalls Mike Scully recalls other writers recalls process of creating jokes recalls writing room view of Conan O’Brien view of Simpsons influence

  Fox: attitude toward Internet fan sites and Barry Diller comparing Fox Broadcasting and Fox Television and contract negotiations with Simpsons actors involvement in dictating creative content moves Simpsons from Sunday to Thursday night Murdoch purchase question of sharing percentage of earnings from The Tracey Ullman Show and spin-offs relationship with James L. Brooks role of The Simpsons in building television network and The Simpsons Movie takes action against bootlegged merchandise where possible and The Tracey Ullman Show as union-free during writers’ strike

  Fox News

  Frampton, Peter

  Franzen, Jonathan

  Frasier

  Frazier, Ian

  Friends

  Full House

  Futurama

  Gammill, Tom

  Garfield

  Geffen, David

  Gehr, Richard

  Gersh Agency

  Gervais, Ricky: asked to write Simpsons episode biographical sketch recalls meeting Matt Groening respectability as writer view of Simpsons influence view of The Simpsons

  Get a Life

  Get Smart

  Gibson, Mel, as Simpsons guest voice

  Gil (Simpsons character)

  Gillis, Stephanie

  Gingrich, Newt

  “Girly Edition” (episode)

  Glamour magazine

  Goddard, Stephen

  Godfather, The

  Goldberg, Gary David

  Golden Girls

  Goldsmith, Gene

  Goldstein, Charlie: biographical sketch initial view of The Simpsons as series recalls animation issues with Gracie Films recalls push to get The Simpsons onto the air

  Goodman, Brad (Simpsons character)

  Gracie Films: animation issues background and contract negotiations and earnings from Tracey Ullman Show and spin-offs importance of writers location moves offices to Sony lot role of Barrie Diller role of Richard Sakai

  Graham, Billy

  Grammer, Kelsey, as Simpsons guest voice

  Grandpa (Simpsons character)

  Gray, Jonathan: biographical sketch response to Bush’s Waltons speech view of Lisa view of Marge view of Simpsons influence

  Greaney, Dan

  Grease

  Griffey, Ken, Jr., as Simpsons guest voice

  Grimes, Frank (Simpsons character)

  Groening, Deborah: becomes artist’s rep biographical sketch divorces Matt Groening as driver in Groening’s success at LA Reader marries Matt Groening meets Matt Groening takes charge of managing Groening’s business affairs view of Simpsons influence

  Groening, Matt: background biographical sketch childhood continuing involvement with The Simpsons and credit for The Simpsons early LA work recalled by others first creates Simpsons characters first meets with James L. Brooks graduates from college launches Futurama Life in Hell cartoon originals lead to the Simpsons makes deal with Fox meets and marries Deborah Kaplan as member of original Simpsons writing room (sort of) and merchandising of Simpsons names Simpson characters after his own family opposes crossover episode between The Simpsons and The Critic original business plan for publishing operations profiled in early press about The Simpsons and question of The Simpsons authorship recalled by others ; recalls initial studio viewing of first Simpsons episode relationship with James L. Brooks relationship with Sam Simon reputation as nice guy response regarding elementary school principals response to comparison of The Simpsons with Married … with Children response to que
stion of show’s continuing quality response to unlicensed merchandise and Ricky Gervais and Rusty Nails side-by-side houses in Venice, California view of Emmy Awards view of Homer view of Itchy and Scratchy view of Lisa view of look and feel of The Simpsons writes for LA Reader

  Growing Pains

  guest stars

  Gunsmoke

  Gunther, Sherry: biographical sketch recalls animation issues with Gracie Films recalls early animation work on The Simpsons

  Handy, Bruce

  Hanna-Barbera

  Hapablap, Col. Hap (Simpsons character)

  Harper’s Bazaar magazine

  Hartman, Phil: recalled by others as Simpsons guest voice

  Harvard Lampoon

  Hathaway, Anne, as Simpsons guest voice

  Hawk, Tony, as Simpsons guest voice

  Hawking, Stephen, as Simpsons guest voice

  Hayden, Pamela, hired for multiple Simpsons roles

  HBO

  Herman (Simpsons character)

  Hibbert, Dr. (Simpsons character)

  Hirsch, Judd

  Hitchcock, Alfred

  Hodgson, Joel

  Hoffman, Dustin, as Simpsons guest voice

  Home Alone

  Home Improvement

  “Homer Goes to College” (episode)

  “Homer’s Enemy” (episode)

  “Homer’s Phobia” (episode)

  “Homer’s Triple Bypass” (episode)

  Honeymooners, The

  Hoover, Miss (Simpsons character)

  Hope, Bob, as Simpsons guest voice

  Hurwitz, Mitchell

  Hutz, Lionel (Simpsons character)

  Huxtable, Clair

  Hyde, John

  “I Am Furious Yellow” (episode)

  If They Mated

  Iger, Bob

  I’ll Do Anything

  “I Love Lisa” (episode)

  In Living Color

  Indiana Jones films

  Internet: community of Simpsons fans discussion of The Simpsons decline Fox attitude toward fan sites Simpsons-related websites Usenet groups

  Irwin, William

  “Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show, The” (episode)

  It’s Gary Shandling’s Show

  Jackie Bison Show, The

  Jackson, Michael as Simpsons guest voice

  Jagger, Mick, as Simpsons musical guest

  Japan Air Lines

  Jazzy Jeff

  J. C. Penney

  Jean, Al: becomes official showrunner biographical sketch as cocreator of The Critic complaints by others about show’s decline in quality as member of original Simpsons writing room offers job to Conan O’Brien organizational skills points out creative possibilities in having Simpson family watch TV and question of The Simpsons authorship recalled by others recalled by Stan Lee recalls Tony Blair and Ricky Gervais as showrunner since 2001 as showrunner with Mike Reiss view of Simpsons influence works on The Simpsons Movie

  Jerry Maguire

  Jimbo (Simpsons character)

  John, Dr.

  Jones, Chuck

  Jones, Gerard, view of The Simpsons

  Jordan, Michael

  Judge, Mike

  “Kamp Krusty” (episode)

  Kang (Simpsons character)

  Kaplan, Deborah, see Groening, Deborah

  Kaplan, Eric

  Karl (Simpsons character)

  Katleman, Harris: biographical sketch at Fox meeting over animation costs initial response to The Simpsons recalls broadcast numbers for first Simpsons episode aired recalls early view of Fox Broadcasting recalls initial studio viewing of first Simpsons episode ; recalls merchandise incident in New York recalls relationship between Gracie Films and Fox recalls risk taking by early Fox Broadcasting recalls testing short film of bumper Simpsons episodes relationship with Barry Diller role in getting The Simpsons onto the air shows Simpsons bumper tape to Fox executives view of The Simpsons role at Fox

  Katzenberg, Jeffrey

  Kaufman, Andy

  Kavanaugh, Valerie

  Kavner, Julie: and contract negotiations views her work on The Tracey Ullman Show as voice of Marge Simpson

  Keeler, Ken

  Kelley, David

  Kenneally, Rob: biographical sketch recalls Barry Diller recalls push to get The Simpsons onto the air recalls screening bumper episodes for Barry Diller

  Kennedy, Jay

  Kenny, Tom

  Kerry, John

  Kimmel, Daniel M.

  King, B.B.

  King Features Syndicate

  King of the Hill

  Kinnear, Greg

  Kirby, Jack

  Klasky, Arlene

  Klasky-Csupo (animation studio): early work on The Simpsons Gracie Films moves The Simpsons to Film Roman issues in dealing with Gracie Films role in turning Groening’s original Simpson drawings into animated cartoons

  Kleinfeld, N. R.

  Knight, Robert

  Knight, Wayne

  Kodos (Simpsons character)

  Koffman, Brian

  Kogen, Jay: biographical sketch leaves The Simpsons after fourth season as member of original Simpsons writing room participates with Simpson characters in Hollywood Christmas Parade and question of The Simpsons authorship recalls Al Jean and Mike Reiss as showrunners recalls Army Man recalls Conan O’Brien recalls enmity between Sam Simon and Matt Groening recalls fellow writers recalls how writers wrote recalls John Swartzwelder recalls Matt Groening recalls merchandise frenzy recalls Sam Simon view of impact of The Simpsons view of Matt Groening view of Simpsons as relatable characters views fame of Conan O’Brien

  Kopp, Bill

  Koren, Leonard

  Krabappel, Mrs. (Simpsons character)

  Kramden, Ralph

  Kravitz, Lenny, as Simpsons musical guest

  Krazy Kat

  “Krusty Gets Kancelled” (episode)

  Krusty the Clown (Simpsons character)

  Kubrick, Stanley

  Kushell, Bob: biographical sketch recalls David Mirkin recalls George Meyer recalls Jon Vitti recalls other writers recalls watching Conan O’Brien’s show with other Simpsons writers recalls writing spec script

  L.A. Law

  LA Reader

  LA Weekly

  Larry Sanders Show, The

  Lassie

  Late Night with Conan O’Brien

  Late Night with David Letterman

  Late Show Starring Joan Rivers, The

  Late Show with David Letterman, The

  Leave It to Beaver

  Lee, Stan: biographical sketch as Simpsons guest voice

  Leeson, Michael

  Leftorium

  Leno, Jay

  Letterman, David

  Levensky, Matt

  Levine, Jane: biographical sketch recalled by others recalls LA Reader

  Lewis, Colin A.B.V.: biographical sketch recalls Al Jean and Mike Reiss as showrunners recalls Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein as showrunners recalls Conan O’Brien recalls contract negotiations recalls David Mirkin recalls early Simpsons writers recalls Matt Groening recalls Sam Simon

  Liberty Media, Inc.

  Licorice Pizza

  Life in Hell: books cartoon originals lead to The Simpsons as cottage industry Deborah Kaplan manages origins as progenitor of The Simpsons retaining merchandise rights syndication of strip viewed by Hank Azaria Village Voice publishes strip

  Limbaugh, Rush

  Lincoln High School, Portland, Oregon

  “Lisa’s Pony” (episode)

  “Lisa’s Substitute” (episode)

  Lloyd, Christopher

  Lloyd, David

  Long, Tim: biographical sketch recalls fellow writers recalls Mr. T recalls view of The Simpsons while still in college recalls writers’ ways to waste time recalls writing room view of job writing for The Simpsons

  Looney Tunes

  Lou Grant

  Love Is Hell

  Lovitz, Jon

  MacFarlane, Seth: biographical sketch as creator of
Family Guy life spared on 9/11 reflects on longevity of The Simpsons view of Simpsons influence

  MacFarlane, Todd

  MacLaine, Shirley

  MacNeille, Tress, hired for multiple Simpsons roles

  MAD magazine

  Madden, John, as Simpsons guest voice

  magazines, with Simpsons covers or features

  Mandela, Nelson

  “Marge vs. the Monorail” (episode)

  Marley, Bob

  Married … with Children comparison with The Simpsons

  Marshall, Garry

  Marshall, Penny

  Martin, Dmitri

  Martin, Don

  Martin, Jeff: as member of original Simpsons writing room recalled by others travels with Conan O’Brien to Bob Hope’s house view of Lisa

  Martin, Steve: recalls Phil Hartman as Simpsons guest voice

  Martin, Tom: biographical sketch recalls fellow writers recalls Mike Scully recalls process of creating jokes ; view of Al Jean view of writing job for Simpsons

  Marvel Comics

  Mary Tyler Moore Show, The

  M*A*S*H

  Mason, Jackie

  Masters of American Comics

  Mattel

  Maxtone-Graham, Ian

  McCartney, Paul

  McClure, Troy (Simpsons character)

  McGrath, Dan

  McGwire, Mark, as Simpsons guest voice

  McMurtry, Larry

  Meltzer, Richard

  Mendel, Michael: biographical sketch recalled by others recalls bumper episodes of The Simpsons on The Tracey Ullman Show recalls Conan O’Brien recalls initial studio viewing of first Simpsons episode recalls push to get The Simpsons onto the air view of TV show vision today

  merchandising: Life in Hell The Simpsons

  Metromedia

  Meyer, George: background biographical sketch distrust of authority as godfather of The Simpsons rewrite room as key Sam Simon writer find as member of original Simpsons writing room profiled in New Yorker publishes Army Man recalled by others recalls impact of Simpsons merchandising recalls writers’ inside gags relationship with Dan Greaney under showrunners Al Jean and Mike Reiss view of Bart view of Frank Grimes character view of Homer view of Homer and Marge’s marriage view of launching new TV show view of live studio audiences for sitcoms view of Marge view of marriage view of Simpsons longevity view of Simpsons traditional setup view of Simpsons writing quality works on The Simpsons Movie

  Michaels, Lorne

  Milhouse (Simpsons character)