The animated sitcom The Simpsons is not only one of the longest-running shows in TV history but also one of the most influential shows in popular culture. Since its inception in 1989, this brainchild of cartoonist Matt Groening has won the hearts of millions of people all around the world and made an indelible impact on popular culture and society.
A show of such magnitude isn’t born in a vacuum; it takes a great team of writers to give life to the eccentric citizens of Springfield. The brilliant writers behind The Simpsons are responsible for every episode’s unique brand of humor, satire, and social commentary that has made the program an international sensation. Who, then, are the creative minds behind the long-running show?
Matt Groening – The Creator
Even though Matt Groening has only contributed occasionally to the scripting of The Simpsons, his impact as the show’s creator has been significant. Groening was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1954, and had already published the syndicated comic strip Life in Hell when Hollywood producer James L. Brooks called him up to see if he would be interested in making a series of animated shorts for The Tracey Ullman Show.
Not only did Groening create Springfield and all of The Simpson‘s characters, but he also came up with the idea for the program itself. His upbringing in the Pacific Northwest inspired his very American brand of satire. Groening became less involved in writing episodes of The Simpsons as time passed, although he still played a significant role in the series’s overall development. To date, Groening has won thirteen of his 41 Emmy Award nominations, including eleven for The Simpsons and two for Futurama, another animation series he created.
Al Jean – The Captain
One of the most influential people in the history of The Simpsons is Al Jean, a mathematician and graduate of Harvard University. In the 1980s, Jean began writing alongside fellow Harvard graduate Mike Reiss. They collaborated as writers and producers on a number of television projects, including It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, ALF, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Since the pilot episode, he has worked on the show in numerous capacities, including as a writer, showrunner, and executive producer.
Al Jean wrote several episodes, including “Moaning Lisa” and “The Way We Were.” While he has been listed as the only writer of several segments, he believes the process to be primarily collaborative. Moreover, Jean directed the production of numerous highly regarded and fan-favorite episodes of The Simpsons throughout his tenure as showrunner. During his time on the show, iconic characters like Spock and Captain Kirk debuted, and the sarcastic tone and plot twists that made the show so famous really took shape. Jean left the show after the fourth season to develop The Critic but returned in the eleventh season and has played a pivotal role ever since.
John Swartzwelder joined The Simpsons writing staff in the first season, and his distinct, eccentric brand of humor instantly became a fan favorite. Swartzwelder got his start in the workforce as an ad man before this. In the mid-1980s, the writers of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live hired him to contribute his comedic talents. Later, he collaborated with fellow writer George Meyer on the brief-lived Army Man magazine, which ultimately led to his 1989 hiring on The Simpsons’ original writing staff.
Between seasons one and 15, Swartzwelder wrote 59 episodes of the show, contributing to The Simpsons Movie as well as writing some of the show’s most beloved and iconic moments. Swartzwelder’s works include “Homer at the Bat,” “Itchy & Scratchy & Marge,” “Bart Gets an Elephant,” “Homer’s Phobia,” and many others. His episodes frequently have offbeat narratives, cultural allusions, and surrealism that have become trademarks of The Simpsons. Swartzwelder’s characteristic style is the show’s signature blend of high-brow literary and historical references with slapstick humor. Swartzwelder left The Simpsons after season 15.
Conan O’Brien – The Comedian
Prior to his fame as a late-night TV show host, Conan O’Brien was a brilliant writer for The Simpsons. He became a writing staff member in the middle of the show’s second season (1991), immediately making an impression with his unique humorous voice and talent for creating unforgettable moments. O’Brien was one of the witty and intellectual writers from the Harvard alum crew. Despite the short length of his time on The Simpsons, he left an indelible mark. He penned several of the show’s most acclaimed episodes, notable for their blend of witty banter, absurdist humor, and touching storytelling.
“Marge vs. the Monorail,” is one of O’Brien’s most well-known episodes. His ability to take a simple premise and turn it into an over-the-top hilarious spectacle is on full display in the narrative, which centers upon Springfield’s botched attempt to establish a monorail system. O’Brien also wrote “Homer Goes to College,” an episode in which Homer must return to school to get his degree. O’Brien took his caustic sense of humor and talent for the ludicrous with him when he left The Simpsons in 1993 to host Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
George Meyer – The Thinker
As part of the show’s original writing team, George Meyer, who also co-wrote The Simpsons Movie, is well-known for his work on the series, where he served as the show’s head writer and organized group rewrites. Specifically, Meyer helped to shape the characters and the town of Springfield. His witty, intellectual contributions, grounded in a profound grasp of the characters, were significant in the show’s early popularity. Meyer did more than create episodes; he was the show’s executive producer and chief writer for multiple seasons.
In these capacities, he aided in developing The Simpsons, making sure the show stuck to its roots while also exploring new territory. Meyer’s episodes of The Simpsons, like “Homer the Heretic,” “Mrs. Lisa Goes to Washington,” and “Bart vs. Thanksgiving,” reflect his “deep suspicion of social institutions and tradition in general.” George Meyer is also well-respected for his work on Saturday Night Live and Late Night with David Letterman, in addition to his role as a writer for The Simpsons, and he has received numerous Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his work on all shows.
Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein – The Dynamic Duo
Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein have significantly contributed to The Simpsons over the years. The pair’s comic perspectives and storytelling skills combined to create some of the series’ most iconic episodes. Oakley went to Harvard University, where he served as Vice President of the Harvard Lampoon. He had previously been great friends and writing collaborators with Josh Weinstein, a Stanford University graduate at St. Albans School. After writing a spec script for Seinfeld, Oakley and Weinstein went on to pen “Marge Gets a Job” for The Simpsons.
The two were subsequently hired as regular writers for the show in 1992. From there, they were promoted to executive producers and showrunners for seasons seven and eight after authoring such episodes as “$pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling),” “Bart vs. Australia,” and “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” They strove to include episodes with a lot of heart that focused on the Simpson family, as well as episodes with big ideas like “Homer’s Enemy,” “Two Bad Neighbors,” and “The Principal and the Pauper,” which helped them win three Primetime Emmy Awards. These seventh and eighth seasons, during which Oakley and Weinstein served as showrunners, are often considered the series’ “golden age.”