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JimBobthe3rd Asks
Matt Groening What He Does On THE SIMPSONS!! A Report From The Final 2007 Paley Event!!

wow by s0nicdeathmonkey	Mar 16th, 2007 01:19:03 AM
an answer...sorta/
Matt Groening CREATED the show! by SnapT	Mar 16th, 2007 01:23:10 AM
And the concept of yellow people!
and some funny quotes by s0nicdeathmonkey	Mar 16th, 2007 01:23:23 AM
400 episodes...how many DVD discs is that?
good on you for asking it by BadMrWonka	Mar 16th, 2007 01:46:07 AM
although it still seems mysterious...stephen colbert is the funniest motherfucker on the planet...anyone that watched his "know a district" segment tonight knows what I mean...carl sandberg...
It's quite easy to work out by Talkbacker with no name	Mar 16th, 2007 02:29:07 AM
He created the show, it turned into a phenomenon, he became a trillionaire and now he sits in a big yellow chair pointing and shouting at the writers to "Do this" or "do that" (when he can be bothered to go in that is).
Isn't digital animation around since the late 80's? by DerLanghaarige	Mar 16th, 2007 02:37:48 AM
Or the early 90's. But I'm sure that Disney started using it with "The Black Cauldron"
He doesn't do anything but cash his check from FOX... by Jim Jam Bongs	Mar 16th, 2007 03:33:52 AM
Groening may have created The Simpsons, but from Season 2 and beyond, it was James L. Brooks who "developed" it (and many of the characters) into the show that it is today. Al Jean runs the show. Groening doesn't do a thing, because he doesn't need to and probably doesn't want to. (When's the last time that he actually wrote or directed an episode?) That's no insult to him -- sounds like an easy gig that I'd love to have.
AYE, CARUMBA!!! by wackybantha	Mar 16th, 2007 03:38:27 AM
Aye, carumba indeed.
Let's not forget about Futurama by DynamixRo	Mar 16th, 2007 03:39:03 AM
You're telling me this guy has zero talent and just shamelessly puts his name in the credits? Does anyone actually expect him to write a lot of episodes in a 400+ episode series?! Maybe Aaron Sorkin or his S60 fictional character Matt-the-amazing could do it, too bad they both suck at writing comedy... Groening created the show and he clearly still has the final word about the scripts. After 18 years, what more could you ask of him?
3 episodes by supertoyslast	Mar 16th, 2007 06:38:17 AM
Nobody expects him to have written all 400 episodes, but Herc reported in a previous article that he has writing credits on 3 episodes - the most recent being from season 3. This does seem to suggest that he is not the driving force behind the show. That's not to say that he doesn't contribute or push things forward. And he definitely deserves credit for creating the whole thing. But writing 3 out of 400 episodes doesn't make him worthy of the lion's share of the credit.
Yeah, it sounds like he doesn't do much at all by Trazadone	Mar 16th, 2007 06:39:19 AM
He gets props for creating The Simpsons, but it's obvious he's nothing more than a name at this point.
Writing credits mean nothing by webmangti	Mar 16th, 2007 07:05:33 AM
From listening to the commentaries on DVD it seems that Greoning hasn't contributed as much as some others but the number of writing credits means nothing. George Meyer is one example of someone who is constantly named as a big contributor to the show and he only has around 5-6 writing credits.
A Simpsons writer once told me... by omarthesnake	Mar 16th, 2007 07:57:47 AM
"Matt Groening has as much to do with The Simpsons day-to-day as Walt Disney did with The Emperor's New Groove."
I worked of a Matt Groening show once... by Thighmaster	Mar 16th, 2007 08:38:12 AM
I also know Mike Judge, and yeah, neither of them do a much for their shows except sleep on the huge piles of money that their shows generate. Pretty much once you sell you characters the studio takes over, hires writers and steers the show. I'm sure he was influential for the first couple seasons, but now I am almost positive he sits in an office near where the show is done and surfs the Internet all day. It's a very rare case in TV where the creator stays on as a driving force. Studios think they know how to run a show better than those pesky artists. Most of the time they're wrong.
I watched an episode pretty recently that didnt suck... by godzillasushi	Mar 16th, 2007 08:52:40 AM
I hope this show goes on forever.
Too Simpsony!! by boba_rob	Mar 16th, 2007 08:56:05 AM
.
IF Groening does... by nemesisdarkside	Mar 16th, 2007 09:01:38 AM
next to nothing but cash his cheques and occassionally contribute creative ideas here and there, he is one rich lazy dude. Imagine getting regular paychecks of a decent amount and still having your days free. After Futurama was cancelled he could've been creating/writing anything he desired. I guess he feels like he won the lottery and just wants to enjoy life. Can't fault him for that. Can't wait for Futurama's return!
I've solved the internet money-making puzzle.... by BrowncoatJedi	Mar 16th, 2007 09:09:28 AM
1. Create cartoon family 20 years ago from some doodles. 2. Cash in millions while others do the actual hard work. 3. Profit!!!
Sam Simon. by darthuser	Mar 16th, 2007 09:52:23 AM
The evidence is mounting that a writer named Sam Simon, who wrote on TAXI (among other many things) with James L. Brooks, is the true genius and driving force behind THE SIMPSONS we all grew to know and love. On the Howard Stern Show recently, sidekick Artie Lange - who worked with Simon when the latter was directing THE NORM SHOW - recently mentioned Simon was the head writer, showrunner and key creative force behind the early years of THE SIMPSONS. On a recent Stern interview with Ted Nugent (of all people), animal-advocate Simon himself mentioned in passing that he, Simon, had nothing to do with THE SIMPSONS beyond its first five seasons. Many posit that the first five seasons are responsible for the show's rep as one of the funniest TV series of all time. When one looks at Groening's purely solo work, like the not-exactly-gutbusting comic strip LIFE IN HELL, one wonders if he did much beyond create the character designs for THE SIMPSONS. As someone else mentioned, Groening is not the current showrunner on THE SIMPSONS, and I don't believe he ever was. Groening, I'm guessing, has far from the final say on any aspect of the series. Groeing really hit the lottery, it seems, when Brooks brought Simon aboard to start putting words in the mouths of Homer, Bart, Lisa and the rest.
He might be sitting on a money pile... by MeAmSmrt	Mar 16th, 2007 09:54:42 AM
But he still does his comic Life in Hell every single week. (and has since 1980!!!) That shows a dedication to the craft above most "lazy rich bastards" out there.
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa... by mraig	Mar 16th, 2007 09:59:56 AM
The Simpsons has writers?
Sam Simon 2 by superman5150	Mar 16th, 2007 10:15:42 AM
He was on 60 Minutes within the past month. He said he left the show after season 3. But it's in his contract that he gets at least $10 million a year from the show which he said "I don't do anything with the show, nor do I want to."
I too saw the 60 MINUTES piece on Sam Simon by darthuser	Mar 16th, 2007 10:45:51 AM
I thought it said Simon spent four years on THE SIMPSONS? Combined what I heard on Stern, I assumed this to mean Simon oversaw the writing on the first five seasons over a four-year stretch (the first season being a short one). The truly hilarious radio sitcom Simon wrote for the Stern Show was also very telling. It carried the same sensibilities and million-dollar jokes I associate with THE SIMPSONS in its glory days.
Simpsons Writers Don't Get Enough Credit? by www.valiens.com	Mar 16th, 2007 11:30:50 AM
I'll be sure to tell that to Conan next time I see him. This is the way TV works, it's not just Groening. Any comedy writer would kill for a job on that show--who cares how much he contributes? His job at this point is to create and juggle different projects as an overseer. Sounds like that's what he's doing.
I worked on futurama...... by blahblahman2000	Mar 16th, 2007 12:04:58 PM
We did not see Matt very often, but when we did he was always nice, and very approachable. He was not however, very involved with the show, or the simpsons for that matter. He would show up to meetings and give his opinion, but that was usually the extent. I can't speak for the simpsons, but David X. Cohen was the real force driving the day to day on futurama. I remember stories from table reads for episodes, where Matt had never heard of "different strokes", when bender makes a reference to that show. There was also the slurm planet episode that spoofed willy wonka and the chocolate factory, and Matt had never seen that flic. All this and other stories sounded odd to those of us working on the show, where Matt was supposed to be the ultimate in wit poking fun at pop culture. I would really put the success of the two shows (simpsons being really popular of course), in the writers they have had, and while Matt, a very very nice guy, started it all and was at one time very important now just kind of stands back and watches it all.
omarthesnake, I spoke to a simpsons writer too... by Talkbacker with no name	Mar 16th, 2007 12:48:49 PM
and he said he had never heard of you! Stop telling porky pies, you naughty boy!
Interesting Story by shellfishh	Mar 16th, 2007 12:50:36 PM
Michael Crichton who helped develop "E.R." said that he kept showing up at all the meetings (he was listed as Executive Producer, I think). But sometime around the second season, he realized he wasn't really wanted or needed, and stopped showing up.
Sam Simon interview by Fried Gold	Mar 16th, 2007 12:54:39 PM
here: http://tinyurl.com/2j6zzp
I love the fact that... by Tal111	Mar 16th, 2007 03:05:43 PM
...The Simpsons always rips on Disney and yet when you work on a Matt Groening show you will inevitably be stuck in the smallest cubicle you've ever seen. Not to mention some of the ungodly hours needed to meet some deadlines.
Groening's job is similar to Harry's on this site. by Flim Springfield	Mar 16th, 2007 04:14:23 PM

wow by rdsxfan8	Mar 16th, 2007 05:18:17 PM
theres a lot of you in this thread who have had some cool jobs. Im sorry to say i was never a writer for the simpsons, or futurama, but I once worked at a KFC. does that count for anything?
Not Nearly As Good At It Used To Be by Professor Krapp	Mar 16th, 2007 08:40:14 PM
But it's been on forever. None of us gets around as well as we did eighteen years ago...
To compare: Seth MacFarlane and Trey Parker... by Prof. Pop-Cult	Mar 16th, 2007 10:38:19 PM
Each man is much more involved in the writing and direction of their respective shows (Family Guy and South Park). As much as Parker appears to disdain Family Guy, that's the one thing he and MacFarlane have in common. The Simpsons has been run by a large committee. It's debatable even to say that Matt Groening "created" The Simpsons. He created the initial designs for the characters, and named them... but even that (the designs of the characters) were evolved over the years by two animation companies.
ah, talkbacker with no name... by omarthesnake	Mar 17th, 2007 07:44:00 AM
since there have been like seven million Simpsons writers so far, you musta asked the wrong one. But i kinda dig being called "naughty boy". thanks.
"he was the guy that shot down jokes" by newc0253	Mar 17th, 2007 11:28:49 AM
really? then his aim has been pretty lousy these past 10 years.
The Simpsons has always been funny, and always will. by Smashing	Mar 17th, 2007 12:34:23 PM
Change is natural and a lot of the people who don't find it funny anymore seem t forgetting to factor in the fact they have aged along with the show, people change as much as TV does. I am 33 and have loved The Simpsons from the beginning, it always makes me laugh and leaves me feeling happy, that's all I really expect from it though so maybe I am easier satisfied.
Groening = McMahon by danthemagnum	Mar 17th, 2007 01:41:52 PM
Matt Groening's role with The Simpsons seems to be similar to the role Vince McMahon has on WWE these days. Besides McMahon actually being on the show that is, they both seem to let others do the writing and just basically have the final say. It's funny because both shows best days are behind them too.
it aint all bread and roses by drturing	Mar 17th, 2007 02:52:42 PM
i worked for dreamworks animation. which means that i actually know a job worse than working at KFC.
re:drturing by rdsxfan8	Mar 18th, 2007 10:17:10 AM
touche sir touche. at least your place wasnt getting harassed by Pan Anderson as being curel and unethical to chickens, but thats another story for another tb
Futurama sketches by brock landers baby	Mar 19th, 2007 02:26:52 PM
Has anyone ever seen any drawings of Futurama characters by Matt?
Oh get off it already. by Mechakong!	Mar 20th, 2007 01:26:27 AM
If you listen to the commentaries for both shows it's fairly obvious what his role is. He's like a consultant, there to offer advice or consent when needed. Sometimes on the Futurama discs he sounds like he's never seen certain episodes, asking questions about gags he clearly hasn't had a hand in. Other times he seems very involved, and always cool, smart and witty if slighty un-hip. If guys like Al Jean, Mike Reiss, Conan, David X Cohen, etc, are the real masterminds, then Matt at least has an ear for talent, and made good hires early on.

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JimBobthe3rd Asks
Matt Groening What He Does On THE SIMPSONS!! A Report From The Final 2007 Paley Event!!

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JimBobthe3rd Asks Matt Groening What He Does On THE SIMPSONS!! A Report From The Final 2007 Paley Event!!

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JimBobthe3rd Asks
Matt Groening What He Does On THE SIMPSONS!! A Report From The Final 2007 Paley Event!!