The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History » (First Edition)

John Ortved's writing has appeared in Vanity Fair, Interview, The New York Observer, and Vice. He lives in New York City.

The Simpsons is one of the most successful shows to ever run on television. From its first moment on air, the series's rich characters, subversive themes, and layered humor resounded deeply with audiences both young and old who wanted more from their entertainment than what was being meted out at the time by the likes of Full House, Growing Pains, and Family Matters. Spawned as an animated short on The Tracy Ullman Show—mere filler on the way to commercial breaks—the series grew from a controversial cult favorite to a mainstream powerhouse, and after nineteen years the residents of Springfield no longer simply hold up a mirror to our way of life: they have ingrained themselves into it.

John Ortved's oral history will be the first-ever look behind the scenes at the creation and day-to-day running of The Simpsons, as told by many of the people who made it: among them writers, animators, producers, and network executives. It’s an intriguing yet hilarious tale, full of betrayal, ambition, and love. Like the family it depicts, the show's creative forces have been riven by dysfunction from the get-go—outsize egos clashing with studio executives and one another over credit for and control of a pop-culture institution. Contrary to popular belief, The Simpsons did not spring out of one man's brain, fully formed, like a hilarious Athena. Its inception was a process, with many parents, and this book tells the story.

The Washington Post - Louis Bayard

How did such a curious artifact become "the most powerful, lasting, and resonant entertainment force television has ever seen"? That is the task taken up by Ortved's "uncensored, unauthorized" history, which is as tasty as a pink-glazed donut with sprinkles, as refreshing as a Duff beer and as piquant as a curry slushy from Kwik-E Mart. And doubly delightful because, for once, the heroes are writers.

Foreword Douglas Coupland Coupland, Douglas

Introduction "Hi, Everybody!" 3

1 The Matt Groening Show 11

2 The King of Comedy 27

3 When Bart Met Tracey 45

4 Sam "Sayonara" Simon 57

5 Welcome to Springfield 69

6 The Room 87

7 The First Episodes 101

8 Bigger Than Jesus 117

9 Fallout Boys 131

10 Buddies, Sibs, Dweebs, and an Odd Man Out 145

11 Conan 159

12 Institutionalized 169

13 The Godfathers 189

14 Who's the Boss? 207

15 Foxy Boxing 229

16 The Guest Stars 243

17 On and On 261

18 Under the Influence of Duff 275

Notes 291

Dramatis Personae 299

Acknowledgments 311

Index 313