The Simpsons is more than a mere television series - it is a pop culture phenomenon. Springfield has been the home of Homer, Marge, Bart, Maggie, and Lisa for over thirty years, touching touching the hearts and ticking the funny bones of audiences everywhere.
Other than the recent snafu with Apu, The Simpsons has proven itself a steady series with legs for days. With an all star voice cast that includes Dan Castella, Linda Cartwright, Hank Azaria, and others, the voices of the characters are as recognizable as their image.
Although Fox has premiered many animated series over the years such as Futurama, Family Guy, Bob's Burgers, American Dad, Duncanville, and more, The Simpsons is the biggest name as it has a lifespan that has already exceeded three decades with no particular end in sight.
We recently shared an interview with five time Primetime Emmy Award Winning showrunner and writer Mike Scully about his time on the series, and now we've had the opportunity of speaking with his wife, Julie Thacker Scully who also was a writer for The Simpsons. We shared our Duncanville interview with her yesterday, but you'll want to check this one out too!
Joe: What was it like to write for The Simpsons, one of the longest running animated series there is?
Julie Thacker Scully: Initially, writing for The Simpsons was intimidating. I remember sitting down in front of my computer for my very first script and realizing that I wasn’t limited by sets, location, speaking roles, and that every sign should be funny, the way a character moves should be funny, and all the words should be funny… I’m sweating just thinking about it.
Joe: Do you prefer to work with your husband or when you venture out on your own such as your work on Fuller House?
Julie Thacker Scully: We had separate careers when we started out, but as the family expande and our time grew short, we found we enjoyed tackling writing projects together. So now you know we’re basically lazy people who only want to do half the work each. It’s also nice to have someone to share a good day with or commiserate with on a bad one. And Mike Scully just happens to be one of my favorite people, so he’s always my first choice for everything except spicy foods. He eats off the child’s menu. I like jalapeños on everything.
Joe: Do you feel your work on The Simpsons informs your work on Duncanville in any way?
Julie Thacker Scully: I just know that, for me, comedy works best if the problem is rooted in a real emotion. You can let your character go crazy as long as you believe the reason for their behavior. Give the audience something to connect with and they’ll take the ride with you.
What do you think of Julie's comments? Let us know your thoughts in the usual spot and check out the trailer for the lastest season of The Simpsons below!
The longest-running primetime scripted show in television history, The Simpsons exploded into popular culture in 1990 and has remained one of the most groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchises, recognizable throughout the world. Homer (Dan Castellaneta), Marge (Julie Kavner), Bart (Nancy Cartwright), Lisa (Yeardley Smith) and Maggie are instantly identifiable television icons. Rounding out this cast of characters are many beloved Springfield residents, including tavern proprietor Moe Szyslak (Hank Azaria) and nuclear power plant owner Mr. Burns (Harry Shearer). The Emmy Award-, Annie Award- and Peabody Award-winning animated comedy began its 31st season this year.
You can catch up on The Simpsons on Disney+.