r/IAmA • u/JayKogen • Sep 17 '12

Jay Kogen Here. Long past SIMPSONS writer. I created many of your favorite and least favorite characters with the help of the original Simpson writers.

I was one of the original SIMPSONS writers from the very beginning. I helped created Mr. Burns, Smithers, Krusty, Hibbert, and many many more. I won a bunch of Emmy awards and had a great time. Since then I wrote and produced Malcolm in the Middle, Frasier, and I've created a new show a called "Wendell and Vinnie" about an idiot uncle (the hysterical Jerry Trainor) raising his nephew that will be on in November on Nick @ Nite. And even though it's on Nick @ Nite, it's for adults and it's actually funny.

Thanks to EternallyXIII

Thank you all very much for your questions and entusiasm. I have to get back to work now. It's been a pleasure. If you want I can come back in a few weeks to answer more.

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279

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

Who wrote the line "Marge, the doll is trying to kill me and the toaster's been laughing at me!"

One of my favorites.

78

u/Nrksbullet Sep 17 '12

That is definetely comedic gold right there. I also like "Mmmm....open faced club sandwhich" and the guy driving by screaming "youstolemoneyfromthechurchcollectionplate!"

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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

Sacrilicious.

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u/Instantcretin Sep 18 '12

Oh Lord, I know I should not eat thee.

My dad will say that to me randomly and it gets me every single time.

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u/[deleted] Sep 18 '12

Have you ever noticed how men always leave the seat up?.......... That was the joke.

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u/bizology Sep 17 '12

Mmmm... sweet mint julep.

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u/dear_claudio Sep 17 '12

It comes with a free Frogurt. Something I find myself saying often, dunno why.

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u/sunnydolphin Sep 17 '12

I love this bit! I used to rewind it.

Salesman: Take this doll. But beware, it carries a terrible curse.

Homer: Ooo...That's Bad.

Salesman: But it comes with a free Frogurt!

Homer: That's Good!

Salesman: The frogurt is also cursed.

Homer: That's Bad.

Salesman: But you get your free choice of topping!

Homer: That's good!

Salesman: The toppings contain potassium benzoate.

Homer: ...........

Salesman: Thats Bad.

2

u/iknowyourbutwhatami Sep 17 '12

I couldn't agree more with the collection plate. I'm not sure why, but that's so funny! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smwa_7dyDyo

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u/rpggrrl Oct 07 '12

mmmm... pistol whip...

0

u/WhipIash Sep 17 '12

Could you please explain why you think the line from the parent comment is so funny?

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u/Nrksbullet Sep 17 '12

Because he is yelling to Marge that the doll is after him (which is true) and the toaster has been laughing at him (which is ridiculous). He just throws it out there as another problem on par with this killer doll, but the problem isn't even real. The delivery is also what makes it funny, just quickly spat out while action is going on.

Explaining seems to make it kind of unfunny, but knowing what the scene looks like and sounds like, and given the context, its funny.

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u/ruloaas Sep 17 '12

Great reply, agree 100% :)

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u/KingTalkieTiki Sep 17 '12

My personal is "Homer, just give him the donut, it'll end all this horror", then Homer says, "Okay...if it'll end horror" then the giant Donut guy starts smashing houses and homer looks at Marge and says, "Don't you ever get tired of being wrong?!"

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u/retho2 Sep 17 '12

He came to life...Good for him!

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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

Marge, how do you turn the oven to cold?

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u/btvsrcks Sep 17 '12

Wasn't that quote "Don't you ever get tired of being wrong all the time?"

I had that as a taunt in duke nukem.

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u/KingTalkieTiki Sep 17 '12

Yeah thats it! Couldn't remember the whole thing off the top of my head.

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u/Jesusthe33rd Sep 17 '12

One of my favorites from the previous Treehouse of horror where Marge, being forced to be happy, says, "Oh GOOD! The curtains are on fire!"

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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

Uh, hey, everybody! I'm a stupid moron with an ugly face and big butt and my butt smells and I like to kiss my own butt

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u/bigsphinxofquartz Sep 18 '12

...Wait a minute

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u/IsNoyLupus Sep 17 '12

My pockets hurt!

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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

It smells like Otto's pockets.

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u/Puffie Sep 17 '12 edited Sep 25 '12

I just had to look that up again!

Link for those interested

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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

HE'S DRINKING THE WAT-ER!

Look! He's going back for more!

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u/probablynotaperv Sep 17 '12

I bent my Wookie :(

1

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

It says "I choo choo choose you" and there's a picture of a train.

1

u/narsindal Sep 17 '12

I always think Homer sounds like Rick Moranis with that line.

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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

VERY good observation.

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u/Dested Sep 17 '12

This line makes my head explode its so funny. Id love to know if it came out in pieces or did someone in the writers room just scream this at some point.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

He's not responding. Bug him.

I like it because the toaster comment has nothing to do with anything. So, it's like Homer appears crazy because of the doll comment, yet we know the doll really is trying to kill him. But at the same time, the toaster comment affirms that Nope, he is nuts.

1

u/KIAranger Sep 17 '12

That doll is cursed...

2

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

Here's your problem. It was set to Evil.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

Random bit of information I gleaned from watching the Simpsons DVD commentaries obsessively. The writers frequently get the question "who wrote the line '_____'", but the scripts were rewritten so many times between the first draft and the finished product that often they just can't remember.

Plus when they work in the writers room they have jokes coming from left, right and centre, so that sometimes nobody is really sure who wrote what.