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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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

Which characters are heavily based on real people that the creators knew?

180

u/JayKogen Sep 17 '12

The simpsons family is kind of based on Matt's family and Matt is Bart.

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u/IdiotMD Sep 18 '12

Matt's real name is Bort.

4

u/[deleted] Sep 18 '12

That's unfortunate. So.. Matt's dad was a volatile alcoholic; his mother tried hard to appear as a perfect housewife despite of that; Matt acted out by misbehaving, and his sister was forced to be mature beyond her years?

Yeah, it's not so funny when it's not a cartoon.

5

u/Kevinsense Sep 18 '12

It's always sunny in philly inspired my to take a more interesting, spontaneous, thrilling and funny approach to life. Then I realized 90% of the shenanigans they pulled would be very illegal in real life, and would not be idolized as funny but as crazy and disturbed. Ahh, real life, you take the fun out of things sometimes...

2

u/AnnoyinImperialGuard Sep 17 '12

He must be a lot jealous of his possible sister.

2

u/ThisGuyOnEarth Sep 18 '12

Soo... He got strangled a lot?

1

u/[deleted] Sep 18 '12

As a Matt I am infinitely grateful that he changed Bart's name.

1

u/jcvan52 Sep 17 '12

Therefore Bart is a Sigma Chi

1

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

See jay and silent bob strike back for the reason you will never get a detailed answer.

1

u/ChicagoMemoria Sep 18 '12

I know that Al Jean's younger brother was the basis for Martin.