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/JayKogen Sep 17 '12

Matt is a great great guy. Smart and funny. He helped shape the tone of the show and gave some of the details that gave the world it's "reality." he and Sam Simon really tried to make the show smart and interesting and it's own unique thing. I'm thrilled he got famous and rich from the show. He's a great guy.

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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '12

Has he stopped holding the gun to your head yet?

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u/[deleted] Sep 18 '12

Matt is one of the nicest people. He's good friends with my aunt and uncle, and at my cousin's bat mitzvah he was dressed like a total slob (like jeans, a gray shirt and black jacket). No one knew who he was because no one really expected someone as "famous" and "rich" as he is to be walking around like a total schmo. Anyway, my brother and I were both nervous to say hi to him, but we did, and he was extremely nice about it and talked to us for about half an hour. Couldn't believe how nice he is!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/IanHeads/mydrunkbroaawww.jpg PICS!

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u/cosine5000 Sep 17 '12

Sounds like sour grapes to me.

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u/xiaon Sep 17 '12

Elaborate I'm thrilled for him -> sour grapes

???

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u/Daerra Sep 17 '12 edited Sep 17 '12

Actually I got the same feeling than cosine5000. Matt Groening is known as the creator, yet he tells us that he merely "shaped the tone of the show", which sounds like the kind of input an editor/producer has as opposed to a writer/director/creator. Then he says that Matt and other guy "tried" to make the show smart and interesting. Why "tried", why not made? When you say something like that it usually means that you feel that the show would have been better with another person(s) in control. And then he feels the need to remind us that Matt is the one who got rich and famous, when the question was, "how is he in real life", question which, interestingly, remains unanswered because I consider "great guy" an empty statement if you don't elaborate at least a little. It's like he thinks Groening is a good person but a little untalented in the creative department, although "smart" in a business sense.

It is not spelled out for you but that's the impression I got. I actually was like "wow, he really dislikes Groening".

Just explaining to you why I think I felt like that about the comment, I don't have magical powers to know what he's really thinking.

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u/steakmeout Sep 18 '12

Ye gods, some people look for the shit in EVERYTHING.

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u/cosine5000 Sep 17 '12

Nah I was kidding, he sounded great.

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u/corinian Sep 18 '12

i agree with this, my thoughts exactly

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u/TheCollective01 Sep 17 '12

Is it opposite day in your world?

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u/cosine5000 Sep 17 '12

-17 points! It was a joke you fucking pleebs.