Matt Groening's decades-old animated sitcom The Simpsons have exposed legions of television viewers to its unique brand of comedic social commentary since 1989. The residents of Springfield are voiced by a diverse cast of well-known actors, and writers involved in the production of the show have gone on to do their own amazing work.
While most diehard fans of The Simpsons are familiar with the first team of writers on the show, including John Swartzwelder, as well as with Conan O'Brien's contributions before he became an iconic talk show host, some might not be aware of other well-known comedy writers who have contributed their insights to the show over the years. The number of writers who have participated in the making of The Simpsons is in the hundreds, and this list highlights 8 who have made names for themselves above and beyond their associations with America's favorite cartoon family.
Megan Amram
Up-and-coming comedian Megan Amram established herself working on the NBC sitcom The Good Place, and then she really solidified her status as a performer to watch with her hilarious and insightful web series An Emmy for Megan wherein she attempts to meet the minimum qualifications to receive an Emmy nomination. The show features star-studded cameos and a regular supporting role from Patton Oswalt.
Amram achieved her goal and was nominated for multiple Emmys, none of which she won. Amram wrote two episodes of The Simpsons in its 2019 season: "Bart vs. Itchy & Scratchy" and "Crystal Blue-Haired Persuasion." While the vast majority of writers on the series are men, the contributions of women like Amram point toward more concrete attempts to diverse Hollywood in recent years.
Seth Rogen
Canadian comedy virtuoso Seth Rogen wrote the opening episode of The Simpson's 21st Season, entitled "Homer the Whopper," back in 2009. He also did voice acting in the episode.
Rogen is best known for his unique brand of stoner bro comedies like Pineapple Express and This Is the End. Rogen is well-versed behind and in front of the camera, writing for the shows Undeclared and Da Ali G Show long before he became a celebrity. His first acting gig was in the cult classic Freaks and Geeks, which was canceled after just one season. Since then, he's acted in dozens of major comedies.
Evan Goldberg
Rogen's frequent writing collaborator Evan Goldberg co-wrote "The Homer Whooper" with his bud in 2009. Friends with Rogen since childhood, this Canadian comedic figure has worked with Rogen on Superbad, Pineapple Express, This Is the End, The Interview, and Good Boys. Goldberg is the man behind the scenes making Rogen's many projects a reality.
His television credits in Da Ali G Show. In recent years, he's worked on comic book adaptions like Preacher, Future Man, and The Boys.
Bill Odenkirk
You better not call Saul! Not to be confused with his older brother Bob, Bill Odenkirk is a writer, actor, and producer who has been in the industry for decades. He worked with his brother and David Cross on HBO's Mr. Show with Bob and David in the 1990s, moving on to write for Jack Black's Tenacious D.
Since 2004, he has written 15 episodes of The Simpsons, including "Treehouse of Horror XV," "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife, and Her Homer," and "Pulpit Friction." Odenkirk has also worked on Futurama. As if his writing career isn't impressive enough, he has a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry.
Dana Gould
Stand-up comedian Dana Gould has worked on and acted in sketch shows like The Ben Stiller Show and MADtv. He became a writer for The Simpsons from 2001 to 2007, and he also served as executive producer for seasons 14 through 18. He wrote 7 episodes in total, such as "Homer The Moe" and "Bart Has Two Mommies."
Gould has appeared on numerous sitcoms, including Seinfeld and The King of Queens. He's the creator of the IFC horror-comedy Stan Against Evil. Running for three seasons, the series follows the sheriff of a New Hampshire town terrorized by supernatural occurrences.
Judd Apatow
Writer, producer, and director Judd Apatow has his hands in many pots, coming up alongside a new wave of contemporary comedians and actors by combining laughs and cries in genuine yet hilarious ways. His signature dramedy features include The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Funny People.
Apatow is also responsible for some of the most beloved television shows in the past few decades, including Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared, and Love. Apatow, at the height of his career, wrote the 2015 episode of The Simpsons entitled "Bart's New Friend."
Greg Daniels
Greg Daniels was college buddies with Conan O'Brien at Harvard, and they both worked together on Not Necessarily The News and Saturday Night Live. After O'Brien left The Simpsons in 1993 alongside the first wave of writers, Daniels joined the series, staying on board for Season 5, Season 6, and Season 7. While he loved the experience, Daniels believes the best years for the show are it's first four.
His name is attached to episodes like "Homer Badman" and "Lisa's Wedding." He wrote 8 episodes in total. After The Simpsons, Daniels worked on King of the Hill, eventually becoming famous for his live-action comedy series The Office and Parks and Recreation.
David Mirkin
David Mirkin got his start in the early 1980s writing for classic sitcoms like Three's Company. He also wrote for The Tracy Ullman show before developing his own series, Get A Life, which stars Chris Elliot, now known for playing the mayor in Schitt's Creek.
Mirkin served as showrunner and executive producer of The Simpsons during the 5th and 6th seasons. He wrote the famous episode "Deep Space Homer" in which the titular character is chosen by NASA to become an astronaut. He came back in 2015 to co-write the episode "The Man Who Came To Be Dinner" with Al Jean.