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The Simpsons is surrounded by countless fascinating facts, many of which are already widely known, like how it originally aired as short sketches on The Tracey Ullman Show and how Homer’s voice was inspired by Walter Matthau. However, even more intriguing are the lesser-known details about the cast, crew, and behind-the-scenes processes that helped shape the show. Let's explore some of these hidden gems.
10. The First Pilot Was a Complete Failure
Things were looking promising for The Simpsons when the Tracey Ullman shorts got picked up by Fox to become a full half-hour show. With a strong writing team, a cast perfecting their character voices, and a coveted primetime slot, it seemed all was going well. Then came the pilot.
The animation had just been completed in Korea by the animation studio Klasky-Csupo, best known for creating Rugrats. Unfortunately, the animation quality was so poor that James L. Brooks bluntly stated “This is s—t.”
While most people left the room, Brooks stayed behind to argue with Klasky-Csupo co-founder Gasbor Csupo, who claimed that the issue lay with the writing, not the animation. It was decided that the visuals needed a complete overhaul, causing the episode to be delayed until the season finale. The Christmas special, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” was broadcast in its place.
9. The Iconic “D’oh” Was Never Written in the Script
The word “d’oh” is perhaps the most famous catchphrase to come from the show. It’s become so widely recognized that it’s even included in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, where it’s defined as “used when you realize that you have just said or done something stupid or foolish.” However, the word was never actually scripted. Instead, it was primarily voice actor Dan Castellaneta, with some input from creator Matt Groening, who gave it its signature sound.
In the Tracey Ullman shorts, Homer’s line was simply written as an irritated grunt. Castellaneta improvised a drawn-out “d’oooohh” as a tribute to actor Jim Finlayson’s frustrated groans in his Laurel and Hardy performances. Since the shorts were so brief, Groening asked him to shorten it for the animation, resulting in the creation of “d’oh.”
8. Conan O’Brien Was Known as the Office Monkey
For those who aren’t diehard fans of The Simpsons, it might be surprising to learn that Conan O’Brien, the late-night host, was a key writer during the early seasons. Among his contributions, his most famous work is penning the beloved episode, 'Marge vs. The Monorail,' which takes inspiration from The Music Man.
However, to his fellow writers on the show, O'Brien will forever be remembered as their personal monkey, and he took great pleasure in it. One memorable stunt involved him nervously pitching a story while shaking a Coke can, then opening it and spraying himself with soda after his pitch fell flat. Another routine involved him foaming at the mouth with Coke, acting as though he was having a violent fit at the table. This chaotic humor likely provided a refreshing change of pace for the team.
7. Grandpa Simpson’s name is a tribute to Matt Groening’s real grandfather—though it happened by chance.
It’s widely known that when Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, was waiting to meet with James L. Brooks, he hurriedly created the main family members. In his rush, he decided to name them after members of his own family, except for Bart. Groening didn’t feel comfortable naming the character after himself, so instead, he came up with an anagram of the word 'brat' for the mischievous boy. When it came to naming Grandpa Simpson, Groening chose not to use his grandfather's real name and tasked writers Jay Kogen and Wallace Wolodarsky with coming up with a new one.
The name the writers chose was the somewhat uncommon 'Abraham,' which coincidentally was the same name as Groening’s grandfather. Despite the match, they decided to go ahead with it, likely because the irony was just too perfect to overlook.
6. Many animators who contributed to The Simpsons eventually went on to work with Pixar.
Whenever Pixar's iconic easter eggs are mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is almost always the reference to 'A113,' which is the classroom number at California Institute of the Arts that was once home to prominent animators like John Lasseter and Brad Bird.
It's fitting that Brad Bird incorporated this inside joke into his Pixar masterpieces The Incredibles and Ratatouille, especially since he had previously used it in episodes of The Simpsons during the early years of his career. Although it’s not surprising that the mind behind the famous 'Do the Bartman' music video would go on to direct animated classics, there's another animator in his circle who has had a hand in the show since the Tracey Ullman shorts.
David Silverman, so closely tied to The Simpsons that he was selected to direct The Simpsons Movie, also found success co-directing the 2001 animated hit Monsters, Inc. Other Pixar talents include Jeff Pidgeon, who not only worked as an animator on Toy Story but also voiced the Green Aliens, and Jim Reardon, a writer behind the beloved WALL*E.
5. The Writer’s Room Is Surprisingly Dull
Picture a room filled with Harvard-educated comedy writers, all specially chosen to create content for one of the most iconic comedy series ever. It sounds like it would be a lively environment, doesn’t it? Well, think again. While there might not be much tension in the room, those entering the writers' circle are there to focus on the job, not to have fun.
Most of the time is spent in silence, with the team meticulously crafting each episode’s script, one line at a time. Conan O’Brien even recounts a German film crew who came to document the process but never returned after the first day. They spent the entire day watching the writers sitting quietly in their office, brainstorming just the right reaction line for Marge.
4. The French Voice Actors for Homer and Marge Are Married in Real Life
While stories of behind-the-scenes conflicts can be entertaining, there’s also something heartwarming about the sweeter side of production. Since the show’s early days, voice actors Phillipe Peythieu and Veronique Augereau have brought Homer and Marge to life for French viewers. They first met during auditions in 1989 and went on to marry in 2001. Their personal connection has only enriched the chemistry between the French versions of the iconic couple.
3. Sam Simon Was The Often Overlooked Creative Genius Behind The Show
While watching Halloween specials, you may notice the 'Spooky Nicknames' appear and wonder who Sam 'Sayanora' Simon is and why he appears in the 'developed by' credits. The answer to both of these questions is a quick Simpsons history lesson away.
When the show was being adapted into a half-hour program, James L. Brooks recruited TV producer and writer Sam Simon to lend his expertise. As a newcomer, Matt Groening naturally clashed with Simon during the early seasons. They both had different visions—Simon sought a more grounded, realistic tone, while Groening wanted a more exaggerated, cartoonish style. At one point, Groening even suggested that Marge could have rabbit ears under her iconic beehive hair. Groening once described Simon as 'brilliantly funny and one of the smartest writers I’ve ever worked with, although unpleasant and mentally unbalanced.'
On the flip side, colleagues like Brad Bird have referred to him as the 'unsung hero' of the show. Some of Simon’s contributions include designing Mr. Burns, Dr. Hibbert, and Chief Wiggum; creating the subtle yet groundbreaking idea of making Smithers gay; and shaping Lisa as a sophisticated intellectual with a childlike innocence. Perhaps most importantly, Simon was responsible for hiring many of the show's most talented writers, including George Meyer, John Swartzwelder, Al Jean, Mike Reiss, Jon Vitti, Jay Kogen, and Wallace Wolodarsky.
Due to his strained relationship with Groening, Simon ultimately left the show, but not before securing a deal that earned him tens of millions of dollars annually for his early work. Unfortunately, Simon, at 58, was recently diagnosed with terminal colorectal cancer and has been given a prognosis of three to six months to live. As though his contributions to The Simpsons weren’t enough, he plans to leave his fortune to various charities, mostly those focused on animals.
We'll crack open a cold Duff beer in your honor, pal.
2. The Death of Maude Flanders Was Due to a Salary Dispute
When you think of the voice talent behind The Simpsons, the first names that might come to mind are probably Pamela Hayden, Russi Taylor, Phil Hartman, Doris Grau, and Marcia Wallace. While Hartman, Grau, and more recently Wallace passed away, resulting in the retirement of their characters, one particular voice actress saw things unfold a bit differently.
Maggie Roswell voiced iconic characters like Maude Flanders, Helen Lovejoy, and Miss Hoover. Over time, she asked Fox for a pay raise, as her existing salary couldn't even cover her travel expenses. When Fox offered a low counter, she chose to step away from the show. As a result, the writers felt that the Flanders family wouldn’t work with a mute Maude, so they opted to shake things up by putting some of the show’s most beloved characters through emotional chaos. Honestly, isn’t that just great television?
Eventually, Roswell and FOX mended their differences, agreeing that she would record her lines from her home in Denver. She continues to voice characters like Helen Lovejoy, and even made a guest appearance as Maude's ghost in the Season 14 opener 'Treehouse of Horror XIII.'
1. Saying the movie's script was written in an unconventional way would be an understatement.
When The Simpsons Movie was finally announced to be in pre-production, the rumors and excitement started swirling. How would they approach writing it? Would they bring in someone like John Swartzwelder for absurdity, or maybe George Meyer for sharp satire? Would Matt Groening and James L. Brooks step in to oversee the process? As it turns out, they decided to write the movie in the same way they wrote the show’s episodes.
Groening and Brooks, sticking mostly to writers from the show’s first eight golden years, divided the plot into different sections and assigned each writer a part. Despite how risky this approach seemed, they continued refining each section in a writer’s room, much like they did for the series. This kind of collaborative approach is rare in Hollywood screenwriting, where punch-up sessions (where comedians pitch jokes) are the norm during table reads.
As time passed, the script went through more than 100 drafts, each one discarded as a new version replaced it, all while maintaining strict secrecy. The script evolved so much that, at one point, the movie shifted from being a straight-up comedy to a musical, and then back to no songs at all. Apologies to musical fans, maybe the sequel will deliver!
