Matt Groening
Matt Groening
Matthew Abram "Matt" Groening is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, animator, and voice actor. He is the creator of the comic strip Life in Helland the television series The Simpsonsand Futurama. The Simpsons has gone on to become the longest running U.S. primetime television series in history, as well as the longest running animated series and sitcom...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionCartoonist
Date of Birth15 February 1954
CityPortland, OR
CountryUnited States of America
Cartooning is for people who can't quite draw and can't quite write. You combine the two half-talents and come up with a career.
We've been running a little behind schedule. But only by about 15 years or so.
I've conducted an experiment on my kids. Instead of denying them access to media, I've encouraged it. They read comic books, play Nintendo and watch way too much TV.
Basically, everything I try to do is to present an alternative to what somebody else is doing.
Because good writing in a TV cartoon is so rare, I think the animation on The Simpsons is often overlooked.
Oftentimes, what seems to be a street lunatic charging at me spouting gibberish turns out to be a devoted 'Simpsons' fan quoting their favorite line.
A lot of American shows don't last for as long as 12 episodes. They get cut after one. But certainly one of the great things about The Office in particular was that there was a beginning, a middle and an end.
Most TV shows don't reward you for paying attention.
I always say that 'Futurama' is real, and 'The Simpsons' is fiction.
I don't know why I did it, I don't know why I enjoyed it, and I don't know why I will do it again.
I have to say that The Simpsons comes from a huge number of great writers headed by Al Jean, the show-runner, and the work that they do is really fantastic. It's a blast just to sit around with them in the writers' room and listen to all the filthy jokes that will never get on the air.
I judge my life by how miserable it used to be. If I could pay my rent, I was deliriously happy. Now I'm deliriously happy all the time.
I like the 'Simpsons' pinball machines. Those are pretty great.
I also found child's play - stuff that was not considered serious, but goofy - was the stuff I liked to do, so I still do it as an adult.