Semi-Finalist for the 2019 James Thurber Award * One of Vulture's Top-10 Comedy Books of 2018 * A "Must" pick by Entertainment Weekly * An A.V. Club Best Books selection * A "New and Noteworthy" selection by USA Today
In celebration of The Simpsons thirtieth anniversary, the show’s longest-serving writer and producer offers a humorous look at the writing and making of the legendary Fox series that has become one of the most revered artistic achievements in television history.
Four-time Emmy winner Mike Reiss—who has worked on The Simpsons continuously since episode one in 1989—shares stories, scandals, and gossip about working with America’s most iconic cartoon family ever. Reiss explains how the episodes are created, and provides an inside look at the show’s writers, animators, actors and celebrity guests. He answers a range of questions from Simpsons fans and die-hards, and reminisces about the making of perennially favorite episodes.
In his freewheeling, irreverent comic style, Reiss reflects on his lifetime inside The Simpsons—a personal highlights reel of his achievements, observations, and favorite stories. Springfield Confidential exposes why Matt Groening decided to make all of the characters yellow; dishes on what it’s like to be crammed in a room full of funny writers sixty hours a week; and tells what Reiss learned after traveling to seventy-one countries where The Simpsons is watched (ironic note: there’s no electricity in many of these places); and even reveals where Springfield is located! He features unique interviews with Judd Apatow, who also provided the foreword, and Conan O'Brien, as well as with Simpsons legends Al Jean, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and more.
Like Cary Elwes’ As You Wish, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s Seinfeldia, and Chris Smith’s The Daily Show: An Oral History, Springfield Confidential is a funny, informational, and exclusive look at one of the most beloved programs in all of television land.
The longest-serving Simpsons writer and all-around funnyman Mike Reiss delivers the ultimate fan guide to the most popular animated show in American history
Mike Reiss has spent his lifetime—well, thirty years—at The Simpsons, since the show’s debut in 1989, as a writer, producer, and showrunner. As such, he knows a lot about these four-fingered freaks and their crazy antics.
In Springfield Confidential, he shares his behind-the-scenes stories about his work on the most iconic American cartoon family ever. Reiss pulls back the curtain for those curious about how The Simpsons works, answers burning questions from Simpsons die-hards, and shares never-before-told stories about creating favorite episodes and characters. In his freewheeling, irreverent comic style, Reiss reflects on his lifetime inside The Simpsons—a personal highlight reel of his achievements, observations, and favorite anecdotes.
He’ll reveal why the Simpsons are yellow; how Lisa became one of the first “deep” cartoon characters ever; what it’s like to be in the writing room stuffed with funny guys (and one hilarious woman); what he’s learned after traveling to every country where the show is watched (many have The Simpsons, but not flush toilets); and lots of inside dish on the show’s animators, actors, and celebrity guests.
Reiss also sheds light on the writing he’s done for cult series (The Critic, ALF, Sledge Hammer!), hit movies (five Ice Age films, two Despicable Mes, and a dozen more), and comedy legends (Johnny Carson, Joan Rivers, Garry Shandling, and, yes, even Pope Francis!).
Springfield Confidential is a treat for not only devout Simpsons fans but comedy fans everywhere.
