Simpsons Channel » al jean

Al Jean Headlines Bradford Animation Festival

Brian — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:50:02 +0000

The Simpsons executive producer Al Jean is set to appear as a headliner at the Bradford Animation Festival in Bradford, England this coming November 12. Al will take part in a question-and-answer session with an audience followed by a screening of a favourite episode of The Simpsons, voted for by fans.

Festival director Deb Singleton said: “We are thrilled to follow last year’s hugely popular guest Nick Park with Al Jean.”

“BAF always boasts a programme to appeal to all audiences, from animation enthusiasts and students to families and children, and this year we have a packed programme of sneak previews, high-profile guests and unique events.”

Other highlights include BAF Kids, Saturday screenings of animation made by and for children, the BAF Awards, and BAF Game, in partnership with the University of Bradford, showcasing state-of-the-art computer game technology and animation. Guests include Col Rodgers, senior games designer at Sega, and Ian Bowden, head of art at Rockstar.

IGN Interviews Simpsons’ Al Jean

Adam — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 22:03:47 +0000

IGN have interviewed Simpsons executive producer Al Jean on the eve of this Sunday’s season premiere. In it, he talks about some upcoming episodes as well as the progression of the movie. Your best bet is to read the whole interview here; but i’ll get you started.

IGN TV: I’m sure you get asked this a lot, but could you imagine this show would go this long at the beginning?

Al Jean: No, I was hoping for five years. I mean I’d worked on Alf, and that ran four [years]. And here we are. But now I don’t even know. You know, I’m very sure they’ll be a 19th season, and then I don’t know. Still, the numbers are good.

SOURCE: IGN TV

AWC Honors Al Jean & Mike Reiss

Adam — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 10:00:00 +0000

The Animation Writers Caucus (AWC) of the Writers Guild of America, west will present its eighth annual Animation Writing Award for lifetime achievement in the medium to veteran animation writers Al Jean and Michael Reiss at its annual reception held Wednesday, November 9, 2005, at WGAw headquarters in Los Angeles. WGA West president Patric Verrone presented the trophy. “Everyone knows how much they’ve contributed to the quality of the animated series they’ve worked on,” caucus chair Craig Miller said. “Less well known are their efforts and involvement in bettering conditions and circumstances for their fellow writers.” Jean and Reiss co-created animated series “The Critic.” Jean is exec producer-showrunner of “The Simpsons,” where he’s worked since the show launched on Fox in 1989. Reiss has worked for 15 years on “The Simpsons,” winning four Emmys and a Peabody, and created Showtime toontoon series “Queer Duck.”

SOURCE: Wga.org

Al Jean: The Sixth Simpson

Adam — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 19:25:35 +0000

Al Jean doesn’t look like one of the funniest men on the planet. Nor does he assail his entourage with hilarious pop-culture observations, or compulsively cut those around him down to size with his rapier wit. Instead, the the man who as head writer has presided over 375 episodes of The Simpsons, arguably the funniest television programme ever made, requests a mineral water, sits down quietly and launches into a breathless spiel. “We just recorded the Ricky Gervais episode. He really wanted to do something where we satirised Wife Swap. It’s a very funny episode.” Jean, who is big and bluff-looking, resembling an outgrown 44-year-old college boy in a polo shirt and slacks, giggles at the thought. “Ricky was over to collect his Golden Globes for The Office. There are so many of our writers who are fans of his that we thought we’d throw a lunch for him. And he mentioned that he would be interested in writing an episode with us. Before we knew it, it was worldwide news.”

SOURCE: Belfast Telegraph

Life Imitating Bart

Adam — Tue, 17 Aug 2004 02:01:57 +0000

Al Jean has been at the helm of the show since its 13th season and worked on the series as a writer or producer for its entire run. His office is adorned with memorabilia from the show’s 15-year run. A short walk away is the wood-panelled meeting room where the cast does its weekly read-through, and, in another building, the recording studio where every Monday for 22 weeks of the year – including today – the cast gathers to record each episode. Today’s studio record is episode FABF21, titled Fat Man and Little Boy (It will screen in the US later this year). Written by Joel H. Cohen, it opens with a Saving Private Ryan-style spitball fight between Lisa, Janey, Bart, Rod and Todd. The scene ends with the loss of Bart’s final baby tooth – a momentous event that triggers a mid-life crisis. “Joel had the idea that Bart would undergo a mid-life crisis, even though he’s 10,” Jean says. “The whole staff pitched on the storyline. Joel wrote the first half. We rewrote it. We read it Thursday. Read More >>

Al Jean Responds To Shearer

Adam — Wed, 11 Aug 2004 07:31:59 +0000

Simpsons producer Al Jean has responded to Harry Shearer’s comments exclusively at No Homers Club. Here’s what the he had to say at our partner site:

“I am responding to recent comments by Harry Shearer regarding the current quality of the Simpsons.” writes Jean. “He complains that his parts have shrunk–the reason for that is, as showrunner, I am never sure if he will show up for the table reads for which he is so handsomely paid. More than once, in the past, I have had a show set for a Thursday read featuring Harry’s characters and been told on the Wednesday before that he is not coming. Hence, I have learned not to give him too much to do in any episode. Mr. Shearer also describes how he was happier with season four of the show. Well, I ran seasons three and four and he didn’t seem very happy to me then. I can particularly remember how he repeatedly complained to me and others about how much he disliked the episode “Homer at the Bat”, which is now viewed as a classic.

I am personally offended by his comment that he feels “totally screwed” by the show financially. He is set this year to make over 5.5 million dollars for what can generously be described as a few hours work a week. When I consider how much firefighters and teachers in this country earn, Mr. Shearer’s remarks make me want to throw up.”

Strong words and interesting developments behind the scenes. The issue can be discussed further here.

Al Jean Talks Tony Blair

Adam — Tue, 30 Dec 2003 11:20:40 +0000

For a moment, Al Jean couldn’t believe his ears. Here was the British Prime Minister, the man to whom he had sent an irreverent script, shaking his hand in a quiet ante-room at 10 Downing Street and saying, “You’re my hero”. As a writer and executive producer of The Simpsons, Jean wasn’t used to being called a hero, let alone being greeted so effusively by a statesman. But these were exceptional circumstances. British premiers won’t get the chance to be immortalised as a character in The Simpsons very often. Tony Blair knew an opportunity when he saw it and, after 8 months of negotiation between his director of communications and the producers, he agreed to make an appearance. “We never, ever thought he would agree. And, even up to the last minute, we never thought it would happen,” explains Jean. Read More >>>

Al Jean Speaks To UGO

Adam — Sun, 05 Oct 2003 15:54:32 +0000

While we go through this period of news drought, why not entertain yourself with another Al Jean interview. This one has been conducted by UGO.com and was found by a member of No Homers Club. “It’s usually Matt Groening who is credited with The Simpsons. But without a hysterically funny show runner and writer like Al Jean, I don’t believe the show would be what it is today.” UGO’s interview features some old and some new questions, mostly based around the release of Season 3 on DVD. It’s a good read if you’re a Simpsons fan. Read More >>>

Al Jean Talks To IGN

Adam — Sat, 30 Aug 2003 13:43:46 +0000

Al Jean has been busy promoting the new Simpsons DVD, and his second interview in a week, as well as a review of the new release has just been put online at IGN. The interview is an interesting read, particularly if you’re wondering why the DVD releases are taking so long (Season 4 will take just as long), or if you’re looking forward to a Simpsons movie. Jean also talks about how he believes the show could last twenty years if the cast and crew are still up for it. Very informative, I recommend you check it out. Read More >>>

Al Jean Armchair Interview

Adam — Thu, 28 Aug 2003 01:10:22 +0000

“Emmy-Award winning executive producer/writer Al Jean has a credit on over 200 episodes of The Simspons; heralded by members of TheManRoom as one of the greatest comedies ever. Now wrapping up his fourteenth season with the show and celebrating the release of Season 3 on DVD, Al is as much a part of its success as Homer’s D’oh! “I met Sam Simon who was hiring the staff for the Simpsons and my partner and I were the first writers hired. None of our friends wanted to do it since it was a cartoon. So, we were pretty much in the right place at the right time.” Read the rest of the interview with Al Jean at TheManRoom, who are also giving away Simpsons DVD’s with a Simpsons Soccer Player Figure.