Behind the scenes of The Simpsons

Here’s Bill Oakley, a former writer and showrunner for The Simpsons, on how the show got made back in the show’s golden years (seasons 4-8).

Twice a year, from at least season three ‘til season eight, there’d be these story retreats where everybody would come and present their ideas for episodes. We’d get a big conference room in a hotel about a hundred yards from the office, and we’d go around and everybody would tell their ideas, one by one. It was sort of like opening Christmas presents on Christmas morning; we’d go around in a circle and everybody would have a turn or two.

It was always a huge treat to see. You had no idea what George Meyer (for instance) was going to say, and suddenly it was like this fantastic Simpsons episode pouring out of his mouth that you never dreamed of. And it was like, wow, this is where this stuff comes from.

Oakley also provided an example of a script as it went through all of its revisions on its way to the airwaves; it’s the one where Principal Skinner gets fired and Bart tries to get him his job back.

• The Simpsons
• TV