Jon Vitti Is Back, And Other News

I found a few quotes from newspaper articles that may be of interest...

1. Yes, Jon Vitti (writer of "Cape Feare," "Lisa's Substitute," "Mr. Plow" and other classics) is definitely back with "The Simpsons." In addition to the episode mentioned in the NEW YORK TIMES article, I found a description of another upcoming Vitti-scripted episode. Here's a quote from Robert Pinsky, former poet laureate of the U.S., about his guest-starring role in this ep:

"I'm cast as a character named Robert Pinsky, who's a poet. This guy is a self-important jerk. I brag about the White House, how much the president likes my poems, I mutter to myself, congratulating myself about how the audience is in the palm of my hand. I start reading my poem, 'Impossible to Tell,' from the podium at Springfield's college. Lisa is pretending to be a college student and she goes on campus with new friends who think she's their age and they go to the poetry reading. Lisa appreciates it, but she's just thrilled to be on a college campus."

So that's two Vitti scripts that are in the works. I'm assuming he's back as a "consultant," like Swartzwelder (i.e. someone who just writes scripts rather than getting involved in day-to-day production), but it's good that they brought back one of the top writers from the glory years.

2. Executive producer Al Jean (another top writer from the glory years) had this to say about how Homer will be characterized in upcoming episodes:

"Homer, over the years, has gotten stupider. We're trying to smarten him up. In the beginning, he was more angry... I can't say he's getting smarter, but we're trying to make him not as stupid."

in pog form? Sincerely, Little Girl

Drunk and full of pie, Capel Cleggs wrote:

Great news. It makes you wonder... was it a change in E.P. that made him leave? After Mirkin left, one of Vitti's scripts was used (3F01) but he was apparently not on staff anymore. Good sign! And Al Jean sounds at least concerned about where the show was headed, by his indicating that he has the ability to change its course. This gives insight into the role of E.P.--maybe Scully really _was_ the cause of the quote-unquote "evil years". :) ( Hi there, Nim! What? You don't agree? :D )

I love ya, Mike Scully. Please keep growin that beard.

The Rack wrote:

No, Vitti left to join the writing staff of "The Critic." (Basically, nearly all the original writers left after season 4 because they were burned out and wanted to try new things.) The one "Simpsons" script he did after that (3F01) was written for Jean and Reiss when they were producing extra episodes for season 6, but it wound up being produced by the regular staff instead. (Note that Vitti is credited as a consultant on Jean and Reiss's "Critic" crossover episode.)

Drunk and full of pie, Capel Cleggs wrote:

This at least indicates he has a good working relationship with Al Jean. Everything he wrote for The Simpsons was great. Strangely though, it seems like many people who love his Simpsons episodes didn't like "The Critic". At least that's the impression... after reading years of reviews/posts here.

The Rack wrote:

Yes, but I think Vitti has an even better working relationship with James L. Brooks; Vitti has written for four shows produced by Brooks-- in addition to "The Simpsons" and "The Critic," he worked on the short-lived "Phenom" (with Judith Light) and the short-lived "What About Joan" (with Joan Cusack). Maybe Brooks re-assigned him to "The Simpsons" when it became clear that "Joan" wasn't going to make it?

The Rack wrote:

maybe it's jon lovitz they didn't care for? "the critic" was a pretty smart (and funny) show, and i'd like to think the efforts weren't wasted on "simpsons" devotees.

"shut up, wilbur, and load the photon torpedoes."

Drunk and full of pie, dave h. wrote:

What I saw of it I liked (never saw it when it was on the air).

<smiles>

Brockman: Could this be the beginning of Bloom County-related taglines on a Simpsons newsgroup? In this reporter's opinion, the answer is, sadly, "yes".

I couldn't be happier. I think this is really a step in the right direction, personally.

This is also the umpteenth time I've read an interview with a quote from Al Jean wanting to bring the show back to it's "glory days". If anyone here has listened to the DVD set, I think almost everyone will agree that he seems to be a really "hardcore" fan of the show. He even goes so far as to quote P-Codes off the top of his head. Sounds kind of familiar. ;)

-Anthony Regina "The Rack" wrote in message news:[email]...

interest...

Plow" and

nearly

and

(3F01) was

season 6,

Vitti is

Drunk and full of pie, Anthony Regina wrote:

You're right. Al Jean does sound like a big fan of the Simpsons on the DVD commentary. :)

=v= I can't speak for anyone but myself, but overall I thought the main problem with _The_Critic_ was that it wasn't complete enough, especially for following in _The_Simpsons_' wake. The writing was the best part, and it was fine as far as it went, but it didn't go far enough. I'd say it was good but thin.

=v= Part of what makes _The_Simpsons_ work is that Springfield is a fully-realized world, and everywhere you turn there's a reminder that the Simpsons live in a culture of idiots. On _The_Critic_, there was just an ensemble of weirdos kicking around a New York that didn't have a lot of life to it.

=v= I loved the movie parodies on both shows, but again, on _The_Simpsons_ they were subtly insinuated into their daily lives and underscored the idiocy of the environment they lived in, whereas on _The_Critic_ they were there front and center, and then Jay Sherman had to prolong things by making a comment (since that was his job).

=v= Factors other than the writing didn't measure up:  the art
style (especially the range of expression on the characters'
faces) and the music didn't do it for me.  The voice actors
were great, but they weren't _Simpsons_ great.          .-.  .-.
    <_Jym_>                                            /  / /  /
  |\/\/\/|                                            /  / /  /

Drunk and full of pie, Jym Dyer wrote:

This is important, IMO. Apparently, the writers wrote episodes in an opportunistic way... if a scene in a new script reminded them of a scene in some movie (TV show, whatever), they went ahead and parodied it. It fit the episode, and made the scene richer.

Because the Simpsons' world is satiric, these refs also mocked the self-importance of such movies. They were commentary on how we seem to take our education from pop-culture. They were iconoclastic towards movies and the movie industry in general. But, they were done in such a way that the innocent viewer (unaware of the references) could still enjoy the episode as a solid, funny (sometimes serious) story.

All of those elements combined and made a scene much, much funnier than just some story unconnected to the viewer (through pop-culture, satire, or otherwise)

IMO forced parodies or gratuitous references aren't as successful as the integrated movie (or other) references.

IMO that's just the effect that "The Simpsons" exaggerated, satiric universe had on the reference. It mocked (sometimes friendly, sometimes not) the movies that were referenced. The show ironically (sarcastically) suggests that these movies are more important than they really are. I _love_ that stuff. The references look like homages; but in reality, they're iconoclasm. They're tearing down pop-culture. They make us realize how ridiculous our culture is, just as "The Simpsons" characters do themselves. Those movie references, thus, fit seemlessly into the episodes.

About Al Jean & Co:

Shifting gears... IMO Mr. Jean is a genius of observation. So is Jon Vitti. So is George Meyer. So is John Swartzwelder. So was/(is?) Frank Mula. So was Jeff Martin. So were Wolodarsky & Kogen. They would take everyday ironies from life, exaggerate them, and they became satire. We as Americans were mocked thoroughly week after week, in a subtle way on The Simpsons.

These guys can bring back this sophisticated mockery of American culture, and still write stories that have feelings. The show really sticks it to us, but then gives us hope for ourselves (through the feelings). If that's _pat_, as Nim has suggested, then (as Col. Hapablap would say) PAT ME UP!

On Tue, 27 Nov 2001 20:31:25 GMT, Capel Cleggs wrote:

I have just two words...

"Wooo Hoooo!"

ScottSPM

Drunk and full of pie, ScottSPM wrote:

Homer: [folding arms] I said... "woo... hoo..." I stand by my excited groan.

=v= Having him build a robot is somewhat overshooting       (****)
the "not as stupid" mark.                                 (*******)
    <_Jym_>                                             (*********)
    "Me lose brain?  Heh heh heh.  Why me laugh?"      (*********)
   .--.                                               (*********)
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+::| . .   \: Jym Dyer http://www.things.org/~jym/ :(o)(o)(*)::

OOOOOO