Writer of The Simpsons, Mike Reiss, talks about politics

The multi-award winning lead writer for globally-recognised TV megaproperty, The Simpsons, is Mike Reiss. He visited Australia recently for the Screen Producers' Association of Australia's annual conference and Netvideo was able to poach a few minutes of his time. In this interview Reiss describes how the Simpsons writers use politics as the meat for fun - but talks about the kind of challenges that having an eight month lead time can pose for topicality.

Reiss also talks about attacking the man who pays their bills - Rupert Murdoch - and the kind of response he received when the Simpsons came to Australia. Sadly it seems the Australian displeasure at the "Australian" ep was so unexpectedly striking that the Simpsons won't be coming back any time soon (but afterall, he points out there are still about 200 countries the Simpsons haven't visited yet). Reiss talks about how the script writers used to try and get stars to come on the show - and how nowadays it is a matter of managing those who want in....

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Simpsons
• Media
• Entertainment

[seriousnews2]

Faux eastern "Australian" accent

[seriousnews2]

I liked the PM in the dam etc really funny, but the bit where the writers "educate" Americans that Aust was started off by you-know-what was disgraceful. I need only say of my b/place: Adelaide does not share the convict settlement history of other Australian cities like Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Hobart. (Ugh). Adelaide was established as the centre of a planned colony of free immigrants, promising civil liberties and freedom from religious persecution...led to world-first reforms (Wiki).SFUR

[simley87]

What do you care, ya fricking racist.

[Guitarist500]

I agree, I dub the Bart vs. Australia the worst show

[ergoat]

If you have a problem with the Simpsons in Australia, why don't you go to the nearest sheep pasture to speak to your member of Parliament? Seriously, my Aussie friends loved it and the "Oi! Mr. Prime Minister!" in faux Aussie accent is an oft repeated line. SmokyBlue must live in Sydney.

[raven1395]

It's called a sense of humour...

It was clearly playing on the stereotypes and you take yourself (and the "Aussie identity") way to seriously if you didnt find at least one part of it funny.

[SmokyBlueJames]

I thought it was racist and stupid.

[raven1395]

I found the episode Simpsons vs Australia funny ^^