The Untold Secrets of The Simpsons: An Inside Look at the Writers Room in Early Seasons

Summary

Working in the early seasons of The Simpsons was not glamorous or cool - the writers' room was actually terrible, with bad furniture and fried food.

Sitting beside Conan O'Brien, a writer who indulged in constant smoking became a target of his playful remark about the potential risk to O'Brien's life due to the smoke.

To combat their extreme boredom, the writers amusingly entertained themselves by forming a sticky blob of chewed caramel and affixing miscellaneous items onto the ceiling.

Conan O'Brien reminisces about the chaotic conditions in the writers' room during the early seasons of The Simpsons. Before becoming the host of NBC’s Late Night and replacing David Letterman, O'Brien briefly worked as a writer on the animated series. Utilizing his unique and eccentric sense of humor, which he developed during his time on SNL, O'Brien contributed to the zaniness of The Simpsons and helped create some of its most unforgettable episodes.

Although his experience collaborating with the team to imagine the escapades of Homer and his friends was fulfilling, O'Brien reveals that the physical space in which he and the other writers worked during season 4 was far from glamorous. In a recent episode of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, guest Ed Sheeran questioned O'Brien about his time on the iconic show, prompting the host to share a humorous anecdote about the state of the writers' room in the early seasons. You can watch O'Brien's entertaining response around the 3:00 mark of the video below.

O’Brien Overcame The Writers’ Room To Craft Arguably The Greatest Simpsons Episode

Many individuals often perceive this television show as truly epic, renowned for its highly skilled writers and the exceptionally talented people I had the privilege to collaborate with. However, the room in which we worked was truly dreadful. In its earlier days, it was even worse, although it has since improved. The room had a hideously shaggy carpet, and the sofas were reminiscent of ones you might find discarded on the sidewalk during your first year of college or university. We would sit there, indulging in fried food, while enduring the constant presence of a chain-smoking writer sitting beside me. If I were ever to meet my demise, it would likely be due to that individual. Together, we would consume unsavory meals. In reality, the atmosphere was far from glamorous, enjoyable, or cool. I distinctly recall a peculiar incident when we all chewed up some caramel, forming a sizable blob, which we proceeded to stick onto the ceiling, attempting to affix various items to it. Anything to pass the time.

Considered one of the greatest Simpsons episodes, a notable installment in season 4 was penned by O’Brien. In episode 12, titled "Marge vs. the Monorail," Springfield suddenly finds itself with a significant amount of money after fining Montgomery Burns for improper nuclear waste disposal. Instead of using the funds wisely to fix essential infrastructure like Main Street, the town becomes enamored with the idea of spending the extra $3 million on a monorail. This plan is enthusiastically promoted by a persuasive swindler named Lyle Lanley. Seeing through Lanley's scheme, Marge and Lisa Simpson take a stand to prevent Springfield from falling into a potential catastrophe.

Renowned for its memorable lines, such as Homer's immortal proclamation, "Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?", and featuring an impressive cameo by Leonard Nimoy, "Marge vs. the Monorail" is widely hailed as one of The Simpsons' finest episodes. Notably, it is also a personal favorite of Conan O'Brien, showcasing his eccentric sense of humor that would later flourish on late night television. Despite less-than-ideal conditions, the comedic brilliance of episodes like "Marge vs. the Monorail" was undeniably achieved, as affirmed by the comedic genius himself.