Currently Reading..

So I just got a copy of the book Simpsons Confidential by John Ortved, which bills itself as an unauthorized oral history from the people that made the show. Seeing as The Simpsons is one of my favourite television shows of all time, and that I am heavily interested in the production aspects of the show I was very excited at the prospect of this book. I really enjoyed Tom Shales' oral history of Saturday Night Live, and I don't even watch that show, so I thought this was a no brainer.

So far I am more than 65 percent through it and am undecided so far on the book. There are interesting stories no doubt, especially about the writers room, but it feels like a one sided look at things due to the absence of many of the shows major players (Groening, Brooks and many others interviews in this book were not conducted by Ortved himself, but were found during his extensive research of the show). It also feels like Ortved is trying to insert himself into the book too much, and at many times states pure subjectivity as truth. Yes it's the in thing to hate on The Simpsons once Mike Scully started running the show but it doesn't make it the absolute truth.

I will finish these ramblings once I have finished the book, one thing I will give it, I have only had it for two days and have been unable to put it down.