Al Jean has formally confirmed that he’s stepping down as The Simpsons’ showrunner after 25 years, marking the tip of an period for the traditional animated sequence. Jean’s final episode as The Simpsons’ showrunner — season 37, episode 5, “Dangerous Boys… for Life?” — has him credited as its author, and tells the story of when the household realized Bart was a nasty boy.
In a tweet asserting his departure, Jean defined that he nonetheless enjoys engaged on the present, however he received’t be the showrunner for the foreseeable future. There’s lots of strain connected to the position of showrunner; completely each choice concerned in making the present comes again to them. Jean may have much more enjoyable stepping again into his unique position as a staffed Simpsons author.
Al Jean Has Been A Key Half Of The Simpsons Since The Starting
Jean has been part of The Simpsons’ writing workers since its very first season. In 1989, Jean and his writing accomplice Mike Reiss turned the primary writers to be employed to work on The Simpsons. Jean and Reiss co-showran the sequence in seasons 3 and 4 earlier than leaving to create their very own present, The Critic.
The Critic was canceled after two seasons, and their follow-up mission, a live-action sitcom known as Teen Angel, was canceled in its first season. Jean returned to The Simpsons in season 10, and resumed his place as showrunner in season 13, with out Reiss at his aspect. Jean continued on as sole showrunner till season 33, at which level Matt Selman joined him as co-showrunner.
Jean was additionally one of many writers and producers who labored on The Simpsons Film. Suffice to say, aside from the few years when he was off engaged on his personal tasks, Jean has been a serious a part of The Simpsons for its whole run. He’s been there for the reason that starting, and he has the longest tenure as showrunner by far.
What Al Jean’s Departure As Showrunner May Imply For The Simpsons
Jean’s departure, and the event of a Simpsons Film sequel, present the proper alternative to reinvent The Simpsons. Jean has been the guiding imaginative and prescient behind The Simpsons for the previous 25 years, and in that point, the present has settled right into a stale components, relying an excessive amount of on celeb cameos and contrived storylines. Now’s the proper time for a contemporary voice to return in.
Selman will take over as sole showrunner in Jean’s absence, so the shift received’t be too radical. However as sole showrunner, Selman may have much more management than he had as Jean’s co-showrunner. That is the tip of an period for The Simpsons, but it surely might be the beginning of an excellent higher one.
