Writing the Simpsons

Background:

Scriptwriter/director David Mirkin, whose first TV writing job was in the sitcom “Three’s Company” (1977), earned appreciation for his work in the famous “The Simpson” (show began in 1989) and collected four Emmy Awards and three additional Emmy nominations. Previously, Mirkin was nominated for an Emmy Award for his writing effort in the sitcom “Newhart” (1982).

Later, Mirkin tried his hand at movie directing with the Lisa Kudrow-starring Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997) and the star-studded crime comedy Heartbreakers (2001). Mirkin, who took home a cat he named “T.C.” (short for “Televised Cat”) from the set of “Three’s Company,” also helmed James Taylor’s video for “Enough to be on Your Way.”


Callsign WA3QIZ

Childhood and Family:

A native of Philadelphia, David Mirkin is an alumnus of the Loyola Marymount University. He was once an amateur radio operator with the callsign “WA3QIZ,” which was also used by one of “The Simpsons” character named Seymour Skinner.


Newhart

Career:

David Mirkin had his first screen credit as a writer for the sitcom “Three’s Company” (1977), created by Brian Cooke and Johnnie Mortimer. He was also involved in its spin-off series “Three’s a Crowd” (1984).

Mirkin also worked on another sitcom called “Newhart” (1982), which starred Bob Newhart. In the Barry Kemp-created series, Mirkin served as the executive producer, the executive script supervisor, an episodic director and a writer. For his effort in “Newhart,” he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, in 1987.

Mirkin joined creator Matt Groening as a writer and producer for the now airing cartoon series “The Simpson” (show began in 1989). Later, Mirkin swept up four Emmy awards and three additional Emmy nominations, all for Best Animated Program.

In between his work in the well-known cartoon series, the scriptwriter moved to the director’s chair with the sitcom “Get A Life” (1990, also executive produced and wrote). Mirkin, who in 1986 could be seen as Walter Ambrose in the film Last Resort, also guest starred in the 1991 episode of “Get A Life,” as the businessman. He then took part in the TV comedy special The Julie Show (1991), the comedy talk show “The Larry Sanders Show” (1992) and the little sitcom “The Edge” (1992).

Attempting the big screen, Mirkin directed Mira Sorvino and “Friends” alumnus Lisa Kudrow in the comedy Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997), based on the play by Robin Schiff. Within several years, the director collaborated with screenwriters Robert Dunn and Paul Guay in the star-studded crime comedy Heartbreakers (2001, also appeared as a lawyer), featuring Sigourney Weaver, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ray Liotta, Anne Bancroft, Gene Hackman and Jason Lee. About the project, the director commented, “The cast was just awesome. [The cast was] so much fun to work with. We had lots and lots of laughs. I was so lucky to get that cast. To get those people, even doing the small roles.”

Mirkin is also credited as the screenwriter for the upcoming The Simpsons Movie, which is set for release in 2007. He will direct Reese Witherspoon in a romantic comedy titled Sports Widow (2008).


Awards:

- Emmy: Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour), “The Simpsons,” episode “Homr,” 2001
- Emmy: Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less), “The Simpsons,” episode “Trash Of The Titans,” 1998
- Emmy: Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less), “The Simpsons,” episode “Homer’s Phobia,” 1997
- Emmy: Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less), “The Simpsons,” 1995