The iconic cartoon series “The Simpsons” has been celebrated over decades for how it blended fiction and reality and has achieved cult status for the innumerable instances of predicting the future.  

Recluse writer for the comedy series John Swartzwelder has finally opened up about his time while penning dozens of episodes for the iconic show, which has been running for 32 years.

In an interview with The New Yorker, Swartzwelder spoke about how he landed the job. His stint at a small comedy zine called “The Army Man” earned him his first interview.

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“The Army Man jokes got me my initial interview with (the late] Sam [Simon] and Matt [Groening], which led to my first script assignment, ‘Bart the General,’ but I wasn’t actually hired to work on staff until I’d done three episodes,” he explained. “The Simpsons didn’t have enough money for a full-time writing staff until late in 1989. They’ve got enough now, of course.”

What is the favourite episode of the recluse writer out of the 59 he has penned? Well, he said he doesn’t specifically have a favourite episode, however, he admitted he did enjoy watching some of them. 

“I do have some favourites I always enjoy watching. ‘Itchy & Scratchy & Marge,’ ‘Bart the Murderer,’ ‘Dog of Death,’ ‘Homer at the Bat,’ ‘Homie the Clown,’ ‘Bart Gets an Elephant,’ ‘Homer’s Enemy,’ and ‘Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment.’ ” 

Talking about legacy among the fanatics of the show, Swartzwelder said, “I’m certainly pleased that people still like the episodes I did. I would say that all the praise makes me humble, but, of course, praise does the exact opposite. But I am pleased by the attention.”

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Swartzwelder, lauding the show, said that “The Simpsons” managed to do something which he didn’t think was possible.

“It got viewers to look at writers’ credits on TV shows. When I was growing up, we looked at the actors’ names, and maybe the director, but that’s it. Now a whole generation of viewers not only knows about writers, they’re wondering what we’re really like in real life,” he said.