Springfield Confidential

Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Lifetime Writing for The Simpsons

By: Mike Reiss, Mathew Klickstein

Narrated by: Mike Reiss

In celebration of The Simpsons thirtieth anniversary, the show’s longest-serving writer and producer offers a humorous look at the writing and making of the legendary Fox series that has become one of the most revered artistic achievements in television history.

Four-time Emmy winner Mike Reiss—who has worked on The Simpsons continuously since episode one in 1989—shares stories, scandals, and gossip about working with America’s most iconic cartoon family ever. Reiss explains how the episodes are created, and provides an inside look at the show’s writers, animators, actors and celebrity guests. He answers a range of questions from Simpsons fans and die-hards, and reminisces about the making of perennially favorite episodes.

In his freewheeling, irreverent comic style, Reiss reflects on his lifetime inside The Simpsons—a personal highlights reel of his achievements, observations, and favorite stories. Springfield Confidential exposes why Matt Groening decided to make all of the characters yellow; dishes on what it’s like to be crammed in a room full of funny writers sixty hours a week; and tells what Reiss learned after traveling to seventy-one countries where The Simpsons is watched (ironic note: there’s no electricity in many of these places); and even reveals where Springfield is located! He features unique interviews with Judd Apatow, who also provided the foreword, and Conan O'Brien, as well as with Simpsons legends Al Jean, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and more.

Like Cary Elwes’ As You Wish, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s Seinfeldia, and Chris Smith’s The Daily Show: An Oral History, Springfield Confidential is a funny, informational, and exclusive look at one of the most beloved programs in all of television land.

Laugh out loud!

This was the first book that truly made me laugh out loud. It's full of jokes, inside stories, and great lies. I loved it.

Excellent!

An excellent insight into one of the funniest families in America, highly recommended for all the Simpsons fans.

The hilarity hurts!

It was a fun listen. I’m a big Simpsons fan, so it was as interesting and Mike’s take and view of things, while at times can be dark, is funny and entertaining.

very very enjoyable.

I really enjoyed listening to this. the Simpsons stuff was great, and all the stuff about this guy's life was brilliant too.

I'm sad it's over!

The book was amazing. Narration couldn't have been better either! Totally recommend for any simpsons fan!