They were created when James L. Brooks, the producer of "The Tracey Ullman Show," asked Mr. Groening to create animated segments for the program. During this time the show has done for animated cartoons what "thirtysomething" did for yuppies: proved that despite some annoying tendencies, they can be successful in prime time. [108] In 2007, he was ranked fourth (and highest American by birth) in a list of the "top 100 living geniuses", published by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph. From this and other joyless jobs, "Life in Hell" was born. Groening was one of four children. This comic book made its official debut as a comic strip in the Reader on April 25, 1980, and caught the attention of Hollywood writer-producer and Gracie Films founder James L. Brooks, who had been shown the strip by fellow producer Polly Platt. Abe Groening (born 1993) However, Matt and Deborah divorced in 1999. Groening and Deborah Caplan married in 1986 and had two sons, Homer (who goes by Will) and Abe. Groening is a guy who lunches with Rupert Murdoch and finds him congenial. SALON is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark of Salon.com, LLC. Matt Groening received the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Primetime or Late Night Television Program for The Simpsons in the years 1998, 2000 and 2001. However, Groening had expressed a desire to continue the Futurama franchise in some form, including as a theatrical film. In 2002, he won the Reuben Award by the National Cartoonists Society for his work, Life in Hell. [47], The family was crudely drawn, because Groening had submitted basic sketches to the animators, assuming they would clean them up; instead, they just traced over his drawings. 2) Disappointed? [106] Groening received the 2002 National Cartoonist Society Reuben Award, and had been nominated for the same award in 2000. [94] On June 16, 2018, he became the father of twins for a second time when his wife gave birth to Sol Matthew and Venus Ruth, announced via Instagram. He won the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Television Production for his animated series The Simpsons during three consecutive years i.e. His sister Lisa does not play the saxophone. Hold out for as much money as you can get, but make the deal. His television series titled Futurama also earned him the Annie Award for Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production in the years 2010 and 2014, while his other work The Simpsons won the award in this category in the years 2011, 2012 and 2015. Since 1989, Groening take part in the television series The Simpsons which is the longest-running U.S. primetime-television series in history and the longest-running U.S. animated series and sitcom. [49] Marge's distinct beehive hairstyle was inspired by Bride of Frankenstein and the style that Margaret Groening wore during the 1960s, although her hair was never blue. I like the idea of trying to be successful on some level, at least reaching an audience enough so that you can sustain it and keep on going." Matt Groening (1954-) biography on Film Reference. They divorced in 1999 and Groening married Argentine artist Agustina Picasso in 2011. It was Homer, a cartoonist and filmmaker, who showed his precocious son that a career of creative fulfillment was possible. Television and those who watch it are remorselessly lampooned. But mainly, he is Matt Groening. [63], The series quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, to the surprise of many. [26] Groening also started Acme Features Syndicate, which initially syndicated Life in Hell as well as work by Lynda Barry and John Callahan, but would eventually only syndicate Life in Hell. He notes with a chuckle that he has just received the lastest shipment of Simpsoniana: Bart golf balls. ", See the article in its original context from. "And to be honest, the whole 'Simpsons' project was a project to see how far I could go in the mainstream. [15] Soon afterward, Caplan and Groening left and put together the Life in Hell Co., which handled merchandising for Life in Hell. In a situation similar to Family Guy, however, strong DVD sales and very stable ratings on Adult Swim brought Futurama back to life. Groening's writing credits for the show are for the premiere episode, "Space Pilot 3000" (co-written with Cohen), "Rebirth" (story) and "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela" (story). ", Groening himself has always made the deal. [53] While designing Lisa, Groening "couldn't be bothered to even think about girls' hair styles". Menu Log In Sign Up In 1997, he and retired Simpsons writer David X. Cohen developed Futurama, an animated series about life in the year 3000, which premiered in 1999, ran for four years on Fox, then picked up by Comedy Central for more seasons. And for a guy whose career has been dedicated to skewering television, crass commercialism, "evil billionaire tyrants" (how boss Rupert Murdoch described himself in a cameo on "The Simpsons") and brainless consumers, Groening sure does love his merchandise. Even to this date, it continues to appear in many other alternative newspapers. On the radio, a drunken DJ wept a final farewell to his job. But for now, at least, it continues to thrive; it is consistently the most-watched show in its time slot, Thursday at 8 P.M., and is Fox's No. "Hey, they were right! After graduating in 1977, Groening headed to Los Angeles with the idea of pursuing a writing career. The same year his direct-to-video film Futurama: Bender's Big Score earned him the Annie Award for Best Animated Home Entertainment. Has two sons with Deborah Caplan: Homer Groening (born 1991) and Abe Groening (born 1993). He donned the role of an executive producer for animated films Futurama: Bender's Game (2007), Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs (2008), Futurama: Bender's Game (2008), and Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder (2009). (2015) The show, according to Groening, was "buried." [56], The Simpsons shorts first appeared in The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987. "That your moral authorities don't always have your best interests in mind," he told Mother Jones magazine. The pilot episode of "Futurama" was scheduled to air in the coveted slot between "The Simpsons" and "The X-Files" on Sunday night, and was watched by 19 million viewers. He also plays the drums in the all-author rock and roll band The Rock Bottom Remainders (although he is listed as the cowbell player), whose other members include Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson, Scott Turow, Amy Tan, James McBride, Mitch Albom, Roy Blount Jr., Stephen King, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Sam Barry and Greg Iles. (Villard). Groening's career got a boost in the early 1980s when the L.A. The Simpsons (1989-present) The final episode aired on September 4, 2013. His favorite artist is Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention and his favorite album is Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart (which was produced by Zappa). He ran for student body president on the "Teens for Decency" ("If You're Against Decency, What Are You For?") According to Groening, the goal with Bongo is to "[try] to bring humor into the fairly grim comic book market. He first sold his comic to magazine Wet, in 1978. Post years of research in science fiction, in 1997, Matt Groening along with producer, David X Cohen, created an animated series project titled Futurama, about life in the year 3000. Over the years, "The Simpsons" and its irreverently unsentimental outlook have provoked a mountain of commentary about the decline of American culture. Deborah Kaplan Entertainment - Director Why Famous: is an American screenwriter and film director Age: N/A Deborah Kaplan's Relationships (2) Matt Groening Arts - Other Why Famous: The Simpsons and Futurama Clerks: The Animated Series (2000-2002) Groening has received 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, 11 for The Simpsons and 2 for Futurama, and a British Comedy Award due to outstanding contribution to comedy in 2004. 7) Do you question authority when authority is out of earshot? Good Grief, Charlie Brown: A Tribute to Charles Schulz (since 2000) [15] Life in Hell made its official debut as a comic strip in the Reader on April 25, 1980. Fearing the loss of ownership rights, Groening created a new set of characters, the Simpson family. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Groening's success owes as much to his own work as it does to the work of a slew of others, including co-creators James Brooks and Sam Simon, and "The Simpsons'" writing staff. [85], Groening is known for his eclectic taste in music. "I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, because this is how everyone is treated [in Hollywood]," he told Mother Jones. ", Mr. Groening identifies closely with the oppressed children of America, sitting at their desks, waiting to cause trouble. The Simpsons is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Matt Groening (full Name: Matthew Abram Groening) is a popular American cartoonist, writer, producer, and animator. Groening was born on February 15, 1954, in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. Deborah Caplan-Matt Groening: 68: Aquarius: Cartoonist: American: Children Name Gender Born Age Other Parent; Homer: Male: 1991: 31 years old: Matt Groening: Abe: Male: 1993: 29 years old: Matt Groening: Discussions Have your say Be the first to make a comment >> Recommended Recommended. Groening went on to the liberal Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where he butted heads with the more extreme countercultural types that populated the campus. [82], In 1994, Groening formed Bongo Comics (named after the character Bongo from Life in Hell[83]) with Steve Vance, Cindy Vance and Bill Morrison, which publishes comic books based on The Simpsons and Futurama (including Futurama Simpsons Infinitely Secret Crossover Crisis, a crossover between the two), as well as a few original titles. He also invited the off-the-wall submissions of campus cartoonists, finding himself inspired by the original works of fellow undergrad Lynda Barry. In 1994, Matt Groening started the comic book publishing company named Bongo Comics. One of his first employers was an aging B-movie director who needed help both getting around and writing his memoirs. Nowadays, you can't throw a rock at a TV set without hitting an irreverent animated social satire. [80] He described the fantasy-oriented series as originating in a sketchbook full of "fantastic creatures we couldn't do on The Simpsons". From 1972 through 1977, Groening studied at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, a liberal arts school that Groening described as a hippie college, with no grades or required classes, that drew every weirdo in the Northwest. There are Bart cake pans, Bart bicycles and Bart pinball machines, Bart note cards, Bart soda bottles and Bart game books. In 1988, James L. Brooks, looking for a filler in the television show, The Tracey Ullman Show (1987), turned towards a framed "Life in Hell" strip on his wall and contacted Groening.