There has never been a more transformational television series than The Simpsons.

I remember when the show first came out. It was like nothing we had ever watched before. The animation was different, the characters were original, the voices were fantastic.

But one thing that stuck out the most was the writing. The Simpsons took animated television and made it sophisticated enough for an adult audience, while making it digestible and entertaining for kids as well.

Recently I had the chance to catch up with Michael Price on Blackballed. Price is a long-time producer and writer for The Simpsons and is acutely aware of how fortunate he is to write for such a ground-breaking series.

“When The Simpsons first came on I was just at the beginning of taking classes and being in a comedy group with friends. Every Sunday night we wouldn’t miss it. That was 1990, and to find myself 12 years later on the writing staff of The Simpsons was a dream come true, and it still feels that way.”

The longevity of The Simpsons likely relies on keeping an eye on individual episodes rather than getting lost in the idea that this show is a cultural juggernaut, and according to Price this is key to writers being able to churn out new episodes.

Get ready for a night of parents gone wild this Sunday on The Simpsons. pic.twitter.com/DwXkgMdrnb

— The Simpsons (@TheSimpsons) March 10, 2023

“All of us to varying degrees grew up with the show,” Price said. “We even have a writer who is younger than the actual show. I remember when it first came on and the huge impact that it made.”

“We are aware of what we are trying to live up to…but we wouldn’t get anything done if we kept thinking about what it is going to mean in terms of what will play to a giant world, or what is going to become a meme.”

It's been so fun to have @kerrywashington's Ms. Peyton on the show as a sane person still learning about the insanity of all things Springfield. And she nailed her Mayor Van Houten impersonation. pic.twitter.com/sUtdrpmy3U

— Michael Price (@mikepriceinla) March 13, 2023

Price joined The Simpsons at season 14 and is uniquely aware of the type of criticism the show has endured throughout the years. Some fans were upset with the changes to the animation, some are even bothered by the change to Marge Simpsons’ voice (Julie Kavner, who has played Marge Simpson for 34 years, actually had a lump removed from her throat which noticeably change the cadence of her raspy voice), but the producers, despite the noticeable difference, kept Kavner rather than find another Marge to replicate Kavner’s voice.

“Julie Kavner has been Marge since day 1, and she will be Marge for as long as she wants to be Marge, “ Price offered. “She is a really gifted, wonderful person who brings the soul of the character and lets it come through her.”

“Nobody expected the show to be around for 34 or 35 seasons…right now we are so happy with this amazing cast. Julie is incredible, Dan Castellentta who is Homer and about 100 other characters, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Yeardley Smith, Nancy Cartwright…they are just incredible performers and incredible people.”

The Simpsons airs Sundays at 8 PM ET on FOX.