The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History
By John Ortved
It's been said that every story has at least three sides, and that there really is no version that is completely accurate. With John Ortved's book, The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History, the story behind the groundbreaking animated series is told, albeit without several key players involvement.
Noticably absent from the book are Matt Groening, Sam Simon, James L. Brooks, Al Jean, Dana Gould, David Silverman, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Harry Shearer. Pamela Hayden, Tracy Ullman, Kelsey Grammar as well as dozens of writers, producers and animators.
Instead, we are presented an opinionated, "warts and all" gossip-filled oral history recounting the origins, the backstage drama, the backstabbing, the egos, and money.
The book is strongest in focusing on the early years of the series and Ortved seems to lose interest in the history as the show enters it's later seasons. Very similar in tone, but far less effective in execution to James A. Miller and Tom Shales' Live From New York, The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History is a very readable, entertaining look at one of the most influential television series in the history of popular culture.
Just take it with a grain of salt.
1 comments:
Excellent review. If you are interested in this you may be entertained or totally put off by the art of New York artist Joseph Cavalieri - He places the Simpsons in stained glass. See: CAVAglass.com
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