What's your personal opinion on Al Jean?

[FranklinGeorge]

Please review Al Jean as a writer, showrunner, and commentator.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

Fantastic writer, Outstanding showrunner, wonderful human being.

[zach]

Fantastic writer, Outstanding showrunner, wonderful human being.

^that. but without being sarcastic.

[The Governor]

Huh? Can we drop the rating "As a Human Being" unless you actually know the guy at some level?

[Mr Black]

I'm sure he's very nice to his mother

[The Spruce Moose]

he smells a bit funny

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

May I also add his voice is absolutely suave, could listen to him all day long.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Yeah, his voice definitely doesn't make me want to punch a baby at all.

[Company Picnic]

With that and his sharp good looks he could charm anyone. He's nice to his mother because she's proud of him - he has the confidence that comes from being a sophisticated, cutting edge television producer.

[irvine_11]

Seems like a good guy, but he really needs to learn about the concept of overstaying your welcome.

[Parallel Reality]

Seems like a good guy, but he really needs to learn about the concept of overstaying your welcome.

This.

[jscottstroup]

Seems to have good taste, and restored class to 'The Simpsons'.

[leprechaun_dan]

He's decent.

[cinco]

good writer, average showrunner, irritating commentator, rich human being

[CMYK]

He's pretty swell.

[Bert Stanton]

writer: above average
showrunner: the worst ever
commentator: I simply turn it off

[Diversity Pumpkin]

Reptilian.

[The Spruce Moose]

Needs Mike Reiss

[Snaked]

Fantastic writer, Outstanding showrunner, wonderful human being.

^ This, WITH being sarcastic instead of without.

[The Wiggs]

I know little to nothing about him as a person, but as far as his professional ability goes, I'd say he is someone who was good for the Simpsons but has stayed around for a little to long. If he would've stepped down after even season 16 he would probably be looked back on as someone who revitalized the show after Scully, instead of someone who has stagnated the series.

[cloneasaurus]

People seem to concentrate all their hate on him like he's the sole perpetrator behind the show, which sorta bugs me

Because honestly I doubt he even has that much actual input in the show nowadays. Not that I know, of course... but he seems, perhaps, less hands on than the other showrunners? I dunno. He seems like an alright guy to me.

[Company Picnic]

People seem to concentrate all their hate on him like he's the sole perpetrator behind the show, which sorta bugs me

Because honestly I doubt he even has that much actual input in the show nowadays. Not that I know, of course... but he seems, perhaps, less hands on than the other showrunners? I dunno. He seems like an alright guy to me.

Obviously I don't know what the process is, or how much say he has in individual episodes, but surely he has to approve episode ideas and is aware of how they're being executed? I'd also imagine the tone and ethos of the show is ultimately Jean's responsibility? The point being that as showrunner he has the opportunity to improve the show from where it's at, if he wanted to.

Please correct me if I'm wrong on any of this, though.

[The Governor]

He looks like a cross between Moe and Austin powers (not in the moe dressed like austin powers way.)

[Blobulle]

Very good writer (especially with Mike Reiss).
Average showrunner...

[The Thompsons]

A very mercurial figure in the show's history. He was in part responsible for some of the greatest episodes of all time (both as writer and co-showrunner) and some of the worst episodes of all time(w/o Mike Reiss.) Pretty indifferent to his audio commentaries although I am very interested to hear what he has to say about the later seasons.

[cloneasaurus]

Obviously I don't know what the process is, or how much say he has in individual episodes, but surely he has to approve episode ideas and is aware of how they're being executed? I'd also imagine the tone and ethos of the show is ultimately Jean's responsibility? The point being that as showrunner he has the opportunity to improve the show from where it's at, if he wanted to.

Please correct me if I'm wrong on any of this, though.

I wasn't really doubting his position as head, I'm sure he has to give things the green light and still oversee all the aspects of the show's production. But if you look at the credits of the episodes nowadays, there's more Executive Producers and Producers and whatnot than before (eg. in the classic era, only the showrunner(s) & Groening/Simon/Brooks had EP credits, and there were less writers). To me I guess this suggests that the job of showrunner is more streamlined, and that - in least in terms of the show's writing - his actual input (in terms of jokes etc. that make it in to the script) isn't that big.

[Zombies Rise from the Sea]

It's okay; I like him as a writer but I dislike him as a showrunner. Looks a bit too much like Leno for my tastes.

[YellowFever]

If you asked me in 1993: "Oh he was such an awesome showrunner!! My favorite episodes ever!"

If you asked me in 2005: "Wow. These last four seasons may not have been as good as the golden years but wow, I'm so GLAD he's back!"

Now, well, I think he's perhaps overstayed his welcome a little bit, of course we all say we want him to go but the show could be a lot worse without him, it's really only seasons 17 through 19 that I find pretty dull and I'm one of the people who find since the shows HD era started it's had a lot more near-classic episodes than back in the early 2000's. Having said that it's time for the show to end. There are still good episodes, but only as many as there are bland ones. Al Jean as a person, he seems to be a nice guy, quite funny and very insightful on the commentaries and I find him very interesting.

[CousinMerl]

He's alright and I have nothing against him, but I kind of have to agree about the comment regarding the overstaying. I think it's probably about time for him to step down and let someone else who's competent enough take over the reins.

[rkell48]

He sounds like he injested helium lul