Matt Selman the Showrunner

[zartok-35]

I remembered "The book job" being a decent episode for today's satndard, so I bought it on iTunes awhile back, and just gave it a rewatch. I notice Matt Selman has been trying out some showrunning in the past season and a half, and I think thats pretty neat. He's freshened up the show a bit, and done some things that I like.
The use of guest stars in Selman episodes is really impressive; they fit nicely into the episodes, and they actually get something to do. I think thats an awesome development. They're usually english, too. The musical montages are much better in Selman episodes, too, I think.

Has anyone else noticed any stylistic tendancies? Do you think the episodes are good, and he should take over the show?
Heres a list so you know what they are(ofcourse, you should already know, so if you don't, be ashamed of your self! ):

• The food wife
• The book job
• A totally fun thing that Bart will never do again

Out of these, I'd say 'Book job' is the best, and 'Totally fun thing' is the least; they're all a bit more interesting than the Al Jean produced norm.
There's lots to talk about here, so if nobody says anything, I'm gonna be pissed off.

[Malaise Forever]

R&R Episode PABF00 : Matt Selman the Showrunner

The episode started okay with The Simpsons attending an event. I think it wasn't as funny as usual and the puns lacked creativity. Bart's montage when he was being bored is a good touch, one I would like to see more often. When the plot start kicking in, the jokes are a llittle bit more interesting and creative. The satire I thought was still so-so, it didn't try to be complex, it just easily poke fun at its source material (Tween book authors being fake, the trend of food blogs...and I'm not sure if there even was satire on the cruise ship). I thought the best jokes was when they parodied things like heist movies. The characterization was okay, not over the top like it could've been. My favorite joke: "Well we gave the bad guy a laugh, so that's something". Overall, while I think there's been some change and the average is a little bit better than usual, it's still too soon to say "hurrah". Oh yeah and don't have The Simpsons going to the North Pole next...

Also, Matt Selman is one of the most concistent writers, so I'd like to see his future episodes having the same solid concistency.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Yeah, when I first saw the title I immediately thought of Homer the Smithers. Yeah, though, he'd be a fine showrunner, and he's proved time and time again he's a pretty funny guy.

[Lionheart]

The Book Job was great, but The Food Wife and A Totally Fun Thing started off OK but got WAY off course (Especially "A Totally Fun Thing"). I don't know if it's his fault or the writers' fault.

I'm not sure if these episodes are examples of what we can expect from him as a showrunner or not, since there's only three of them. At least they weren't dull?

[Dark Homer]

they're all about his dumb nerd hobbies

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

I was honestly taken aback at the pretty loud outcry for him to be given full control after two episodes(this was before A Totally Fun aired.) I mean they were both pretty good but still....

[zartok-35]

I was honestly taken aback at the pretty loud outcry for him to be given full control after two episodes(this was before A Totally Fun aired.) I mean they were both pretty good but still....

After TEN YEARS of Al Jean, any change is good. These episodes aren't bland!

[Dobbie]

He's the best of a bad bunch, so in reality he's the best choice.

He seems to have decent episodes credited to his name, give him a shot I say!

[zach]

it wouldn't change a thing.

[Dobbie]

When Al Jean started he brought back some good times to the Simpsons after Scully's mess. He just stayed too long, way too long.

I'm not suggesting Selman will be the messiah but a change in direction could be a good for the show, even if it is only for the short-term.

[zartok-35]

it wouldn't change a thing.

But it already has!

[Homer I Am]

What is that supposed to mean?

[zartok-35]

He has changed the show, ever slightly, as I've attempted to point out in my first post there.

[Dark Homer]

the titanic is still sinking, but now the band is playing hot chip

[Homer I Am]

He has changed the show, ever slightly, as I've attempted to point out in my first post there.

Yeah, A Totally Fun Thing That Bart Will Never Do Again was SOOO good .

[zartok-35]

'Book job' really was sooo good. 'Totally fun thing' seems to be the only fluke.

[Wavy Gravy]

I watched "The Food Wife" the other day, and while it certainly didn't bore me like Jean's episodes usually do, it still had its problems. How come all of a sudden, Bart and Lisa think Homer's a great father? How the hell do the Simpsons afford three laptops, nights out at fancy restaurants every day of the week, and VIP passes to a video game expo? What's up with that scene where Homer crawls up the stairs bawling his eyes out? It felt more like something out of Season 11 or 12, and while that does put it slightly above most of Jean's solo efforts, it's still not really something to be proud of.

[Bert Stanton]

A Food Wife was terrible from start to finish. I can think of no positive points.
A Book Job was a very good episode, reminded me of some of the experimental O&W episodes
ATFTTBWNDA started okay and got a bit mental towards the end

So yeah, I think the fact he didn't do the fucking rag episode or politically inept shows he's not the worst thing that could happen.

[Financial Panther]

The Food Wife was pretty good; The Book Job was great; second favorite of the season. However. ATFTTBWNDA was absolutely horrible. A complete disaster, and one of the worst episodes I've ever seen.

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

He's the best of a bad bunch, so in reality he's the best choice.

He seems to have decent episodes credited to his name, give him a shot I say!

I'd take J. Stewart Burns' episodes over Selman's even with the couple bad ones he has attached to his name.

[Cartoonnetwork]

I would say A Food Wife was his best episode as Executive Producer, but it's also the one that is closer to the Jean episodes, in fact I think it would be very much the same if Jean was the executive producer and Selman were only the writer. So it's not odd to me that people don't like this one the most.

The other two do look like they have another guy in charge to a certain extent. Especially A Totally Fun Thing... , even though it had serious writting problems at the end, did have some energy other recent episodes didn't have and it looked like they were actually trying more things with the animation , the direction and the pacing.

The Book Job was probably a combination of him being the Executive Producer and freelance writer Dan Vebber doing the script. I thought this one was clever and entertaining but, pretty much like Holidays Of Future Passed, it's a little overrated here. To me the episode felt totally like a good episode of American Dad (other show Vebber has written in) or even South Park. I just felt that for the most part the characters could have been interchangeable for other characters from these other series. And while the concept was ingenious it was also a little contrived. The use of the guest star was extremely good, though.

Overall I tend to like episodes written by Matt Selman, I really enjoy most of them, and I think he could be a good executive producer. Like these episodes prove the show wouldn't probably change a lot, there would still be well written episodes and others that could have big flaws in the script, but still the somewhat energetic and more experimental touch would make them a little less dull and more interesting to watch.

[Lionheart]

Personally, I liked The Food Wife until Marge sent Homer to the "methtaurant." It didn't completely ruin the episode for me (I gave it a B-, although it's probably more of a C+ episode) because it happened during the last 5-8 minutes or so of the episode, but it almost did.

[Seth MacFuckFaceFarlane]

I would like this and yes Jean was good when he took over but he's lasted as showrunner for FAR too long. His style while good after the Scully years has gotten old and dull because he's been there for 10+ years. I'd say give Matt Selman or J.Stewart Burns a shot at it but Jean seems too attached!

Jean: "The Master is tryin' to takes the precious away from Jean!" Futurama_Benders_Game_Gollum.jpg

[zartok-35]

I'd take J. Stewart Burns' episodes over Selman's even with the couple bad ones he has attached to his name.

I wouldn't mind seeing Stu Burns produce a show, he certainly knows how to "Push the envelope", and he could probably come up with some interesting stuff. But seeing how Selman is getting to actually produce trial episodes, and Stu Burns is just giving us 'D'oh-cial network', I'd have to side with Selman, even if "Food Wife" had some kinks in the writing.

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

To be fair zartok you conveniently only mention his most recent, and easily worst written, episode though...

[Bert Stanton]

All writers have their bad episodes, even Swartzwelder wrote KTAAR

[jscottstroup]

http://www.themaninthemoviehat.com/t...er-could-mean/

[Alex_Of_Darkness]

He's the best of a bad bunch, so in reality he's the best choice.

This is exactly what I think about him and Al Jean stay to many years...

[hammster]

I'd probably watch again if Matt Selman completely took over from Al Jean. Just out of curiosity. It can't be worse, right?

[Sinister Burns]

I'd probably watch again if Matt Selman completely took over from Al Jean. Just out of curiosity. It can't be worse, right?

Executive Producer

Tim Long