American television writer and producer (born 1961)
Al Jean
Jean in 2010
Born
Alfred Ernest Jean III (1961-01-09) January 9, 1961 (age 63) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation
Writer, producer
Alma mater
Harvard University
Spouse
Stephanie Gillis
(m. 2002)
Children
2
Alfred Ernest Jean III (born January 9, 1961) is an American screenwriter and producer.[1] Jean is well known for his work on The Simpsons. He was raised near Detroit, Michigan, and graduated from Harvard University in 1981. Jean began his writing career in the 1980s with fellow Harvard alum Mike Reiss. Together, they worked as writers and producers on television shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, ALF and It's Garry Shandling's Show.
Jean was offered a job as a writer on the animated sitcom The Simpsons in 1989, alongside Reiss, and together they became the first members of the show's original writing staff. They served as showrunners during the show's third (1991–92) and fourth (1992–93) seasons, though they left The Simpsons after season four to create The Critic, an animated show about film critic Jay Sherman. It was first broadcast on ABC in January 1994 (then aired its second season on Fox in March 1995) and was well received by critics, but did not catch on with viewers and only lasted for two seasons.
In 1994, Jean and Reiss signed a three-year development deal with The Walt Disney Company to produce other television shows for ABC. Among multiple pitches made by the duo, their sole project with ABC to come to fruition was the live-action sitcom Teen Angel, which was cancelled in its first season. Jean returned full-time to The Simpsons during the tenth season (1998–99). He became showrunner again with the start of the thirteenth season in 2001, without Reiss, and he stayed in that position until thirty-three.[2] Jean was also one of the writers and producers who worked on The Simpsons Movie, a feature-length film based on the series, released in 2007.
^"The Simpsons – Al Jean". Channel 4. April 1, 2005. Archived from the original on January 18, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
^@AlJean (March 22, 2021). "@WonderedAlways TBD; 4 at least plus something special" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
shows and writing. In Holworthy Hall at Harvard, Reiss met fellow freshman AlJean; they befriended one another and collaborated in their writing efforts...
Season 3–4: AlJean & Mike Reiss Season 5–6: David Mirkin Season 7–8: Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein Season 9–12: Mike Scully Season 13–31: AlJean Season 32–present:...
celebrate the 20th anniversary of the series. On April 8, 2015, showrunner AlJean announced that there would be no more DVD or Blu-ray releases, shifting...
Jay Sherman, voiced by Jon Lovitz. It was created by writing partners AlJean and Mike Reiss, who had previously worked as writers and showrunners on...
this episode, an ABC camera crew was allowed into the rewrite room, which AlJean says he regrets because they were working on stage direction, and they...
Sherman was the main character on the show. The Critic was created by AlJean and Mike Reiss, who had previously written for The Simpsons but left following...
Matt Groening, AlJean, Mike Scully and Richard Sakai began development on the film and a writing team consisting of Brooks, Groening, Jean, Scully, Ian...
length and production crew members. Eventually, producers Brooks, Groening, AlJean, Mike Scully, and Richard Sakai began development of the film in 2001....
film Crimson Tide. This was the last episode AlJean and Mike Reiss executive produced together, although Jean became showrunner again in season 13. After...
Cosby Show in the ratings on its original airing. In 2014, showrunner AlJean selected it as one of five essential episodes in the show's history. Workers...
with "Kamp Krusty". The showrunners for the fourth production season were AlJean and Mike Reiss, with the season being produced by Gracie Films and 20th...
August 27, 1992. The showrunners for the third production season were AlJean and Mike Reiss who executive produced 22 episodes for the season, while...
on The Simpsons had reportedly been aware of her ill health. Showrunner AlJean said, "I was tremendously saddened to learn this morning of the passing...
numerous references to the series. The story came from former showrunners AlJean and Mike Reiss, who returned to produce this episode while under contract...
Sherman, voiced by actor Jon Lovitz. It was created by writing partners AlJean and Mike Reiss, who had previously worked as writers and showrunners (seasons...
Staff on The Simpsons had reportedly been aware of her illness. Showrunner AlJean said, "I was tremendously saddened to learn this morning of the passing...
Series. November 3 is a reserve date in case of a Game 6 or 7 postponement. Jean, Al (2002). The Simpsons season 2 DVD commentary for the episode "Treehouse...
insert himself into Bart's life and attempt to kill him. Executive producer AlJean has compared Bob's character to that of Wile E. Coyote, noting that both...
Los Angeles, California, with her husband, fellow The Simpsons writer AlJean. She is a graduate of Barnard College. "See Homer Run" (2005) "Midnight...
of 22 episodes. The showrunner for the thirteenth production season was AlJean, who executive-produced 17 episodes. Mike Scully executive-produced the...
every year." AlJean, the current showrunner, selected the episode as one of five essential episodes in the show's history in 2014. In 2020, Jean acknowledged...
October 23, 2020. Jean, Al [@AlJean] (September 27, 2019). "Steve Moore" (Tweet). Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Twitter. Jean, Al [@AlJean] (September 27...
will get her the best birthday present ever. The episode was written by AlJean and Mike Reiss, and directed by Rich Moore. Michael Jackson guest-starred...
intelligent is not always the same as being happy. The episode was written by AlJean and directed by Mike B. Anderson. Its plot takes inspiration from Flowers...
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