Matt Selman
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Matt Selman (born }) is an American
writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...
and producer.


Early life

Selman is a native of
Watertown, Massachusetts Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, and is part of Greater Boston. The population was 35,329 in the 2020 census. Its neighborhoods include Bemis, Coolidge Square, East Watertown, Watertown Square, and the West End. Waterto ...
. He graduated from
Beaver Country Day School Beaver Country Day School is an independent, college-preparatory day school for students in grades 6 through 12 founded in 1920. The school is located on a campus in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, near Boston. Beaver is a member ...
in 1989 and the
University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...
in 1993.


Career

After considering a career in
journalism Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the " news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (pro ...
, he decided to try to become a television writer. After two years of failed
spec scripts A spec script, also known as a speculative screenplay, is a non-commissioned and unsolicited screenplay. It is usually written by a screenwriter who hopes to have the script optioned and eventually purchased by a producer, production company, or s ...
he was eventually hired to write an episode of '' Seinfeld'' in 1996.


''The Simpsons''

In 1997, Selman joined the writing staff of ''
The Simpsons ''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer Simpson, Homer, Marge ...
'', where he has remained, rising to the position of executive producer. He has written or co-written 28 episodes of the show, including " Natural Born Kissers" which the show's creator
Matt Groening Matthew Abram Groening ( ; born February 15, 1954) is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, and animator. He is the creator of the comic strip ''Life in Hell'' (1977–2012) and the television series ''The Simpsons'' (1989–present), ''Fut ...
listed as his eighth favorite episode in 2000., " Behind the Laughter", " Trilogy of Error", " Sky Police" and " The Food Wife". He also co-wrote the 2007 film adaptation of the show, as well as co-writing the video games '' The Simpsons: Road Rage'', '' The Simpsons Hit and Run'' and '' The Simpsons Game''. Selman has won six Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on the show, sharing them with the other producers. Selman received an Annie Award in 1999 for writing "
Simpsons Bible Stories "Simpsons Bible Stories" is the eighteenth episode of the tenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1999. It is the first of ''The ...
". He also won a Writers Guild of America Award in 2004 for writing the episode " The Dad Who Knew Too Little". In the episode,
Homer Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...
's e-mail was said to be chunkylover53@aol.com. Selman registered the e-mail and received thousands of messages after the episode aired. He responded to some of them in the character of Homer, but gave up when he forgot the password. Of his writing of ''The Simpsons'', Selman said: "The hardest thing is we have to try and make each episode as good as everything that's come before it. We have a legacy of greatness, and you don't want to be the person that ruins ''The Simpsons''." As of 2020, he is joint showrunner with
Al Jean Alfred Ernest Jean III (born January 9, 1961) is an American screenwriter and producer. 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 wri ...
.


Other journalistic endeavors

Selman formerly wrote for Time.com's Techland "Nerd World" blog alongside
Lev Grossman Lev Grossman (born June 26, 1969) is an American novelist and journalist who wrote ''The Magicians Trilogy'': '' The Magicians'' (2009), ''The Magician King'' (2011), and ''The Magician's Land'' (2014). He was the book critic and lead technology ...
, and is also the creator and writer of the Icebox.com webtoon "Superhero Roommate." Selman also has written jokes for many animated movies. He appeared alongside Groening and voice actor
Hank Azaria Henry Albert Azaria ( ; born April 25, 1964) is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He is known for voicing many characters in the animated sitcom ''The Simpsons'' (1989–present), most notably Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, ...
to judge on a ''The Simpsons''-themed challenge on an episode of '' Top Chef: Masters'' in 2010.


Personal life

Selman is married to Renee Ridgeley and they have two daughters.


Credits

*'' Seinfeld'' (1996) – writer, program consultant **" The Wait Out" *''
The Simpsons ''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer Simpson, Homer, Marge ...
'' (1997–present) – writer, producer, story editor, supervising producer, executive producer **" Natural Born Kissers" (1998) **"
Simpsons Bible Stories "Simpsons Bible Stories" is the eighteenth episode of the tenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1999. It is the first of ''The ...
" (along with
Tim Long Tim Long (born June 14, 1969) is a comedy writer born in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. Long calls Exeter, Ontario, his home town and has written for ''The Simpsons'', ''Politically Incorrect'', '' Spy'' magazine and the ''Late Show with David Letter ...
and Larry Doyle) (1999) **"
They Saved Lisa's Brain "They Saved Lisa's Brain" is the twenty-second and penultimate episode of the tenth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 9, 1999. In the episode, after w ...
" (1999) **" Eight Misbehavin' (1999) **" Behind the Laughter" (along with
George Meyer George Meyer (born 1956) is an American producer and writer. Meyer is best known for his work on ''The Simpsons'', where he led the group script rewrite sessions. He has been publicly credited with "thoroughly shap ng... the comedic sensibility ...
, Tim Long, and
Mike Scully Michael C. Scully (born October 2, 1956) is an American television writer and producer. He is known for his work as executive producer and showrunner of the animated sitcom ''The Simpsons'' from 1997 to 2001. Scully grew up in West Springfield, ...
) (2000) **" Lisa the Tree Hugger" (2000) **" Trilogy of Error" (2001) **" Simpsons Tall Tales" (2001) **" Jaws Wired Shut" (2002) **" The Dad Who Knew Too Little" (2003) **" All's Fair in Oven War" (2004) **" Pranksta Rap" (2005) **" Future-Drama" (2005) **" Girls Just Want to Have Sums" (2006) **" The Haw-Hawed Couple" (2006) **" Husbands and Knives" (2007) **" That '90s Show" (2008) **" Bart Gets a 'Z' (2009) **" O Brother, Where Bart Thou?" (2009) **" Flaming Moe" (2011) **" The Food Wife" (2011) **" The Day the Earth Stood Cool" (2012) **" Gorgeous Grampa" (2013) **" Covercraft" (2014) **" Sky Police" (2015) **" There Will Be Buds" (2016) **" The Great Phatsby" (along with
Dan Greaney Daniel Greaney is an American television writer. He has written for ''The Simpsons'' and ''The Office''. He was hired during ''The Simpsons'' seventh season after writing the first draft of the episode " King-Size Homer", but left after season e ...
) (2017) **"
Heartbreak Hotel "Heartbreak Hotel" is a song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley's first on his new record label RCA Victor. It was written by Mae Boren Axton and Tommy Durden, with credit being ...
" (along with Renee Ridgeley) (2018) **" The Clown Stays in the Picture" (2019) **" Treehouse of Horror XXXIII" (2022) *'' The Simpsons: Road Rage'' (2001) – co-writer *'' The Simpsons Hit and Run'' (2003) – co-writer *''
The Simpsons Movie ''The Simpsons Movie'' is a 2007 American Animation, animated comedy film based on the long-running animated sitcom ''The Simpsons''. The film was directed by the show's supervising director David Silverman (animator), David Silverman and star ...
'' (2007) – co-writer *'' The Simpsons Game'' (2007) – co-writer


References


External links


Nerd World Blog
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Selman, Matt Living people The Daily Pennsylvanian people Writers Guild of America Award winners American television writers American male television writers Beaver Country Day School alumni University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences alumni Year of birth missing (living people) Jewish American comedy writers