George Meyer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Meyer
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Meyer in 1992
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| Born | 1956 (age 68–69) Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Television writer |
| Period | 1981–present |
| Genre | Humor |
| Partner | Maria Semple |
| Children | 1 |
George Meyer is a famous American writer and producer. He is best known for his work on the popular TV show The Simpsons. He helped write many episodes and was a key part of the show's writing team for a long time. People say he greatly shaped the humor of the show.
Meyer grew up in Tucson, Arizona. He went to Harvard University and studied biochemistry. After college, he decided to become a writer instead of a doctor. He started his career writing for TV shows like Late Night with David Letterman and Saturday Night Live. Later, he created his own humor magazine called Army Man.
In 1989, Meyer joined The Simpsons writing team. He worked on the show for many years and also helped write The Simpsons Movie. He is in a relationship with writer Maria Semple, and they have a daughter.
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Early Life and Education
George Meyer was born in Pennsylvania, United States, in 1956. He grew up in Tucson, Arizona, as the oldest of eight children. His family was Roman Catholic and of German background. Both of his parents worked in real estate.
Meyer has joked about his childhood. He said a common argument was "which family member ruined a holiday." His sister noted that he was often blamed for family problems. Because his family was so big, they didn't do many activities together. So, Meyer watched a lot of television and read Mad magazine. He was an Eagle Scout and an altar boy. He also wrote for his school newspaper. When he was young, he hoped to become a priest or a baseball player.
College Years at Harvard
Meyer attended Harvard University. There, he became the president of the Harvard Lampoon, a humor magazine. He said that people taking humor "very seriously" at the Lampoon "changed [his] life." In 1977, he and other Lampoon writers created The Harvard Lampoon Big Book of College Life.
Meyer's grades at Harvard were average, and he faced some tough times. He graduated in 1978 with a degree in biochemistry. He was accepted into medical school but chose not to go.
Career in Television Writing
Starting Out in Comedy
After college, Meyer moved to Denver, Colorado. He tried to make money by betting on dog racing but ran out of cash quickly. He then worked different jobs, like being a substitute teacher and a clothing salesman. He even won $2,000 on the game show Jeopardy!.
Two of his friends from the Harvard Lampoon suggested Meyer to comedian David Letterman. Letterman hired him in 1981 to write for his new show, Late Night with David Letterman. Letterman was very impressed with Meyer's writing. Meyer created several funny parts for the show, including "Crushing Things With A Steamroller."
Moving to Other Shows
Meyer left Letterman's show after two seasons in 1983. He then wrote for The New Show, a short-lived variety series. He also joined the writing teams for Not Necessarily the News and Saturday Night Live in 1985.
Working on Saturday Night Live was a mix of exciting and stressful for him. He felt his ideas were often seen as unusual and his sketches were sometimes cut. He left the show in 1987.
Creating Army Man Magazine
Meyer moved to Boulder, Colorado, wanting to get away from New York. There, he wrote a movie script for David Letterman, but the project didn't happen. He then started his own humor magazine called Army Man. He wrote most of the first issue himself and printed only 200 copies for friends.
Meyer wanted to create a magazine that was just for laughs. He said the only rule was that the jokes had to be funny and short. Army Man became very popular and was even listed on Rolling Stone's "Hot List" in 1989. Meyer stopped publishing after the third issue because he didn't want it to lose its special qualities.
=The Simpsons Work
Sam Simon, a producer for The Simpsons, was a big fan of Army Man. He offered Meyer a job as a creative consultant in 1989. Meyer first said no but later accepted. He joined The Simpsons along with other Army Man writers.
Meyer became a producer in the show's second season. For about ten years, he played a big role in the show's group writing sessions. He helped rewrite scripts more than writing them alone. He is credited with writing or co-writing twelve episodes. People like A. O. Scott called him the "guru" of the writing room.
By 1995, Meyer felt tired of the long writing schedule and left for a short time. But he soon returned as an executive producer. After 2001, he took on a smaller role but still helped with rewrites. He finally left the show in 2005. In 2007, he returned to help write The Simpsons Movie.
Many people say Meyer greatly shaped the humor of The Simpsons. Mike Scully, a former showrunner, called him "the best comedy writer in Hollywood." Another writer, Jon Vitti, said Meyer's "fingerprints are on nearly every script." Meyer's ideas often show his doubts about social rules and traditions. This can be seen in episodes he wrote like "Homer the Heretic".
For his work on The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live, and Late Night with David Letterman, Meyer has won and been nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards.
Other Creative Work
Besides The Simpsons, Meyer wrote, directed, and acted in his own play called Up Your Giggy in 2002. In 2005, he also co-wrote a TV special called Earth to America.
Personal Life
George Meyer is in a relationship with writer Maria Semple. They have a daughter named Poppy Valentina, born in 2003. Being a father gave Meyer a "sense of hopefulness." They live in Seattle.
Meyer was raised Catholic but later became an agnostic. While working on The Simpsons, he became an atheist. He enjoys gambling, collecting space program items, and practicing yoga. He is also a fan of the Grateful Dead band. His sister Ann is married to fellow writer Jon Vitti.
Meyer cares a lot about the environment. In 2005, a new type of moss frog found in Sri Lanka was named Philautus poppiae after his daughter Poppy. This was to honor Meyer and Semple's support for protecting amphibians. In 2006, he wrote an article for BBC News about environmental concerns.
Film and Television Credits
- Late Night with David Letterman (1982–1984) – writer
- Not Necessarily the News (1983–1986) – writer
- The New Show (1984) – writer
- Saturday Night Live (1985–1987) – writer
- Vanishing America (1986) – co-writer
- The Simpsons (1989–2005) – writer and producer
- "The Crepes of Wrath" (1990)
- "Bart vs. Thanksgiving" (1990)
- "Blood Feud" (1991)
- "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington" (1991)
- "Treehouse of Horror II" (contributor) (1991)
- "Separate Vocations" (1992)
- "Homer the Heretic" (1992)
- "Bart's Inner Child" (1993)
- "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday" (1999)
- "Brother's Little Helper" (1999)
- "Behind the Laughter" (2000)
- "The Parent Rap" (2001)
- The Edge (1992–1993) – writer
- A.U.S.A. (2003) – consulting producer
- Complete Savages (2004–2005) – producer
- I Heart Huckabees (2004) – Credited as "Formal Couple"
- Earth To America (2005) – co-writer
- The Simpsons Movie (2007) – co-writer
See also
In Spanish: George Meyer para niños
