About
"It opened up comedy writing to aspects of family life that weren't explored as much; because not only does The Simpsons parody the family, but it parodies the American small town... trying to get to a certain kind of truth."
In his nearly three-hour interview, Dan Castellaneta talks about his work as an ensemble player on The Tracey Ullman Show, and his most well-known role, as the voice of "Homer Simpson" on The Simpsons, for which he has won several Emmy awards. He discusses other characters he portrays on The Simpsons, including "Barney Gumble," "Mayor Quimby," "Groundskeeper Willie," "Grampa Simpson," and "Krusty the Klown." He discusses specific episodes, including "Mr. Plow," "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" and the origin of Homer's famous catchphrase, "D'oh!" Jenni Matz conducted the interview on July 20, 2010 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Dan Castellaneta on working with the ensemble of The Tracey Ullman Show, including Ullman, Julie Kavner, and Sam McMurray
Dan Castellaneta on the appeal of his Simpsons character "Homer Simpson"
Dan Castellaneta on the catch phrases of "Homer Simpson" on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on doing musical episodes of The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on appearing as a disheveled "Homer Simpson" on an episode of L.A. Law
Dan Castellaneta on what makes a good voiceover actor
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on deciding to become an actor; on television he watched growing up, and on wanting to be part of it
On joining Second City, and what he learned as an actor there; on appearing on local television in Chicago; on his Second City characters
On how he got discovered for The Tracey Ullman Show; on working with the ensemble of The Tracey Ullman Show, including Ullman, Julie Kavner, and Sam McMurray; on the characters he played on The Tracey Ullman Show, and on the sketches and musical numbers of the show
Chapter 2
On The Simpsons starting on The Tracey Ullman Show; on who the producers felt the audience for The Simpsons would be, and on "Bartmania"; on the appeal of his character, "Homer Simpson"
On his process of performing "Homer Simpson" for a given episode of The Simpsons; on the catch phrases of "Homer Simpson" on The Simpsons; on doing the voice of "Krusty the Clown" on The Simpsons
On playing various other characters on The Simpsons; on writing episodes of The Simpsons, and on the process of creating an episode; on doing musical episodes of The Simpsons
On taking care of his voice in preparation for The Simpsons, and on how he is different from "Homer Simpson"; on various episodes of The Simpsons he wrote; on recording the episodes of The Simpsons, and on keeping the timeline of the show
Chapter 3
On James L. Brooks' mandate for no network notes for The Simpsons, and on the show taking digs at FOX; on The Simpsons episode "Lisa's Pony" for which he won an Emmy for Oustanding Voiceover Performance, and on Homer's parenting skills; on fan favorite episodes of The Simpsons
On The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror" Halloween episodes; on The Simpsons' popularity in countries outside the U.S.; on theimpact of The Simpsons on culture, on comedy, and on the field of animation
On The Simpsons episode "Homer versus New York" and the timing of airing that show after 9/11; on his Simpsons castmates Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer; on the legacy of The Simpsons and what it says about American families
On appearing as a disheveled "Homer Simpson" on an episode of L.A. Law; on appearing on Sibs; on guest-starring on various series including Murphy Brown, Frasier, How I Met Your Mother, and Everybody Loves Raymond
On advice to an aspiring actor, and on what makes a good voiceover artist; on his then-current projects, and on his dream jobs; on career achievements and regrets, and on his then-future
Shows
Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Charlie's Angels
Dan Castellaneta on playing "Aaron Spelling" in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Charlie’s Angels
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons episode "Lisa's Pony" for which he won an Emmy for Outstanding Voiceover Performance
Everybody Loves Raymond
Dan Castellaneta on guest-starring on various series including Murphy Brown, Frasier, How I Met Your Mother, and Everybody Loves Raymond
Frasier
Dan Castellaneta on guest-starring on various series including Murphy Brown, Frasier, How I Met Your Mother, and Everybody Loves Raymond
How I Met Your Mother
Dan Castellaneta on guest-starring on various series including Murphy Brown, Frasier, How I Met Your Mother, and Everybody Loves Raymond
L.A. Law
Dan Castellaneta on appearing as a disheveled "Homer Simpson" on an episode of L.A. Law
Murphy Brown
Dan Castellaneta on guest-starring on various series including Murphy Brown, Frasier, How I Met Your Mother, and Everybody Loves Raymond
Sibs
Dan Castellaneta on appearing on Sibs
Simpsons, The
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons starting on The Tracey Ullman Show
Dan Castellaneta on who the producers felt the audience for The Simpsons would be, and on "Bartmania"
Dan Castellaneta on the appeal of his Simpsons character, "Homer Simpson"
Dan Castellaneta on his process of performing "Homer Simpson" for a given episode of The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on the catch phrases of "Homer Simpson" on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on doing the voice of "Krusty the Clown" on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on doing the voices of "Grandpa Simpson" and "Groundskeeper Willie" on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on doing the voices for "Mayor Quimby" and "Barney Gumble" on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on doing the voices for "Hans Moleman" and "Gil" on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on writing episodes of The Simpsons, and on the process of creating an episode
Dan Castellaneta on doing musical episodes of The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on taking care of his voice in preparation for The Simpsons, and on how he is different from "Homer Simpson"
Dan Castellaneta on various episodes of The Simpsons he wrote
Dan Castellaneta on recording the episodes of The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on the longevity of The Simpsons, and on the challenges of keeping a timeline for the show
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons episode "Lisa's Pony" for which he won an Emmy for Outstanding Voiceover Performance, and on Homer's parenting skills
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons episode "Stark Raving Dad" which featured Michael Jackson
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons episode "Mr. Plow"
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons episode "Who Shot Mr. Burns?"
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror" Halloween episodes
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons' popularity in countries outside the U.S.
Dan Castellaneta on the impact of The Simpsons on culture, on comedy, and on the field of animation
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons episode "Homer versus New York" and the timing of airing that show after 9/11
Dan Castellaneta on his Simpsons castmates Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer
Dan Castellaneta on the legacy of The Simpsons and what it says about American families
Dan Castellaneta on James L. Brooks' mandate for no network notes for The Simpsons, and on the show taking digs at FOX
Dan Castellaneta on which "Homer" lines fans of The Simpsons ask to hear
Tracey Ullman Show, The
Dan Castellaneta on how he got discovered for The Tracey Ullman Show
Dan Castellaneta on working with the ensemble of The Tracey Ullman Show, including Ullman, Julie Kavner, and Sam McMurray
Dan Castellaneta on the characters he played on The Tracey Ullman Show, and on the sketches and musical numbers of the show
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons starting on The Tracey Ullman Show
Topics
9/11
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons episode "Homer versus New York" and the timing of airing that show after 9/11
Advice
Dan Castellaneta on advice to an aspiring actor
Characters & Catchphrases
Dan Castellaneta on the appeal of his Simpsons character, "Homer Simpson"
Dan Castellaneta on the catch phrases of "Homer Simpson" on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on doing the voice of "Krusty the Clown" on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on doing the voices of "Grandpa Simpson" and "Groundskeeper Willie" on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on doing the voices for "Mayor Quimby" and "Barney Gumble" on The Simpsons
Emmy Awards
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons episode "Lisa's Pony" for which he won an Emmy for Outstanding Voiceover Performance
Historic Events and Social Change
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons episode "Homer versus New York" and the timing of airing that show after 9/11
Pop Culture
Dan Castellaneta on the appeal of his Simpsons character, "Homer Simpson"
Dan Castellaneta on the catch phrases of "Homer Simpson" on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on doing the voice of "Krusty the Clown" on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on doing the voices of "Grandpa Simpson" and "Groundskeeper Willie" on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on doing the voices for "Mayor Quimby" and "Barney Gumble" on The Simpsons
Television Industry
Dan Castellaneta on advice to an aspiring actor
Professions
Actor
Dan Castellaneta on joining Second City, and what he learned as an actor there
Dan Castellaneta on working with the ensemble of The Tracey Ullman Show, including Ullman, Julie Kavner, and Sam McMurray
Dan Castellaneta on advice to an aspiring actor
Performers
Dan Castellaneta on joining Second City, and what he learned as an actor there
Dan Castellaneta on working with the ensemble of The Tracey Ullman Show, including Ullman, Julie Kavner, and Sam McMurray
Dan Castellaneta on advice to an aspiring actor
Dan Castellaneta on what makes a good voiceover actor
Voiceover
Dan Castellaneta on what makes a good voiceover actor
Genres
Comedy Series
Dan Castellaneta on playing "Homer Simpson" and other characters on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on playing "Homer Simpson" on The Simpsons
Dan Castellaneta on appearing on Sibs
Dan Castellaneta on guest-starring on various series including Murphy Brown, Frasier, How I Met Your Mother, and Everybody Loves Raymond
Legal Dramas
Dan Castellaneta on appearing as a disheveled "Homer Simpson" on an episode of L.A. Law
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Dan Castellaneta on appearing on The Tracey Ullman Show
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Dan Castellaneta on playing "Aaron Spelling" in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Charlie’s Angels
People
Hank Azaria
Dan Castellaneta on his Simpsons castmates Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer
James L. Brooks
Dan Castellaneta on James L. Brooks' mandate for no network notes for The Simpsons
Nancy Cartwright
Dan Castellaneta on his Simpsons castmates Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer
Michael Jackson
Dan Castellaneta on The Simpsons episode "Stark Raving Dad" which featured Michael Jackson
Julie Kavner
Dan Castellaneta on working with the ensemble of The Tracey Ullman Show, including Ullman, Julie Kavner, and Sam McMurray
Dan Castellaneta on his Simpsons castmates Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer
Harry Shearer
Dan Castellaneta on his Simpsons castmates Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer
Yeardley Smith
Dan Castellaneta on his Simpsons castmates Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer
Aaron Spelling
Dan Castellaneta on playing "Aaron Spelling" in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Charlie’s Angels
Tracey Ullman
Dan Castellaneta on how he got discovered for The Tracey Ullman Show
Dan Castellaneta on working with the ensemble of The Tracey Ullman Show, including Ullman, Julie Kavner, and Sam McMurray
Dan Castellaneta on the characters he played on The Tracey Ullman Show, and on the sketches and musical numbers of the show