Joel Cohen's road to a seat at the Simpsons' table began conventionally enough. He earned a Bachelor's of Science Degree and then an MBA, eventually landing a job as a salesman for a film distribution company, and then with Turner Broadcasting. With his foot in the door of the entertainment industry he was able to secure a job as a writer on the Brooke Shields sitcom Suddenly Susan, and from there, moved on to The Simpsons. It may sound simple, but Cohen's job at The Simpsons was the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and focus.

The success of the The Simpsons is like nothing ever seen before on television. The show has contributed catchphrases to the vernacular, introduced the concept of postmodernism to middle America, and given us a family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie—who are literally better known and loved than almost any other public figures. (In a 2003 BBC poll, Homer Simpson was voted the "Greatest American;" Abraham Lincoln finished second.)

From the esoterically high brow to the equally rich low brow, Cohen and the show's other writers deliver a nuanced and generous portrayal of the funny, sweet, banal and morally questionable sides of America. The writing is so densely stuffed with references, that people—academics, fans—will be unpacking and debating them for years. Over the course of its 18-year run, its writing team has won a multitude of awards and has written for hundreds of guest stars including U2, Steve Martin, Venus Williams, Thomas Pynchon, Stephen Hawking, Johnny Carson and Tony Blair.

In addition to his work on The Simpsons, Joel Cohen has been a contributing writer on numerous feature films, including Cat in the Hat and Curious George. He has been nominated for or won major awards including an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Writer's Guild Award.

Simpsons writer Joel Cohen has what is certainly one of the coolest jobs on the planet. Every week he and his team put words into the mouths of Homer, Bart, Marge, Lisa and all the other unique characters of one of the most influential television shows in history. This lecture offers an insider's look at the making of the world's most beloved animated television show, telling us how it's made, what the challenges are in getting it on to the screen, the effort to constantly keep it fresh, and exploring how some of the most memorable moments in its eighteen year history came into being. Using clips from the show, Cohen takes listeners behind the scenes to give them the inside scoop on the creative genius that is The Simpsons' legacy. Funny, engaging and inspiring, Joel Cohen is living proof that the world of work does not have to be boring.