# Let's say I wrote a brilliant spec script for The Simpsons... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 24, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-wrote-a-brilliant-spec-script-for-the-simpsons/246819 "2004-05-24T16:34:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-wrote-a-brilliant-spec-script-for-the-simpsons/246819/1 "2004-05-24T16:34:57Z")
…Who would I send it to? What is the contact address for unsolicited scripts for _The Simpsons_? I mean, this one rips the lid off the sordid Peyton Place that calls itself Springfield, USA and I can’t just sit on it much longer. Help! ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-wrote-a-brilliant-spec-script-for-the-simpsons/246819/2 "2004-05-24T17:00:02Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > …Who would I send it to? What is the contact address for unsolicited scripts for _The Simpsons_? I mean, this one rips the lid off the sordid Peyton Place that calls itself Springfield, USA and I can’t just sit on it much longer. Help! Sorry to be so blunt, but don’t bother sending your script to _The Simpsons_. They won’t read it. Period. The writers and producers don’t ever want to be in the position of reading spec scripts, and then being accused of ripping off jokes from them and putting them in the show. They would never do this consciously, of course :dubious: , but it’s going to happen sooner or later (via the unconscious mind) if the writers ever read outside scripts. Ergo, read 0% of the scripts that are sent in, and this will never happen. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-wrote-a-brilliant-spec-script-for-the-simpsons/246819/3 "2004-05-24T17:23:30Z")
From [The Simpsons Archives](http://www.snpp.com/guides/lisa-4.html): > [@](#): > > I have a script/story idea I want to show to the producers… > > Unless you are a professional writer, don’t bother. > > Due to potential legal problems, the producers and writers aren’t allowed to read unsolicited scripts or story materials, and so it is best not to bother them in the first place. Anything that you send will be rejected without consideration. This isn’t because the writers are being snobs, it’s because of union rules, the violation of which could cause people to get fired, or even sued. > > If you are an aspiring television writer and have legitimate interest in writing for the show, the best advice we can give you is to get yourself an agent. > > Those who write Simpsons scripts for fun are encouraged to send them into SNPP for inclusion in the fanscripts section. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-wrote-a-brilliant-spec-script-for-the-simpsons/246819/4 "2004-05-24T17:27:39Z")
The only way to get an unsolicited script read is to submit it through a genuine agent. Period. This is to protect the producers more than the scriptwriter, as ArchiveGuy noted. How you’re going to get an agent to agree to represent you is another question. . . ---
**Author:** ![Wasabee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f05b48/32.png) [@Wasabee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wasabee)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-wrote-a-brilliant-spec-script-for-the-simpsons/246819/5 "2004-05-24T17:39:22Z")
And besides spec scripts don’t get produced. You use a spec script to get work on a different show. You write a brillant Simpsons? Get an agent with it. The agent will then try to get it read by someone at Family Guy. If they like it they’ll call you in and say “That was a good Simpsons, but what could you do for us?” Then you pitch. Matt Groeing was the graduation speaker at my college a few years ago (he’s an alum). I got to sit in on the local press conference he did before hand. One of the staffers at the school paper asked this same question… Matt was clearly tired of answering this question but tried to do so very politely. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-wrote-a-brilliant-spec-script-for-the-simpsons/246819/6 "2004-05-24T18:20:18Z")
I agree with **Wasabee. Son of Dex** is a screenwriter, and he says you write spec scripts for other shows. If you want to be hired by the SIMPSONS, you send them a spec script for FRIENDS, say, and the message is, “Hey, I can write for these guys, I can write for you.” Even if the SIMPSON’s people read your SIMPSONs script, they’d reject it – they know their characters better than you do. “Homer wouldn’t say that, Lisa wouldn’t do that.” That’s another reason they read spec scripts for other shows, not their own. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-wrote-a-brilliant-spec-script-for-the-simpsons/246819/7 "2004-05-24T18:35:13Z")
I believe _Star Trek_ used to read and accept spec scripts; the TNG episode “Clues” was actually sent in on spec by a fan. I remember doing some reading on this at the time and found out that the Trek production office had actually made some kind of arrangement with Paramount to allow them to consider spec material; they were the only show at the time (if not ever) that had done that. ---
**Author:** ![caphis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19adc/32.png) [@caphis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caphis)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-wrote-a-brilliant-spec-script-for-the-simpsons/246819/8 "2004-05-24T18:55:24Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > I believe _Star Trek_ used to read and accept spec scripts; the TNG episode “Clues” was actually sent in on spec by a fan. I remember doing some reading on this at the time and found out that the Trek production office had actually made some kind of arrangement with Paramount to allow them to consider spec material; they were the only show at the time (if not ever) that had done that. This is true. TNG, DS9, and Voyager all accepted unsolicited scripts with their open submission policy. TNG and Voyager through the ends of their runs, DS9 up until mid-6th season, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-wrote-a-brilliant-spec-script-for-the-simpsons/246819/9 "2004-05-24T23:30:42Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > I believe _Star Trek_ used to read and accept spec scripts; the TNG episode “Clues” was actually sent in on spec by a fan. I remember doing some reading on this at the time and found out that the Trek production office had actually made some kind of arrangement with Paramount to allow them to consider spec material; they were the only show at the time (if not ever) that had done that. ah sure god love them, they did indeed. I have rejection letters from **ST:TNG** , **DS9** and \*\*Voyager \*\* in my files somewhere … bastards the fecking lot of them. **The Dead Zone** was/is accepting spec stuff ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-wrote-a-brilliant-spec-script-for-the-simpsons/246819/10 "2004-05-24T23:55:54Z")
So, if I want to submit a spec script, does it have to be for a currrent show? could I write, for example, a M_A_S\*H script to get work on the new series of Doctor Who? ---
**Author:** ![Wasabee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f05b48/32.png) [@Wasabee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wasabee)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-wrote-a-brilliant-spec-script-for-the-simpsons/246819/11 "2004-05-25T00:31:26Z")
> [@Peter Morris](#): > > So, if I want to submit a spec script, does it have to be for a currrent show? > > could I write, for example, a M_A_S\*H script to get work on the new series of Doctor Who? Why would you write a MASH script to get work on Dcotor Who? The idea is that you write a spec for a show to get work for a similar show. I wouldn’t write a Gilmore Girls to get work on CSI. And as I understand it you only write for shows that are on air or just ended. At this point you don’t want to write a Buffy spec, it’s two years gone… but an Angel would be okay because it just ended. There are certain “writer” shows. Shows the writers actually watch. Howard Chaykin explained this to me at a con… Home Improvement and Seinfeld were on tv at the same time. Both were very popular. But WRITERS only watched Seinfeld. So writing a Home Improvement would be a waste of time. I believe the current crop of “writer’s shows” are: The Sopranos, Alias, The Shield and CSI. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-wrote-a-brilliant-spec-script-for-the-simpsons/246819/12 "2004-05-25T01:22:38Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > I believe _Star Trek_ used to read and accept spec scripts; the TNG episode “Clues” was actually sent in on spec by a fan. I remember doing some reading on this at the time and found out that the Trek production office had actually made some kind of arrangement with Paramount to allow them to consider spec material; they were the only show at the time (if not ever) that had done that. The amusingly named Melinda Snodgrass got a job writing for TNG after she submitted _Measure of a Man_ as a spec script. It’s too bad more TV shows don’t accept them.