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#OnThisDay #OTD #30YearsAgo January 14, 1993, "Marge vs. the Monorail" first aired on the Fox network. Dir: @_rich_moore. Wr: @ConanOBrien. EP: @AlJean & @MikeReissWriter. Guest-starring @TheRealNimoy as himself and Phil Hartman as Lyle Lanley. #TheSimpsons
@_rich_moore @ConanOBrien @AlJean @MikeReissWriter @TheRealNimoy Conan O'Brien (pictured here at the Simpsons writers' offices in 1992) conceived the idea when he saw a billboard in Los Angeles that just had the word "Monorail" on it, with no other details or explanation. 
@_rich_moore @ConanOBrien @AlJean @MikeReissWriter @TheRealNimoy Writers did not think Leonard Nimoy would accept the role, because William Shatner had previously turned the show down. Instead, @GeorgeTakei was asked to guest star, as he had previously appeared as Akira in the second season episode "One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish".
#OnThisDay #OTD #30YearsAgo September 19, 1991, "Stark Raving Dad" first aired on the Fox network. Wr: @AlJean & @MikeReissWriter. Dir: @_rich_moore. Guest starring @michaeljackson (speaking) and Kipp Lennon (singing) as Leon Kompowsky. #TheSimpsons
"Stark Raving Dad" was written specifically for Michael Jackson, a fan of the show, who had called Simpsons creator Matt Groening one night and offered to do a guest spot. Jean and Reiss wrote the script based on an idea pitched by @canyonjim.
@canyonjim Groening and co-executive producer @simonsam also contributed significantly to the writing. Jackson pitched several story ideas. He also requested a scene in which he and Bart write a song together and asked that a joke about Prince be changed to one about Elvis.
#OnThisDay #OTD #30YearsAgo December 20, 1990, "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge" first aired on the Fox network. Dir: Jim Reardon. Wr: @JJSwartzwelder. EP: @canyonjim, @simonsam & Matt Groening. Guest-starring Alex Rocco as Roger Meyers, Jr. #TheSimpsons (Promo: @joecip)
The episode was partially inspired by Terry Rakolta, who protested the Fox network over the show Married... with Children in 1989. The writers tried not to have a point of view and looked at both sides. bundyology.com/rakolta.html
This was the first episode directed by Jim Reardon, who had previously made a student film called "Bring Me the Head of Charlie Brown" (with @_rich_moore) which was very violent and the experience served him well for this episode.
