Simpsons Declassified with Nancy Cartwright

In this behind-the-scenes episode of Simpsons Declassified, Jay Renshaw, the Nancy Cartwright sits down with Jay Renshaw, longtime writer, producer, and creator of the famous character 'Chit', to uncover how Springfield’s most iconic stories are built—from the first joke pitch to the final table read. Jay shares what it’s like crafting episodes for the longest-running primetime animated series in television history, revealing how stories are broken, how jokes survive (or don’t), and why collaboration is the secret ingredient to keeping The Simpsons fresh after decades on air. From the pressure of maintaining legacy characte...

Rick meets Bart in this hilarious, insight-packed episode of Simpsons Declassified as Ian Cardoni, the new voice of Rick Sanchez on Rick and Morty, joins Nancy Cartwright for donuts, deep voice-acting talk, and a surprisingly competitive burp showdown. Ian shares the intense six-month audition process that led to landing one of animation’s most iconic roles, revealing how a “party trick” impression evolved into a full-fledged performance capable of sustaining brutal fight scenes, emotional beats, and multiverse-level chaos. He breaks down the difference between doing an impression and truly inhabiting a character—creating new catchphrases, delivering fresh material...

In this eye-opening episode of Simpsons Declassified, producer Monica Gil-Rodriguez pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to survive—and succeed—in Hollywood. From navigating studio politics to developing major franchise films, Monica shares candid stories about her journey through the entertainment industry, including her pivotal role in championing projects at the highest level. She discusses the realities of being a producer, the difference between creative vision and corporate pressure, and why persistence matters more than prestige. The conversation dives into what studio executives actually do, how projects get greenlit (or killed), and what...

In this deep-dive Ask Me (Bart) Anything episode of Simpsons Declassified, legendary showrunner and writer Dave Mirkin joins Nancy Cartwright for an uncensored, laugh-packed, and surprisingly emotional conversation about what truly made The Simpsons endure. Pulled directly from fan questions, the episode explores how iconic characters like Bart, Homer, Marge, Ralph, and Lisa were written—and why Bart’s rebellious genius came straight from Dave’s own childhood as a “school terror.” Dave explains why Bart isn’t dumb, just misunderstood, and how that philosophy shaped some of the show’s most memorable episodes. Fans get rare behin...

Voice acting legend Maurice LaMarche (Pinky and the Brain, Futurama, The Simpsons, Zootopia) joins Nancy Cartwright for an unforgettable, laugh-out-loud episode of Simpsons Declassified packed with fan questions, iconic voices, and surprising emotional depth. From the very start, Maurice dives into classic characters as fans ask about world domination schemes, the genius of Pinky and the Brain, and why the show’s rare moments of heart made it so timeless. He breaks down why the writing was so strong that ad-libbing was rarely needed—and how the “informed idiot vs. uninformed idiot” dynamic made the series work. Si...

Legendary voice actor Rob Paulsen (Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) joins Nancy Cartwright for a wildly funny, deeply moving, and fan-driven episode of Simpsons Declassified. Packed with Ask Me (Bart) Anything–style questions, this episode blends laugh-out-loud improv with genuine life wisdom from one of animation’s most beloved voices. Rob and Nancy answer fan questions ranging from the weirdest lines ever requested, favorite Bart Simpson prank calls, and unforgettable recording moments that nearly broke the cast with laughter. Simpsons fans and animation lovers alike will enjoy rapid-fire improv, classic character voices, and spon...

In this special Ask Me (Bart) Anything episode of Simpsons Declassified, Nancy Cartwright—the iconic voice of Bart Simpson—is joined by Sofy for a fan-driven conversation packed with behind-the-scenes stories, laughs, and classic Simpsons energy. Pulled straight from fan questions, this AMA covers everything fans have always wanted to know about Bart, voice acting, and life inside Springfield. Nancy shares candid insights into performing Bart across decades, switching between characters, and how she keeps the voice fresh after thousands of episodes. Along the way, she reflects on career lessons, creative instincts, and the unexpected moments that shap...

Legendary voice actor, Dungeon Master, and Critical Role creator Matt Mercer joins Simpsons Declassified for an unforgettable crossover of animation, fantasy, and storytelling. From rolling dice to reimagining Springfield as a tabletop campaign, this episode blends Dungeons & Dragons, voice acting, and The Simpsons in a way only Matt Mercer can. Matt walks listeners through a live D&D roleplay demo, guiding Nancy Cartwright into an improvised fantasy adventure that perfectly explains how tabletop storytelling works—choices, dice rolls, danger, humor, and heart included. Whether you’re brand new to D&D or a longtime fan, this segment make...

Beverly D’Angelo (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Simpsons) joins Simpsons Declassified for a hilarious, revealing conversation that jumps from Springfield to Hollywood—and straight into the stories fans beg for. Beverly finally explains the infamous “crotch grab” moment on Christmas Vacation, why she did it, and how it accidentally became the take they had to use. Then the episode dives deep into her Simpsons legacy as Lurleen Lumpkin, including the wild truth that Beverly wrote “Finally Bagged Me a Homer” with her brother in about ten minutes—and how that song became a long-term “gift that keeps on givi...

In this special Ask Me Anything episode, Nancy Cartwright goes fully “behind the yellow curtain” to answer fan questions about The Simpsons, voice acting, and the real-life mischief that shaped Bart Simpson. Nancy reveals how she accidentally became Bart: originally called in to audition for Lisa, she spotted the description of “10-year-old, school-hating underachiever and proud of it” and instantly knew that was her character. One bold ask later, Bart’s now-iconic voice was born on the spot in front of Matt Groening. From there, Nancy dives into her early days on the speech team, discoverin...

Legendary impressionist Jim Meskimen (Parks and Rec, America’s Got Talent) joins the show for a fast-paced, hilarious, and insightful deep dive into the craft of voices and impressions. From his earliest days imitating Tiny Tim to voicing iconic characters for Disney, Jim breaks down how he studies vocal patterns, physicality, pitch, and personality to bring celebrity impressions to life—sometimes within seconds. Jim and Nancy jump into rapid-fire Simpsons challenges, reimagining Bart catchphrases as delivered by celebrity voices, plus dramatic reenactments, Krusty Burger clashes, and Springfield improv that only a world-class mimic can pull off. He also...

In this episode, Rick and Morty star Spencer Grammer sits down to talk voice acting, growing up in a Broadway family, and her dad Kelsey Grammer’s iconic Simpsons role as Sideshow Bob. She shares behind-the-scenes insights on improv in animation, how episodes are rewritten and re-recorded, and what it’s like performing emotional turns in the booth. Spencer also opens up about recovering from a life-changing injury, finding music as healing, and building her band Bell and Chain. You’ll hear hilarious Simpsons × Rick and Morty crossover improv, movie scene reenactments, and Spencer’s spontaneous song “Sunshine.”...

Ever wondered what happens when Bart Simpson collides with the queen of cartoon multiverses? Nancy Cartwright sits down with Tara Strong for a wild, heartfelt romp through voice-acting mayhem—Timmy Turner, Harley Quinn, Raven, Bubbles, Batgirl, Miss Minutes, and more. Tara shares fangirl moments (singing with Jodi Benson in Little Mermaid II), origin stories (Hello Kitty’s first English voice!), and the craft behind “singing in character.” She opens up about fandom’s real impact—from tear-jerker con hugs to helping a bullied My Little Pony artist find her community. Then chaos ensues in “Fanfiction Theater,” as Tara and Nancy swap voice...

Ever wondered who really sang for Michael Jackson’s character on The Simpsons? Nancy Cartwright welcomes legendary vocalist Kipp Lennon—the hidden voice behind Stark Raving Dad’s unforgettable tunes. Kipp shares the wild story of how he ended up channeling the King of Pop in Springfield, from the day he got the call to performing live years later at The Simpsons Take the Bowl concert. Along the way, he dishes about his musical roots as a founding member of the harmony-rich band Venice, and drops hilarious behind-the-scenes tales—like the time Conan O’Brien and Weird Al turned a hallway...

Ever wondered what happens when the voice of Bart Simpson sits down with the director who helped make Treehouse of Horror iconic? Nancy Cartwright welcomes Simpsons legend Mark Kirkland for a spooky, laugh-packed deep dive into Springfield. Mark lifts the lid on classic Halloween segments—from “The Omega Man” to “Easy-Bake Coven”—sharing how colonial research, crooked sets, and even the color of falling leaves shape the scares. He recalls his path from Hanna-Barbera to CalArts mentors, treating animators as “actors with a pencil,” and why sitcom timing beats long crosses every time. The trio play a chaotic “Simpsons Catchphrase: Hallo...

Today’s episode features one of the original architects of The Simpsons, Jon Vitti! A true comedy writing genius, John penned some of the show's most iconic and beloved episodes, including "Bart the Genius," "Bart Gets an F," "Mr. Plow," "Cape Feare," and "Lisa's Substitute." In this unforgettable interview, Jon and Nancy Cartwright geek out about the show's legacy and its chaotic-yet-brilliant origins. Jon also shares what it was like to pitch to James L. Brooks, why the full-face shot of a Simpson character is never a good idea, how much the voice actors, like Nancy, shaped characters like Ra...

Ever wondered what happens when an Oscar-winning actress meets the voice of Bart Simpson? Allison Janney and Nancy Cartwright sit down for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation talking about The Simpsons, I, Tonya, West Wing, Minions, and more. In this exclusive interview, Allison shares her experience guest-starring on The Simpsons and pitches wild new ideas for the show, including a character for herself and a storyline involving a new dog for the family. Nancy, a voice-acting legend, offers Allison tips on character voices and reveals behind-the-scenes stories from the show's history. They also reminisce about their shared connections to t...

Join Nancy Cartwright and the incredible Cedric Yarbrough (Deputy Jones on Reno 911!, Colonel H. Stinkmeanor on The Boondocks) for a hilarious and insightful conversation about their careers. In this episode Cedric and Nancy dive deep into the art of voice acting, discussing how they find the voice, breath, and truth for characters ranging from a mob boss in the animated Batman series to the unforgettable Deputy Jones. They explore the chaos and genius of improvised comedy on Reno 911! and the longevity of The Simpsons. Then, prepare for an incredible improv moment as they recreate the phone call...

This week, we’re joined by one of the most important voices in The Simpsons: Mike Reiss! A four-time Emmy-winning writer and producer, Mike has been a cornerstone of The Simpsons since its inception, a run so celebrated he even earned a Peabody Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Animation Writers Caucus. Beyond The Simpsons, Mike created the cult classics The Critic and Queer Duck, and has written for blockbuster animated films including The Simpsons Movie and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Nancy Cartwright sits down with Mike Reiss to talk about everything from hi...

This week’s guest is the one and only "Weird Al" Yankovic, a GRAMMY-winning icon known for his brilliant musical parodies and comedic anthems. With a career spanning decades, Al has entertained millions and even made memorable appearances on The Simpsons.Nancy and Al dive deep into their shared history with The Simpsons, revealing exclusive stories from the recording booth and behind the scenes. You'll hear Nancy's pure delight as she recounts her genuine "fangirl" reaction to finally meeting Weird Al after years of admiration! Then get ready for a hilarious challenge as they play a unique game, trying to...