Page "David Mirkin" Paragraph 15

Ortved — using interviews with writers Bob Kushell and Brent Forrester and Mirkin's assistant Charleen Easton — describes Mirkin as an " outsider " on the show, with the writing staff, at least initially, divided with respect to Mirkin's comedy and leadership style.

Forrester described the latter as " a little bit dictatorial ".

Mirkin conducted the show's writing sessions in one room, rather than splitting the writers into two groups, as later showrunners would do, and often worked late into the night.

Some praised Mirkin's leadership, including Appel, who felt that " the shows were great under him.

" Others criticised him, including Kushell, who clashed with Mirkin over the episode " A Star is Burns ", a crossover with the The Critic.

In 2004, Mirkin stated that he " really wasn't at all intimidat to join show's writing crew ," because he " had worked with and written with " many of his fellow writers previously and concluded that, " took this show in a direction that is more personal to me.

I did that, had a great time doing that, and everyone was very receptive to that.

" Mirkin's era and style of humor are popular amongst the show's fans.