Josh Weinstein
A sharp-witted architect of The Simpsons' golden age, he helped shape the show's voice during its most celebrated seasons.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American television writer and producer·Birthday: May 5·Generation X
Biography
Josh Weinstein, alongside his writing partner Bill Oakley, represents a specific, beloved era in American television comedy. Meeting in high school, their creative partnership solidified at Stanford, where Weinstein edited the humor magazine. Their big break came on 'The Simpsons,' where they rose from writers to showrunners in the mid-1990s. Along with Oakley, he served as an executive producer for seasons seven and eight, a period often cited by fans as the show's creative peak. Their tenure emphasized emotional depth, intricate character development, and densely layered jokes, contributing to some of the series' most enduring episodes. After 'The Simpsons,' they created the cult favorite 'Mission Hill' and later found success in children's animation, with Weinstein serving as showrunner for 'Gravity Falls' and 'Disenchantment,' proving his versatility in crafting smart, character-driven humor for vastly different audiences.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Josh was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Josh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as showrunner and executive producer for 'The Simpsons' during its acclaimed seventh and eighth seasons.
- Co-created the animated series 'Mission Hill' with writing partner Bill Oakley.
- Was the showrunner for the critically praised mystery series 'Gravity Falls.'
- Worked as a writer and producer on Matt Groening's Netflix series 'Disenchantment.'
Did You Know?
He and Bill Oakley were the first showrunners of 'The Simpsons' who were not part of the original writing staff.
He attended Stanford University, where he was editor-in-chief of the Stanford Chaparral humor magazine.
He provided the voice of the 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge' announcer in a famous 'Simpsons' couch gag.
He is a noted fan of the band They Might Be Giants.
“The best jokes come from character and a specific point of view.”
