The Front (The Simpsons) Harvard alumnus who resembles "Simpsons" writer Jon Vitti. At the awards ceremony, "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening is shown in the audience. Lisa is also seen reading a book titled "How to Get Rich Writing Cartoons" by John Swartzwelder, a "Simpsons" writer credited with nearly sixty episodes of the show. The credits at the end of Bart and Lisa's "Itchy & Scratchy" episode (shown in very small print) are a copy of the credits at the end of "The Simpsons". At the Annual Cartoon Awards, the clip from the nominated "The Ren & Stimpy Show" is merely a black screen
The Simpsons Guy Appel then asked for permission from "Simpsons" executive producers Matt Groening, James L. Brooks and Al Jean to use their characters. This was approved; Appel was previously a writer-producer on "The Simpsons" for four seasons, and retained his former colleagues' trust. Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith and Hank Azaria guest star as their "Simpsons" characters, but Harry Shearer, the final main cast member of "The Simpsons", was unavailable. Asked how he felt about the crossover, Shearer replied, "Matter and anti-matter." "Family Guy" writers pitched several storylines for the crossover, including one in which the Griffins stay with