Andrew and Steve sit down with Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Ken Estin,whose TV resume includes Taxi, Cheers, The Tracey Ullman Show, and The Tortellis. Interestingly, through his work on Tracey Ullman, Ken played a significant role in the creation of The Simpsons.

Also joining the conversation is author Paula Finn, who will discuss her new book, Sitcom Writers Talk Shop: Behind the Scenes with Carl Reiner, Norman Lear, and Other Geniuses of TV Comedy. Finn is the daughter of Herbert Finn, notable TV writer for such series as The Honeymooners, Jackie Gleason Show, The Flintstones, Gilligan’s Island, and Dennis the Menace.

In the second part of this two-part episode, we focus on Paula’s book chapter dedicated to Ken Estin and discuss with Ken how The Simpsons was born out of the Tracey Ullman Show, the event that he considers to be the greatest night of his professional career (hint: it involves Taxi and Cheers), and how HBO nearly acquired Taxi for its fifth season (1982-83).