Mike Scully
Born in a town called Springfield (a name that would later become very appropriate), Mike Scully got his start in the entertainment business as an aspiring stand-up comedian and a writer for Yakov Smirnoff. He landed work on various television programs, but it was being hired to write for "The Simpsons" in 1993 that changed everything for him. Scully's work on the show as a writer, producer, and showrunner gave audiences many memorable episodes. But as the show progressed past season nine-which many of the show's admirers feel was its peak-grumbling started to be heard from both fans and critics that the show's best days were left in the 1990s. Scully worked as a writer and producer on "The Simpsons Movie" as well. He was also a writer and executive producer on the long-running television sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," and serves as a consulting producer and writer for the NBC comedy show "Parks and Recreation," starring Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones.