In 1990, Judd Apatow was in his early 20s, and trying to kickstart a career as a writer. This was 15 years before he would enjoy a Hollywood hit with The 40 Year Old Virgin, and almost a decade before he would work on his brilliant but cruelly cancelled cult classic series Freaks & Geeks.
In the hopes of getting a writing job, he wrote a 'spec script' for an episode of The Simpsons - as well as for some other popular comedy series. Sadly, he received no job offers (although he would soon go on to work on the likes of The Ben Stiller Show).
25 years and several huge box office hits for Apatow later, the episode entitled Bart's New Friend is finally set to air next Sunday.
Speaking to TV Guide, Apatow explained how the episode finally got made. "I had talked about the script on stage in an interview at the LA County Museum and how I have always been fascinated with how difficult it is to grow up," he said. "In fact, everything I've done on film and TV is pretty much based on my Simpsons idea. I can't shake it.
"Parts of that interview hit the press and I guess Al [Jean, The Simpsons executive producer] read about it. Better late than never," he adds.
Bart's New Friend was written in 1990, when The Simpsons had only aired six episodes. Judd Apatow says he tried to emulate the style of the show based on those episodes, but notes that the current writing team have tidied the script up a bit.
The episode features Homer being hypnotised and believing he is a 10-year-old, and - as the title suggests - befriends Bart. It will broadcast in the US next Sunday.
