 Mirkin 's tenure on The Simpsons has been cited as a period where the series evolved to focus more on abstract and surreal stories and humor . A. O. Scott notes that " several veterans recall the ' crazy David Mirkin years ' as a time of wild inventiveness . " In The Simpsons : An Uncensored , Unauthorized History ( 2009 ) , John Ortved describes Mirkin 's era as moving the show away from more " realistic " emotional and character @-@ based stories to " pure comedy " and " surreal " humor . In a 2004 interview with Animation Magazine , Mirkin stated that he felt that he " brought [ the show ] back to a more story @-@ oriented " approach and increased the focus on characters and their emotions , although " at the same time still keeping it surreal and weird " . Mirkin moved the show 's focus toward Homer Simpson , and also developed some of its secondary characters , including Apu Nahasapeemapetilon . He also strongly opposed censorship and network interference , telling post @-@ production supervisor Colin A.B.V. Lewis to ignore the list of changes sent by the Fox censors . He aimed to put " as much blood and guts " as possible into the episode " Treehouse of Horror V " as an attack on the censors . 
