 Mirkin was the executive producer and showrunner for the animated sitcom The Simpsons , during its fifth and sixth seasons ( 1993 – 1995 ) . Following the end of the show 's fourth season , most of the original staff members left the show ; only Bill Oakley , Josh Weinstein , Conan O 'Brien and Dan McGrath remained , and O 'Brien soon left to replace David Letterman as host of Late Night . Executive producers James L. Brooks and Richard Sakai hired Mirkin following his exit from The Edge . He had been asked to join the show 's writing team when it started in 1989 , but decided instead to work on Get a Life . He was a fan of The Simpsons before being hired for the show , and started work in November 1992 . Due to the show 's long production cycle , season five did not air until the following September . Mirkin was the program 's first solo showrunner . Due to the high staff departure at the end of season four , Mirkin " pretty much had to build [ the ] show from the ground up again , " and noted that this " was exciting but also a big challenge . " He hired several new writers , including Richard Appel , David X. Cohen , Jennifer Crittenden , Greg Daniels , Bob Kushell , Jace Richdale and Mike Scully . 
