pˈeɪn ænd fɹˈɪŋk dʒˈɔɪnd ðə ɹˈaɪɾɪŋ stˈæf ʌvðɪ ˈænɪmˌeɪɾᵻd sˈɪtkɑːm ðə sˈɪmpsənz ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt; ðɛɹ fˈɜːst skɹˈɪpt wʌzðə sˈiːzən twˈɛlv ˈɛpɪsˌoʊd "ɪnsˈeɪn klˈaʊn pˈɑːpi", wˌɪtʃ ˈɛɹd ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd.
Payne and Frink joined the writing staff of the animated sitcom The Simpsons in 1998; their first script was the season twelve episode "Insane Clown Poppy", which aired in 2000.