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Eric Kaplan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the American cartoonist, see Bruce Eric Kaplan.
| Born: | unknown |
|---|---|
| Occupation: | Television writer |
| Nationality: |  American |
Eric Kaplan is an American television writer, producer, and story editor. His work has included such shows as The Late Show with David Letterman, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Malcolm in the Middle, and most notably Futurama.
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Prior to commiting to a career in professional writing, Kaplan had been an English teacher in Thailand. After that he took five years of philosophy graduate school at Columbia and UC Berkeley.[1]
Eric Kaplan's first television writing job was with The Late Show with David Letterman which he worked on for a year and a half before quitting and moving to Hollywood to look for a job in "half-hour" work[2]. It was at this time that Kaplan learned of Matt Groening doing a show set in the year 3000. This show would turn out to be Futurama. After applying for work on the show using some writing samples, Eric would have to, as he says, "sweat it out", for over a month before getting the job. Upon Futurama's cancellation, Kaplan went to work for the short-lived comedy series Andy Richter Controls the Universe, writing just one episode. After FOX dropped Andy Richter..., Eric Kaplan then began work on the hit-show Malcolm in the Middle.
In his first year with Futurama, which was also the show's first season, Kaplan served as story editor on every episode. Though having an input on many aspects of the entire first season, Kaplan wouldn't get a writing credit until 9 episodes in. After this premiere season, Eric would be promoted to producer status. A role that he would keep right on through to the show's end.
Futurama episode writing credits:
- Hell Is Other Robots
- Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love?
- A Bicyclops Built for Two
- Parasites Lost
- I Dated a Robot
- Jurassic Bark
- Three Hundred Big Boys
In his two years as a writer on Malcolm in the Middle, Eric Kaplan wrote four episodes while serving as co-executive producer on one (Reese Joins the Army (1)).
Malcolm in the Middle episode writing credits:
- Dirty Magazine
- Victor's Other Family
- Blackout
- Hal Grieves
Zombie College was an internet webtoon Kaplan created that revolved around a student at a college full of zombies.
Kaplan described the premise of Zombie College as
the idea of the human ability to get used to practically anything. That there's nothing so horrible that we can't get used to it and accept it as part of life (...) Zombie College is an environment where there are undead monsters running around and trying to eat your brain but everybody is o.k. with it and they're more interested in getting good grades.[3]
- ^ Eric Kaplan interview with gotfuturama.com (1st question) Accessed January 31st, 2007
- ^ Eric Kaplan interview with gotfuturama.com (13th question) Accessed January 31st, 2007
- ^ Eric Kaplan interview with gotfuturama.com (2nd question) Accessed January 31st, 2007