Josh Weinstein says that he “eventually plans to live” in Greater Manchester.
The award-winning writer, who’s behind The Simpsons, Seinfeld, Futurama and CBBC’s Strange Hill High, was talking to graduates at the University of Salford.
Picking up an honorary doctorate, he said:
“You might find that places like LA are soul-crushing whereas places like Manchester can be soul-expanding. So go out, explore the world but if you feel the pull of this wonderful place come back. There’s no better place in the world for creativity.”
Weinstein received the honorary doctorate of arts for his outstanding contribution and achievements in television. The Stanford graduate started out on The Simpsons in 1992 as a writer, before becoming executive producer and winning 3 Emmys. His fourth Emmy came in 2011 for Futurama.
However, he says that Strange Hill High, which is made in Altrincham by Factory is “the best project he’s ever worked on”.
“This degree means so much to me because I have learned a lot from working in Salford and Manchester – whether it’s with the university, the BBC, or the inner city sound stage in Altrincham.
“Part of that is because of the spirit of this place on the ground we sit on today. Because of the people, because of the Manchester spirit, because of the Salford spirit. It’s one of the reasons I feel so at home here and why eventually I plan to move here.
“That’s because the Salford spirit is remarkably similar to the spirit in which we make The Simpsons. It’s wickedly independent and insanely creative.
With one hand you may thumb your nose at society but with the other you give the gift of creative and original culture.”
