David X. Cohen
David X. Cohen (born David Samuel Cohen) is a writer for The Simpsons and head writer and executive producer of Futurama. Born and known pre-Futurama as David S. Cohen, he changed his name after joining the Writer's Guild of America as there was already another David S. Cohen (The writers guild does not allow members to have the same name). He chose X because it sounded "sci-fi-ish", and has jokingly said that the X would make him "the David Cohen people would remember". He works with Matt Groening on many projects.
Writing credits
Cohen is credited with writing or co-writing the following episodes:
- Futurama: "Space Pilot 3000", "Xmas Story", "Anthology of Interest I", "Anthology of Interest II" and "The Why Of Fry".
- The Simpsons: "Treehouse of Horror V", "Lisa the Vegetarian", "Treehouse of Horror VI", "22 Short Films About Springfield", "Much Apu About Nothing", "Treehouse of Horror VII", "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show", "The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase", "Treehouse of Horror VIII", "Lisa the Skeptic", "Das Bus", "Bart the Mother" and "Treehouse of Horror IX".
- Beavis and Butthead: "Couch Fishing" and "Plate Frisbee".
- Is co-credited for the story of Futurama's "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid".
- Is credited with inventing the word cromulent, meaning 'valid' or 'acceptable', which has entered wide use following its usage in The Simpsons.
Futurama
Cohen was the co-developer of Futurama along with Matt Groening. Cohen served as head writer, executive producer, and voice director of the series. He was also the voice director of the Futurama video game.
In addition, he designed one of the robots in the robot strip club which he said was "his one artistic contribution to the show". The robot's waist gyrated sexily using a planetary gear.
He had a brief cameo appearance, in cartoon form, in the Futurama episode 'A Bicyclops made for Two', along with several other people who worked on the show, which is pointed out during that episode's DVD commentary.
He has appeared in every Futurama DVD commentary.
Trivia
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- Cohen graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, NJ .
- Cohen graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor's degree in physics and from the University of California, Berkeley with a Master's degree in computer science.
- His sole academic publication concerned the computer science theory problem of pancake sorting, which was also the subject of Bill Gates' sole academic publication.
- Cohen was classmates in the Harvard physics department with Cats & Dogs and Antz director Lawrence Guterman. Both studied under physicist Sidney Coleman and Nobel Prize winner Norman F. Ramsey, as well as under Fields Medal winner David Mumford.
- His favorite movie is Dr. Strangelove.
- He is a fan of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
- Both his parents were biologists.
- He wrote for the Harvard Lampoon.