Keeping score for 'Simpsons'

Simpsons veteran Alf Clausen has composed probably the most original scores for any primetime series, with 483. "The Simpsons" hits a milestone Sunday using its 500th episode, however it has additionally silently handled to interrupt another record on the way: probably the most original musical scores ever composed for any primetime series."Gunsmoke" went 635 episodes, but under another of these were obtained with original music "Law & Order," like "Gunsmoke," also went for 25 years, but that demonstrate ended after 456 episodes.Alf Clausen has written 483 of individuals 500 scores, beginning using the show's first Halloween episode in October 1990. He's won two Emmys and received another 21 nominations for his "Simpsons" tunes and scores. "It truly is challenging. Sometimes hard to not repeat myself," Clausen stated.The general "Simpsons" statistics, as totalled by music editor Chris Ledesma (that has been in "The Simpsons" from the beginning), are equally impressive: nearly 15,000 individual bits of music and most 28,000 "takes" or tracks within the show's 23 seasons.And each episode, unlike most series nowadays, has featured an orchestra around 35 gamers. Vince Trombetta, leader of Local 47 from the American Federation of Music artists, came by Clausen's recording session February. 3 in Glendale to provide him having a plaque for his "exceptional work in the last 22 years."Clausen credited "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening for insisting on real music artists, not synthesized scores, right from the start. Clausen, whose other credits include "Moonlighting" and also the sitcom "Alf" ("no relation," he quips), stated he'll stick with "The Simpsons" to the finish."I've made the decision to ride this stage in to the sunset," he stated. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com