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Martin Olson (born April 2, 1956) is an American comedy writer, television producer, author and composer. He is known for his unusual subject matter, and is an original member of the Boston Comedy Scene. He is the father of writer-songwriter Olivia Olson.

Key Information

Olson has received six Emmy nominations, five for television writing and one for song writing. Olson also received two Ace Awards for television writing.[1]

Background

[edit]

Martin Olson is from Boston, Massachusetts.[2] His brother, Thomas Olson, is a film and stage actor. His adopted daughter Olivia Olson is a singer-songwriter, actress, and author.[3] Olson decided to be a comedy writer as a boy when he saw comedian Brother Theodore ranting and raving on The Merv Griffin Show. Before his death in 2001, Theodore became a fan of Olson's first book, Encyclopædia of Hell (Feral House, 2011), and wrote a quote for the book cover.[4]

Career

[edit]

Olson began writing for comedians before there were any comedy clubs in Boston. As a young man, he sent batches of jokes to Rodney Dangerfield, which were always returned with the same polite note scrawled at the bottom, "Sorry, Marty!" (according to his agent's press kit, years later when writing for Penn & Teller in Las Vegas, Olson produced comedy bits with Dangerfield and the two became friends).[5] Olson first sold comedy material to the hosts of local "Gong Shows", which began his career as a comedy writer.

Boston Comedy

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Sean Morey opened a comedy school where Paul Barclay and Bill Downes met Olson and decided to start a comedy showcase at Boston's Charles Theater on Wednesday nights, the first comedy club in Boston in 1977.[6][7] There Olson became house piano player and performed as a comedian with an absurdist deadpan act, playing the guitar and hosting other comedians as his eccentric guests. Olson worked for or wrote with the comedians who became his friends, including Sean Morey, Lenny Clarke, Bobcat Goldthwait, Joe Alaskey, Don Gavin, Barry Crimmins, Steven Wright, Jimmy Tingle, Denis Leary, Steve Sweeney, Kevin Meaney and Kevin Nealon.[8]

Olson and comedian Lenny Clarke became roommates in Harvard Square; comedians from all over the country stayed with them while performing in Boston comedy clubs. Olson wrote for Clarke, who was the most popular comedian in Boston. Their apartment became known as The Barracks, a legendary hub of comedy and depravity that was the subject of a television special on Boston comedy in the 1980s, and also of the award-winning documentary on the Boston comedy scene When Standup Stood Out (2006) directed by filmmaker-comedian Fran Solomita.[8]

When comedian, writer and political satirist Barry Crimmins started the second comedy club in the Boston area called the Ding Ho, Olson became piano player and with writer Jim Harris created Lenny Clarke's Late Show, a late-night comedy series on TV-38 hosted and co-written by Clarke. This bizarre, two-hour weekly monster movie show attracted a small but dedicated cult following. After two years Olson and Clarke were fired for airing two controversial segments ("News for Negroes" and "The Mentally Challenged Faith Healer" featuring Bobcat Goldthwait).[9]

Olson and the West Coast comedy scene

[edit]

Olson took his tapes from the show and drove cross-country to San Francisco with comedian Don Gavin. There, by coincidence, the 1980 San Francisco Comedy Competition was starting up, which offered a first prize of $10,000. Olson helped Gavin audition and make it into the finals. There Olson met his future wife Kay Furtado, a writer who had been flown to San Francisco to coach another comedian in the competition. A year later they were married in a ceremony in San Francisco by comedian Michael Pritchard, attended by all of the local comedians. Olson and his wife moved to Los Angeles where they raised two children, Casey Olson and Olivia Olson.

Writing and directing

[edit]

In Los Angeles, Olson was head writer for several HBO comedy specials,[citation needed] staff writer for the Screen Actors Guild Awards for three years, co-wrote (with Kevin Meaney) an award-winning series for Comedy Central in London and was head writer or staff writer for many animated series voiced by his comedian friends, notably Rocko's Modern Life for Nickelodeon.[10] He was head writer for the first season of the Disney animated series Phineas and Ferb.[11]

While staff writer for Rocko's Modern Life, Olson's office was next to that of Stephen Hillenburg, his friend who years later would create SpongeBob SquarePants. Olson read The Intertidal Zone, an educational comic book hosted by a sea sponge character, which Hillenburg had written and illustrated. Olson enthusiastically encouraged Hillenburg to create an underwater television series like the book, which became the SpongeBob series.[12]

Olson wrote, co-wrote or directed a number of off-beat stage plays in Los Angeles, including "The Head", "The Idiots", "I Never Knew My Father", "1958", "Torn", "The Ron Lynch Show", "The Bob Rubin Experience" and "Cold Black Heart" at various theaters, including the Comedy Central Stage, the HBO Theater and the Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood. Olson and his writing partner comedian Jeremy Kramer were head writers for Fox's Comic Strip Live, for Screen Actors Guild Awards for three years, and for the animated series The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat. Olson was also producer of Penn & Teller's FX variety series Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular.[13]

With the help of his literary agent Annette Van Duren, Olson sold comedy screenplays to DreamWorks, United Artists, Touchstone Pictures, and Warner Bros.[14] He wrote the satirical book Encyclopaedia of Hell, and sold the film rights to Warner Bros. through Andrew Lazar of Mad Chance Productions.[15] With Ken Kaufman and Howard Klausner, Olson co-wrote the final draft of the screenplay adaptation of his book for WB under a new title, D-Men.[15]

Olson collaborated with many writers and artists: with special effects director Phil Tippett on the screenplay for Veronica's Daughter, with writer-director Bobcat Goldthwait on the screenplay Sightings for United Artists, with writer-comedian Rob Schneider on the screenplay Family Disorder for Touchstone, with writer-comedian Kevin Nealon on the screenplay Late Bloomer, with director Ken Locsmandi on the story and screenplay for Bronson Beak, and with sci-fi novelist Robert Sheckley on the screen adaptation of his wonderful novel Dimension of Miracles. Olson was a contributing story writer ("Additional Writing By") and songwriter for Disney's TV film Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension. Olson also adapted the novel The Man Who Was Thursday, by G. K. Chesterton, as a screenplay for Andrew Lazar of Mad Chance.

In 2016, Olson was staff writer for Disney's Milo Murphy's Law, and in 2017 co-wrote the story for Nickelodeon's animated film Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling, a highly anticipated revival of Nickelodeon's cult-classic series Rocko's Modern Life.[10]

Acting

[edit]

As an occasional actor, Olson has guest-starred in live-action sequences in SpongeBob SquarePants ("Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V" and "Swamp Mates"), in "Don't Watch This Show" by director-comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, in the documentary When Standup Stood Out by filmmaker Fran Solomita, and on The Tonight Show playing an Indian yogi with comedian Bobcat Goldthwait. Olson also plays Hunson Abadeer aka "The Lord of Evil" on Cartoon Network's Adventure Time and his real-life daughter Olivia Olson voices the role of his character's daughter, Marceline the Vampire Queen. Olson also appears in videos by his friends Garfunkel and Oates, Melinda Hill, Katie Schwartz, Adam Scott Franklin and Rich Dorato.[16]

Music and songwriting

[edit]

Olson is a twice-Emmy-nominated songwriter, and an Annie-nominated songwriter, having written or co-written over three hundred and fifty songs produced for television or film.[17] He has appeared as a singer on several television shows, including SpongeBob SquarePants and Phineas and Ferb. His satirical songs were regularly featured on many television series, including London Underground (Comedy Central), Rocko's Modern Life (Nickelodeon), Get That Puss Off Your Face (HBO), Camp Lazlo (CN), Penn and Teller's Sin City Spectacular (FX), The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat (CBS), Phineas and Ferb and Milo Murphy's Law (both for Disney). Along with over three hundred songs for Disney TV,[18] Olson wrote eight songs for Disney's TV film Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension and four songs for the Disney+ film Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe. Olson and his friend director Bobcat Goldthwait also co-wrote the theme song for Don't Watch This Show (Cinemax).

At Disney Studios, with songwriting partners Dan Povenmire and Swampy Marsh, Olson co-wrote songs with Bobby Lopez, co-writer of Broadway's The Book of Mormon and Disney's Frozen. Olson also co-wrote five songs with Povenmire and Marsh for their film Dick! The Musical. Olson, Povenmire and Marsh also wrote a song for Disney's Milo Murphy's Law with Grammy-winning songwriter Mike Stoller, and several songs with Kate Micucci of Scrubs and Garfunkel and Oates.

Olson has had his songs performed by a diverse list of artists, including Clay Aiken, Chaka Khan, Jack Jones, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Kenny Loggins, Kate Pierson of The B-52's, Fee Waybill of The Tubes, Michael McKean of Spinal Tap, Wayne Brady of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Jack McBrayer of 30 Rock, Malcolm McDowell, Jaret Reddick of Bowling for Soup, Richard O'Brien of The Rocky Horror Show, French Stewart, Ian McKellen, Joey Lawrence, Ashley Tisdale, Christian Slater, Sheena Easton, Carmen Carter, Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords, Robbie Wyckoff, Tom Kenny of SpongeBob, Allison Janney, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and his daughter, singer-songwriter Olivia Olson.[18]

Olson first collaborated with songwriter Jeff Root on four home studio albums in the 1970s.

Olson's latest CD was written and recorded with his daughter Olivia Olson (July 2013) and called The Father-Daughter Album of Unspeakable Beauty, released at Comicon SD 2013, and their new album, Hey I'm Not Dead Yet, has a release date at Comicon NYC 2021 (delayed due to covid).[19]

Books

[edit]

Olson's encyclopedic satire Encyclopaedia of Hell is published by Feral House (July 2011);[20] the film rights were bought by Warner Bros. through producer Andrew Lazar for Mad Chance. The French edition was published in 2016 by Les Editions Lapin, Paris.[21] His notorious children's book The Adventure Time Encyclopaedia (July 2013), published by Abrams Books, reached #5 on the New York Times Best-Seller List.[22] His latest Abrams book, The Enchiridion/Marcy's Super-Secret Scrapbook, was cowritten with his daughter Olivia Olson, and released at Comicon NYC 2015.

His fourth book is The Conquest of Heaven, a mystical history book from the future, and a breakdown of the paradoxical Secrets of the Universe, written by demons and angels. Conquest is a sequel to his first book from Feral House.

Olson also wrote two unpleasant collections of poems, Hitler's Dog and Imaginary History of Reality, which are available for free DL.[23]

Awards

[edit]

Olson has six Emmy Nominations, five for TV writing and one for songwriting:

  • Olson, Martin. 2016 Prime Time Emmy Nomination/Outstanding Animated Program – "Phineas & Ferb".
  • Olson, Martin. 2014 Prime Time Emmy Nomination/Outstanding Short Form Animated Program – "Phineas & Ferb".
  • Olson, Martin. 2012 Prime Time Emmy Nomination/Outstanding Short Form Animated Program – "Phineas & Ferb".
  • Olson, Martin. 2010 Emmy Nomination/Songwriting – "Phineas & Ferb".
  • Olson, Martin. 2009 Prime Time Emmy Nomination/Outstanding Special Class - Short Form Animated Program – "Phineas & Ferb".
  • Olson, Martin. 2008 Emmy Nomination/Songwriting – "Phineas & Ferb".

Selected publications

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Screenwriting

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Television

[edit]

Films

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Martin Olson

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Martin Olson is an American comedy , , voice actor, , and recognized for his contributions to animated programming. His television credits include writing and songwriting for series such as , where he served as a and contributed to episodes like "Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together," and its successor . Earlier in his career, Olson worked on Nickelodeon's . In voice acting, he is best known for portraying Hunson Abadeer, the Lord of Evil and father of Marceline, in Cartoon Network's , a role that mirrors his real-life relationship with his daughter, , who voices the character Marceline. Olson has also books, including works in and , and maintains an active presence in communities.

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Martin Olson was born on April 2, 1956, in , . He grew up in alongside his brother, Thomas Olson, a film and stage actor known for roles in productions such as What Doesn't Kill You. Olson married Kay Furtado in 1981, and the couple has two children: son Casey Olson and daughter , an actress, singer-songwriter, and voice performer recognized for voicing in .

Education and Initial Interests

Olson was raised in a working-class neighborhood of , , in a family of Swedish descent whose members included generations of house painters and accordion players. From childhood, his interests centered on humor and performance; at age eight, he produced handwritten compilations titled Joke Book One and Joke Book Two, marking the onset of his engagement with comedic writing. He also experimented with puppets, devising and voicing outlandish characters that channeled imaginative absurdity, an approach that later informed his distinctive surreal style in and . By his late teens and early twenties, Olson pursued these interests practically, playing piano accompaniment for live comedy acts in nascent Boston venues starting in 1978 and crafting original material for performers at a time when dedicated comedy clubs were scarce in the city.

Comedy Beginnings

Boston Comedy Scene

Martin Olson entered Boston's nascent comedy landscape in the mid-1970s by writing material for performers at a time when dedicated comedy clubs did not yet exist in the city. He contributed jokes to local productions, including early television formats akin to The Gong Show, marking his initial foray into professional comedy writing. By 1977, Olson co-founded the city's first comedy club with producers Paul Barclay and Bil Downes, staging shows on Wednesday nights at Boston's Charles Theater; this venue operated for four years and played a pivotal role in establishing a structured local scene. At the Charles Theater club, Olson served as the house piano player while developing and performing his own absurdist, deadpan stand-up routine during the club's first two years, blending musical accompaniment with original comedic material. The enterprise helped launch several prominent talents, as Olson wrote routines and collaborated closely with comedians including , , and , whose distinctive styles emerged amid this collaborative environment. He shared a residence with Clarke near , which functioned as an informal hub for area comedians and was later profiled in a 1980s television special as well as the 2006 documentary When Standup Stood Out. Olson expanded his involvement by becoming the piano player at the Ding Ho club and co-writing, as well as hosting, Lenny Clarke's Late Show on Boston's TV-38; the program aired for two years before cancellation owing to its provocative content. These efforts positioned Olson as a foundational figure—often described as a "founding father"—in cultivating Boston's ecosystem, which emphasized raw, experimental humor and attracted performers who would gain national recognition.

Key Collaborations and Early Performances

Olson began his comedy career by selling material to local Gong Show contests, marking his entry into professional writing. Prior to the establishment of dedicated venues, he mailed batches of original jokes to established comedians, including , though initial submissions were returned with polite rejections. In 1977, Olson partnered with producers Paul Barclay and Bil Downes to launch Boston's inaugural comedy club, initiating the local stand-up scene. At this venue, he functioned as the house piano player, providing musical interludes between performers' sets starting in 1978, while occasionally taking the stage himself as a . By 1980, Olson co-wrote Lenny Clarke's Late Show with , a program that showcased emerging talents such as and . He and Clarke later shared an apartment in , dubbed "The Barracks" by peers, which served as an informal hub for the burgeoning community. These efforts positioned Olson as a foundational figure in fostering collaborations among local acts, including Jimmy Tingle, Steve Sweeney, and , through writing support and production assistance.

Transition to West Coast

Involvement in California Comedy

Olson drove cross-country to in 1980 with Boston comedian Don Gavin, coinciding with the San Francisco International Comedy Competition, which featured a $10,000 first prize; he assisted Gavin in auditioning and reaching the finals. In , Olson's residence functioned as informal lodging for comedians relocating for performances and auditions, facilitating their entry into the local scene. He served as head writer for multiple comedy specials and as a staff writer for the over three years, contributing material to high-profile television events. Olson authored, co-authored, or directed unconventional stage plays in theaters, such as The Head, The Idiots, I Never Knew My Father, 1958, and Torn, emphasizing absurd and satirical themes. He also provided accompaniment for live acts in Hollywood venues, including Ron Lynch's Tomorrow Show, The Abed Hour, the annual Channies awards, and a recurring Halloween production at the Philosophical Research Society, a practice extending his earlier club work into the circuit. These efforts positioned Olson as a supporter and creator within the West Coast ecosystem, bridging live performance with emerging television opportunities.

Shift from Stand-Up to Writing

Following his performances in the and comedy scenes during the , Martin Olson pivoted toward professional scriptwriting, leveraging his reputation for offbeat, surreal humor. With the aid of Annette Van Duren, he sold original screenplays to major studios, including "IQ 83" to DreamWorks SKG and "D-Men" to Warner Bros., as well as projects to and . These sales provided financial stability, allowing him to reduce stand-up gigs and concentrate on long-form writing. This transition marked a natural progression from onstage material to structured narratives, informed by his early joke-writing for comedians like and experience producing one-man shows. In , Olson took on head writing roles for comedy specials and the , further honing his skills in collaborative TV production. By the early 1990s, this groundwork led to staff writing on Nickelodeon's , where his penchant for absurd scenarios shaped episodes like "Wacky Delly."

Television Writing and Producing

Rocko's Modern Life Contributions

Martin Olson joined the writing staff of during its initial run on from 1993 to 1996, serving as a key contributor to the created by Joe Murray. He is credited with providing story material for 29 episodes across the four seasons, helping shape the show's signature blend of absurd humor and social satire aimed at adult sensibilities within a children's programming block. Olson's work emphasized the series' edgier, surreal elements, reflecting the chaotic transition to modern American life depicted through the protagonist the . Notable episodes co-written by Olson include the second-season entry "I Have No Son!" (aired October 9, 1994), which he developed alongside creator Joe Murray and future showrunner , exploring themes of parental expectation and rebellion through Ed Bighead's estrangement from his son . Another example is "The Big Question/The Big Answer" from season three (aired October 9, 1995), co-written with Tim Hill and , featuring Rocko's existential quest for purpose amid comedic misadventures with his friends Heffer and . These contributions aligned with Olson's style of infusing bizarre, psychologically layered scenarios into the 52-episode series, which premiered on September 18, 1993. Olson later participated in the franchise's revival as a writer for the 2019 Netflix special Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling, directed by Joe Murray and Cosmo Segurson, which addressed contemporary issues like social media and obsolescence while reuniting the original voice cast. In reflecting on the original series, Olson noted that it captured "what children were actually going through... emerging into a very scary world," underscoring its undercurrents of anxiety beneath the surface-level antics. His involvement helped maintain the show's cult status, with the special released on August 21, 2019, after development announcements dating back to 2015.

Phineas and Ferb Role

Martin Olson served as the head writer for the first season of the animated series , which premiered on August 17, 2007. In this capacity, he oversaw story development and contributed to early episodes as a story editor, including "A Hard Day's Knight" and "Greece Lightning," both aired on February 15, 2008. Olson wrote stories for 49 episodes of the series between 2008 and 2014, focusing on the inventive escapades of stepbrothers and during their . He also functioned as a for 31 episodes from 2013 to 2025, extending into the show's revival periods and related projects. Specific episodes he penned include "The Lizard Whisperer," which aired on July 11, 2014, and "The Doof Side of the Moon," aired on July 18, 2014, both emphasizing recurring character arcs like those of . Beyond scripting, Olson contributed as a songwriter, crafting musical numbers integral to the show's format of blending humor with original songs to advance plots. His songwriting extended to the 2011 Disney TV film , where he provided additional writing and musical elements, released on August 5, 2011. Olson's family ties enhanced the production; his daughter, , voiced Vanessa Doofenshmirtz throughout the series, appearing in over 100 episodes from 2007 to 2015.

Other Animated Series Work

Olson wrote stories and songs for the animated series , which premiered on October 3, 2016, as a to featuring the brother of the latter show's inventor character. His contributions included scripting episodes centered on the protagonist's chronic bad luck amid inventive escapades. In the late 1990s, Olson penned scripts for Mad Jack the Pirate, a Fox Kids animated comedy-adventure series that aired from September 12, 1998, to February 27, 1999, across 13 episodes. The show followed a bumbling pirate captain and his misfit crew in fantastical sea voyages, with Olson credited on specific installments such as "Happy Birthday to Who?" and "Shipwhacked." Olson also worked as a writer on Little Dracula, a syndicated animated series that debuted on September 9, 1991, adapting books by Martin Waddell into 13 episodes about a young vampire navigating suburban life and family dynamics. The program targeted child audiences with humorous takes on supernatural tropes, blending Olson's comedic style with gothic elements.

Screenwriting and Directing

Film Projects

Martin Olson served as for the animated feature Elf Bowling the Movie: The Great North Pole Elf Strike (2007), adapting the story from the viral internet game series about elves striking at the . The 87-minute film, directed by Rex Piano and Dave Kim, featured voice acting by and , and included original songs written by Olson, such as "Filthy Toe Song." Despite its low critical reception, with a 1.8/10 rating on from over 650 user votes, the project highlighted Olson's humor in absurd, holiday-themed scenarios akin to his television work. Olson contributed additional writing and song lyrics to the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension (2011), a Original Movie that extended the animated series' narrative into a feature-length adventure involving alternate dimensions and doofenshmirtz variants. His input included co-writing tracks like "My Undead Mummy" on the soundtrack, performed by cast members. The film, which premiered on August 5, 2011, and later received a theatrical release in some markets, earned a 7.4/10 rating from nearly 15,000 reviews and grossed over $1 million in limited theatrical runs. In live-action cinema, Olson appeared as Sid Greenblatt in the independent sci-fi comedy The Second Age of Aquarius (2021), a rock 'n' roll rom-com directed by Staci Layne Wilson about a couple discovering mystical powers amid 1970s nostalgia. The low-budget feature, with a runtime of 96 minutes, premiered at festivals and received a 6/10 IMDb score from 338 users, praised for its quirky ensemble but critiqued for pacing. Olson's role supported the film's ensemble cast, drawing on his comedy background without primary writing or directing credits.

Television Episodes and Specials

Olson co-wrote the 1986 HBO stand-up comedy special Bob Goldthwait: Don't Watch This Show, directed by and featuring comedian Bobcat Goldthwait's manic performance style. In 1996 and 1997, he worked as a producer and writer on the variety series Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular, contributing to its 16 episodes that showcased the magicians' illusions, skepticism segments, and guest appearances amid settings. These efforts in writing earned Olson an Award, recognizing excellence in the medium during the pre-Emmy era for cable programming.

Books and Publications

Humor and Children's Books

Martin Olson's contributions to humor and children's books primarily revolve around satirical companion volumes tied to animated television series, emphasizing whimsical, irreverent lore presented in encyclopedic formats. His writing in this area draws on and , often framed as in-universe artifacts from fictional worlds. The most prominent example is The Adventure Time Encyclopaedia: Inhabitants, Lore, Spells, and Ancient Crypt Warnings of the Land of Ooo Circa 19.56 BGW, published by for Young Readers on May 7, . Written and compiled in the voice of the series' Lord of Evil character, the book humorously catalogs the eccentric inhabitants, magical artifacts, and bizarre history of the Adventure Time universe, blending factual show recaps with exaggerated, cautionary warnings that parody medieval grimoires. It achieved commercial success, debuting at number 5 on the best-seller list for advice, how-to, and miscellaneous books on August 11, . Critics and fans noted its appeal to young readers through visual gags and insider references, while its satirical edge targeted older audiences familiar with the show's meta-humor. Olson extended this style to other Adventure Time tie-ins, including contributions to Adventure Time: The Enchiridion & Marcy's Super Secret Scrapbook, which combines scrapbook-style annotations with humorous expansions on the series' lore and characters. These works reflect Olson's background in animation writing, prioritizing playful subversion over straightforward narrative, and have been described as "weird children's books" that challenge conventional educational formats with chaotic, inventive content. No standalone original children's novels by Olson appear in major bibliographies, with his output in the genre focused on media extensions that leverage established fanbases for humorous world-building.

Encyclopedias and Non-Fiction Works

Martin Olson authored the satirical Encyclopaedia of Hell: An Invasion Manual for Demons Concerning the Planet Earth and the Human Race Which Infests It, published by Feral House on July 26, 2011. The 240-page volume, illustrated by Tony Millionaire, presents a mock guide from a demonic perspective, detailing human weaknesses, historical events, and invasion strategies in encyclopedic entries blending dark humor, blasphemy, and cultural critique. Olson's text employs first-person demonic narration to subvert religious and societal norms, with entries covering topics from biblical figures to modern celebrities as potential demonic targets. A sequel, Encyclopaedia of Hell II: The Conquest of Heaven—A Demonic History of the Future Concerning the Celestial Realm and the Angelic Race Which Infests It, followed on August 31, 2021, also from Feral House. This 224-page work extends the infernal worldview to heavenly conquest, featuring entries on angelic hierarchies, apocalyptic prophecies, and satirical histories of celestial events, maintaining the original's paradoxical and paranoid tone with illustrations enhancing the grotesque elements. Critics noted its continuation of Olson's subversive style, portraying heaven as infested by angels ripe for demonic overthrow. Olson also compiled The Adventure Time Encyclopaedia: Inhabitants, Lore, Spells, and Ancient Crypt Warnings of the Land of Ooo Circa 19.56 BGE–501 AGE, released by on May 7, 2013. Structured as an in-universe artifact from the fictional Land of Ooo, the book catalogs characters, artifacts, spells, and lore from the Cartoon Network series , with entries formatted as ancient warnings and histories. It achieved commercial success, appearing on Best Sellers list in the Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous category on August 11, 2013. The volume's faux-archaic design and comprehensive detailing appealed to fans, positioning it as a despite its fictional basis.

Music, Songwriting, and Acting

Songwriting Credits

Martin Olson has contributed lyrics and music to various animated television series, with a focus on productions. He co-wrote songs for , including "S.I.M.P. (Squirrels in My Pants)", where he is credited as both and . Other credits include "" and "Ain't Got Rhythm", both from 2009 episodes, in which he served as and . In , Olson wrote the lyrics for "Ed's Song" in the 1993 episode "Zanzibar!/Fatal Contraption". His songwriting earned him two Emmy nominations, recognizing collaborative work on tracks such as those in the episode "Dude, We're Getting the Band Back Together". Olson has also co-authored songs like "Troy Song" from the episode "Troy Story" alongside , Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, and Scott Peterson.
Notable Song Credits
Song: S.I.M.P. (Squirrels in My Pants)
Series:
Role: Composer, Lyricist
Year: 2009
Song: Busted
Series:
Role: Composer, Lyricist
Year: 2009
Song: Ain't Got Rhythm
Series:
Role: Composer, Lyricist
Year: 2009
Song: Ed's Song
Series:
Role: Lyricist
Year: 1993
Song: Troy Song
Series:
Role: Co-writer
Year: 2011

Acting Roles and Voice Work

Martin Olson has primarily contributed to through , with a notable role as Hunson Abadeer, the demonic ruler of the Nightosphere and father to , in the Cartoon Network series spanning 2010 to 2016. This casting drew attention as Olson voiced the fictional parent of his real-life daughter Olivia Olson's character . He also voiced the Human Fly in additional animated projects. Beyond these, Olson provided voice work across various animated series, including , , , Camp Lazlo!, Toonsylvania, Extreme Ghostbusters, and The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat. These credits often involved supporting or additional characters, aligning with his background in comedy writing for animation. In live-action television, Olson appeared as an actor in the 2013 episode "Birthday Boy" of the web series Romantic Encounters with Melinda Hill. He further performed in the role of Sid Greenblatt in the production The Second Age of Aquarius.

Directing Efforts

Olson's directing work centers on theater, with a focus on comedy specials and one-man shows developed during his early career in . Specializing in these formats, he contributed to live stage performances that emphasized unconventional humor, often tied to his background in writing. Among his notable stage directing credits is The Idiots, a bizarre written by actors and Ron Lynch, which Olson helmed to highlight smug, pathos-infused character dynamics alongside guest performers. This production exemplified his interest in offbeat, insightful comedic staging rather than mainstream narrative structures. While Olson's directing efforts did not extend prominently to film or television—lacking formal credits in those media per industry databases—his theater work complemented his broader pursuits in writing and producing, influencing experimental formats before his transition to animated television scripting.

Awards and Recognition

Notable Honors

Olson received an Ace Award for television writing, recognizing his early contributions to scripting. He has garnered multiple Primetime Emmy nominations for both television writing and songwriting, with crediting him with five such nominations overall. Specific recognitions include a 2008 nomination for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music, shared with collaborators for the theme song. Further Emmy honors stem from his work on , where he served as head writer for the first season and contributed stories to nominated episodes. This includes a 2012 nomination for Outstanding Short-Format Animated Programs, listing Olson for story contributions. These accolades highlight his role in crafting animated content that balanced humor, music, and narrative structure, though no Emmy wins are recorded for Olson individually.

Critical Reception of Works

Olson's satirical works, particularly Encyclopaedia of Hell: An Invasion Manual for Demons Concerning the Planet Earth and the Human Race Which Infests It (2011), have been praised for their inventive humor and dark wit, with critics describing it as a "satirical " that indulges in sharp commentary on human folly through a demonic lens. One review highlighted its status as a "tour de force of darkness," complete with hundreds of entries blending absurdity and insight, appealing to readers seeking unconventional . The book's aggregate reader reception on platforms like averages 4.0 out of 5, reflecting broad appreciation for its relentless, laugh-out-loud style despite its niche subject matter. The sequel, Encyclopaedia of Hell II: The Conquest of Heaven (2021), built on this foundation and was lauded for escalating the absurdity, with one critic noting Olson "tops himself" by depicting Satan's coup against Heaven in a "wry and relentless" manner that skewers celestial pretensions. Described as a "comedic literary masterpiece" akin to its predecessor but even more audacious, it earned a Goodreads average of 4.6 out of 5 from readers who valued its continuation of the demonic historiography format. Olson's The Adventure Time Encyclopaedia (2013), framed as authored by the within the show's universe, garnered favorable responses for its immersive lore and playful tone, with reviewers commending its "great knowledge of the show" and utility as an "informational " of characters, spells, and locations. Critics and fans alike highlighted its clever writing and visual appeal, positioning it as a rewarding reference that captures the series' whimsical essence without pandering, achieving a average of 4.3 out of 5. One assessment called it "hilarious" and a "must-read" for enthusiasts, emphasizing its creative entries that enhance the animated world's depth. In television, Olson's contributions to (2007–2015), including story editing and writing on episodes like "Greece Lightning" and "S'Winter," aligned with the series' strong critical standing for sharp, intelligent scripting and meta-humor. Episodes he helped shape, such as "The Magnificent Few/S'Winter" and "A Hard Day's Knight/I, Brobot," received user ratings of 7.8/10 and 7.9/10, respectively, with praise for inventive concepts, clever lines, and Doofenshmirtz's comedic schemes. The show's overall acclaim for its "absurdist humor" and layered appeal to multiple age groups underscores the reception of Olson's writing and song contributions, though specific episode critiques often focus on ensemble efforts rather than individuals. Olson's songwriting for , including over 300 credits across the series, benefited from the program's recognition for memorable, Emmy-nominated musical numbers that integrated seamlessly with its narrative drive, contributing to the show's reputation for blending and through witty . While direct reviews of his standalone songs are sparse, their role in episodes lauded for "quick-witted" and "charming" content reflects positive integration into critically favored output.

Controversies

Firing from Early Show

In the early , Martin Olson co-hosted a two-hour weekly program in alongside partner Clarke, which developed a niche audience due to its eccentric format. The show lasted two years before Olson and Clarke were terminated by station management specifically for airing two provocative segments: one titled "News for Negroes," satirizing racial news coverage, and another called "The Mentally Retarded Faith Healer," which featured comedian performing a mock act involving individuals with intellectual disabilities. These segments were deemed excessively offensive by network executives, leading to the abrupt end of their tenure despite the program's dedicated viewership. The incident highlighted tensions between boundary-pushing underground comedy and broadcast standards of the era, with no public appeals or legal challenges mounted by Olson or Clarke.

Style and Industry Pushback

Olson's emphasizes surreal, off-beat humor infused with dark and elements, often exploring or grotesque subjects through . This is exemplified in his Encyclopaedia of Hell trilogy, where he constructs elaborate fictional hierarchies of infernal torment, blending absurdity with horror-tinged commentary on human folly. In television animation, his scripts for incorporated layered gags with adult undertones—such as veiled sexual innuendos and existential dread—disguised within child-accessible narratives about everyday anxieties. Industry resistance to this approach arose primarily from network standards departments enforcing guidelines, requiring writers to encode provocative content subtly to avoid outright rejection. During Rocko's Modern Life production from 1993 to 1996, episodes faced repeated rewrites and censorship battles over suggestive visuals and dialogue, with Olson's contributions helping to embed "scary world" realism that tested Nickelodeon's tolerance for boundary-pushing . Similar dynamics persisted in later work, where Olson adapted his surreal edge for Disney's (2007–2015, rebooted 2023), channeling unconventional songwriting and plots into polished, marketable formats amid executive oversight prioritizing broad appeal. This pushback reflected broader tensions in 1990s–2000s animation between artistic innovation and risk-averse commercial imperatives, yet Olson's style endured, influencing shows that balanced whimsy with subversive wit. Critics and collaborators have credited his in advocating for unfiltered , even as it demanded compromises like euphemistic phrasing to evade cuts.

Personal Life

Marriage and Relationships

Olson has been married to Kay Furtado, a writer, since 1981. The couple resides in and has collaborated on various creative endeavors, with Olson crediting his family's involvement in his writing process. They have two children—a son, Casey G. Olson, and a —who have served as co-writers on multiple projects, including television episodes and other media. No public records indicate separations or additional romantic relationships.

Later Career Reflections

In reflections on his enduring career, Olson has emphasized the necessity of persistence, recounting how he balanced side jobs with writing spec scripts since the to secure representation and employment in Hollywood. He traces his comedic inclinations to childhood , which served as an outlet for channeling "insanity" into structured writing, a practice that sustained him through decades of pitching and production. Olson has described his writing philosophy as inherently personal, crafting content for his own amusement rather than anticipating audience reception, a mindset evident in labor-intensive projects like the Encyclopaedia of Hell, which took a decade to complete and became a New York Times bestseller in 2011. This approach extended to over 300 songs composed for properties, including , where family dynamics, including chaos from raising children, fueled creative output. By the 2020s, Olson continued contributing to , maintaining staff writer status on the reboot launched in 2023, while pursuing authorship with works like the forthcoming Encyclopaedia of Heaven. Collaborations with his daughter on -related books, such as The Adventure Time Encyclopaedia (2013), and a decade-spanning record album highlight intergenerational creative synergies in his later endeavors. These efforts underscore his adaptation to evolving media landscapes, blending television, as Hunson Abadeer, and literary .

Legacy

Influence on Animation and Comedy

Olson contributed to the early development of the Boston comedy scene in the late , providing original material and jokes to stand-up performers at a time when dedicated comedy clubs were scarce, thereby helping to cultivate a foundational network of comedians and live performances. His style emphasized off-beat and surreal humor, which he applied in writing for live specials and as a producer-writer for 's FX variety series Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, where he crafted satirical content blending absurdity with . This approach prefigured his later television work, influencing the integration of intellectual wit into accessible comedic formats. In animation, Olson served as an original staff writer for Nickelodeon's Rocko's Modern Life (1993–1996), contributing scripts that infused everyday absurdities with underlying themes of adult anxieties masked for young audiences, as he described the series as addressing "what children were actually going through... emerging into a very scary world." He co-wrote the story for the 2019 revival special Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling, extending this irreverent tone into modern streaming content. As head writer for the first season of Disney's Phineas and Ferb (2007–2008), Olson shaped episodes with intricate plots, musical numbers, and layered puns, earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music in 2008 alongside collaborators. His songwriting for the series, including contributions to over 200 original tunes across its run, helped establish musical integration as a hallmark of contemporary children's animation, blending vaudeville-style humor with STEM-inspired creativity. Olson's voice acting as Hunson Abadeer, the demonic Lord of Evil, in Cartoon Network's Adventure Time (2010–2018) added a deadpan, existential edge to the show's metaphysical episodes, while his co-authorship of the 2013 Adventure Time Encyclopaedia—a New York Times bestseller—provided fans with satirical lore that mirrored the series' whimsical yet philosophical depth. These efforts, combined with writing for Milo Murphy's Law (2016–2019), demonstrated his role in bridging surreal comedy with narrative innovation, influencing subsequent animated series to prioritize clever, multi-generational appeal over simplistic tropes.

Recent Activities and Publications

In 2024, Olson continued his role as a staff comedy writer and songwriter for Disney's animated series Phineas and Ferb, contributing to the production of its fifth season. The season's premiere animatic was completed by January 2024, with the full season debuting on Disney Channel on June 5, 2025, and episodes streaming on Disney+ starting June 6, 2025. Olson also co-authored content for Phineas and Ferb Classic Comics Collection Vol. 2, published in 2024 by Mad Cave Studios. Olson appeared at Lightbox Expo 2025 in October, participating in a panel on the evolution of writing for hit comedy series alongside his daughter, , discussing . In personal creative pursuits, he collaborated with songwriter Jeff Root on rediscovering and completing an unfinished from his youth, as shared on in August 2025. Olson took on a voice acting role in the 2025 short film . No new book publications have been announced since Encyclopaedia of Hell II: The Conquest of in 2021, though Olson has maintained activity in satirical and comedic writing through his television commitments.

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