Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
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| The Simpsons episode | |
| "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" | |
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|---|---|
| Episode no. | 1 |
| Prod. code | 7G08 |
| Orig. Airdate | December 17, 1989 |
| Writer(s) | Mimi Pond |
| Director | David Silverman |
| SNPP capsule | |
| Season 1 December 17, 1989 – May 13, 1990 |
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| List of all Simpsons episodes... | |
"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", also known as "The Simpsons Christmas Special", was the first half-hour length episode of The Simpsons to air, though it was the eighth episode produced in season one. The episode deals with the Simpson family's efforts to celebrate Christmas on a constricted budget. The title references "The Christmas Song", also known as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire".
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
As the episode begins, Homer, Marge, and Maggie attend a Christmas pageant at Springfield Elementary. There, they watch Lisa and her class perform a montage of Santas from different lands, with Lisa as a Santa Claus figure from Hawaii. Bart's class sings Jingle Bells, although Bart is pulled off the stage for singing parody lyrics. After the Christmas pageant, Marge asks the children what they want for Christmas. Lisa asks for a pony and Bart asks for a tattoo.
When Marge, Bart, and Lisa go Christmas shopping the next day, Bart sneaks away and gets a tattoo reading "Mother". Marge pulls him out the tattoo shop before he is finished, leaving Bart with a tattoo reading "Moth". Marge takes him to a laser removal clinic and spends the family's Christmas money getting Bart's tattoo removed. Meanwhile, at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, Homer learns that he will not be getting a Christmas bonus.
When Homer returns home and hears about the loss the Christmas money, he decides not to tell Marge his bad news. Instead, he does the shopping himself, buying odd presents from a dollar store. As he is leaving the store, Homer bumps into Ned Flanders carrying massive boxes full of gifts for his family. At Moe's Tavern, Homer meets Barney dressed in a Santa outfit. On Barney's advice, he secretly takes a job as a mall Santa. His secret is discovered when Bart rips off his fake beard on a dare. Bart agrees not to tell the rest of the family.
Homer receives his check and is dismayed to see it is only for $13. Barney, who has received a check for the same amount, suggests betting it at the dog track. With encouragement from Bart (in a speech referencing A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Smurfs Christmas Special, and A Christmas Carol), Homer decides to gamble his check and takes Bart with him to the dog track. Although Barney has told them to bet on a dog named Whirlwind, Homer decides to bet on a dog named Santa's Little Helper, thinking it is a sign. Santa's Little Helper comes in dead last and his owner abandons him. The dog follows Homer and Bart, who decide to keep him. When they return home, Homer is going to tell his family about his misfortune, but they think he bought the dog as a gift.
[edit] Production
The series was originally planned to premiere in the fall of 1989, but due to major problems with the animation of "Some Enchanted Evening", which aired as the season finale in May 1990, the series instead began on December 17, 1989 with this episode. In Mexico, this aired on Christmas, while Some Enchanted Evening became the first episode.
This episode was released on VHS by FOX Home Video in 1991. The VHS release was titled "The Simpsons Christmas Special", the episode's on-screen title. It was later released on the season one DVD on 25 September 2001.
[edit] Trivia
- The Springfield Elementary School Christmas show receives 3½ stars in a recent review, advertised in front of the building.
- Marge pulls her car into parking area "ZZ" at the Springfield Mall.
- Next door to the tattoo parlor is Dr. Zitsofsky Dermatology Clinic. A sign in the window reads, "Tattoos removed by laser."
- The little boy in the play at the beginning appears to be Ralph Wiggum, but his voice is completely different.
- There are 28 children in Bart's 4th Grade class on stage during the Christmas concert.
- Marge hides the Christmas jar in her hair.
- Mr. Burns does not give Christmas bonuses to "semi-skilled workers" that year.
- Moe has black hair and Barney has blonde hair in the first episode.
- Dogs in the race against Santa's Little Helper:
- Quadruped
- Whirlwind
- Fido
- Dog O' War
- Chew My Shoe
[edit] Cultural References
- All in the Family: A similar storyline, in which Archie does not get his Christmas bonus and puts off telling his family the news, was used in the 1971 Christmas episode, "Christmas Day at the Bunkers."
- National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation also has a similar storyline, where Clark doesn't get a Christmas bonus and has to hide it from his entire family visiting for Christmas.
- Donna Dixon and Richard Nixon: Homer mentions the names of the actress and the former U.S. President when trying to name the reindeer.
- Miracle on 34th Street: The Christmas movie is homaged in the scene where Bart visits with "Santa" (Homer) and makes a disrespectful remark because he suspects Homer is not the real Santa.
- "We're in the Money": Bart and Barney sing this song at the dog track.
- "Dog-o-War" is a pun on the name of champion race horse Man O'War, and also a likely reference to the famous line "Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!" from William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar.
- "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer": The song is given new lyrics by both Bart and Lisa (as well as Homer in a solo). Bart refers to strip poker and Attila the Hun, while Lisa mentions pergolas.
- Goldfinger: James Bond is strapped down to a metal desk and has a high powered laser going towards him, like what happens to Bart.
[edit] Goofs
- While Homer and Marge are in closeup, the background behind them is upside down, as Bart's portrait and the lamp on the ceiling shows.
- Debatable goof: When the photo of the kid sitting on Homer/Santas lap is taken, "merry" is spelled "merrie". However, this could be intentional,
- One of Bart's friends turns from black to white during a scene.
[edit] External Links
- "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive
- "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" at the Internet Movie Database
