Ho-Ho-Hey, everyone!
Welcome back to Tinselthon. Today, we're taking a look at the very first episode of The Simpsons - coincidentally a Christmas episode. Aired on Fox on December 17, 1989, this episode either reintroduced to America the subjects of the popular segment on The Tracey Ullman Show (which also aired on Fox at the time) or introduced to America and the world a family that would change the idea of a fictional family on television and the landscape of the American sitcom forever. And it all began by changing the landscape of the Christmas episode - for worse (for the characters) and for better (for them later and for us).
It's "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire".
This special is different from many others before it in which unlike where one or two things go wrong for light despair and/or heavy laughs but everything still goes right and festive in the end, everything goes wrong -- whether for despair and/or laughs.
- Bart gets a tattoo, but Marge pays for a painful removal - losing the money for Christmas presents in the process
- Homer doesn't get a Christmas bonus (along with his co-workers) and has to find otjer means to make pre-Christmas cash.
- Homer steals a tree from a homeowner's land (and nearly gets shot and mauled) because he couldn't afford even the cheapest of big real fir trees.
-Homer's secret seasonal job as a mall Santa gets him a very low wage (current hourly minimum wage)
- Homer's last resort is to take that wage to bet at a dog track. Even that fails... with terrible odds against his pick (but at least he does get a new puppy for the family).
Homie tries his absolute best (and that is very commendable) but sadly falls short every time... but at the end, the family are still happy -- thanks to their new dog Santa's Little Helper, joining their other pet Snowball II (rest in peace, Snowball I) as the furry members of the clan.
Despite the near poverty, it's sweet (and even a little teary-eyed to see the family still have a great Christmas. It's as if you don't need presents, trees, bright lights and decorations to have a memorable holiday. Just family and love.
This special episode introduced secondary characters that would become beloved on their own later on in the series proper.
- Seymour Skinner, Springfield Elementary principal
- Milhouse Van Houten, Bart's best friend and co-conspirator in his schemes
- Sherri and Terri, Bart and Lisa's classmates
-Ralph Wiggum, Bart's... special classmate
- Moe Syzslak, proprietor of Moe's
- Charles Montgomery Burns, Homer's evil greedy boss at the Power Plant
- Waylon Smithers (whom is only heard over the speaker)
- Barney Gumble, Homer's best friend, drunk and frequent Moe's customer (and is also a blonde here, instead of a brunette)
- Patty and Selma Bouvier, Marge's older twin sisters
- Ned Flanders (Homer's sweet friendly neighbor) and his son Todd
- Santa's Little Helper, the Simpsons' new pet dog
- Snowball II, the Simpsons' (relatively new) pet cat (of many)
- Dewey Largo, Springfield Elementary's music teacher
and Lewis, one of Bart's other friends/classmates (at first)
"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" really kicked off the series in a big, festive way, and it's easy to see.
From the start and throughout the episode, America's favorite family were just like we knew them from day one (if you've never watched the Tracey Ullman Show shorts).
Bart being a mischievous brat that with a heart;
Lisa a precocious sweetheart, Maggie a pacifier-sucking walking-then-tripping baby, Marge a wise nurturing and loving mother and wife, and Homer a dopey and anger-prone yet fun, loving and determined father (sort-of). They represent a family that truly exists in all of us -- even if their characteristics are a bit over-the-top, there's legitimate authenticity in the family that you see in your family or your friends' families or your neighbors or people you see walking down the street. There's a chance the Simpsons are just like your family (and one of them are just like you).
Random Thoughts:
- How the hell did the tattoo artist think Bart was old enough to get inked despite The Boy being half his size?? Maybe he saw the signs instead -- dollar signs.
- By extension, Marge really didn't have to pay to get it removed. That money is for presents. If anything they could've waited until AFTER Christmas with makeup covering it.
Favorite Moments:
- Lisa and Bart's showings at SE's Christmas Pageant (especially Lisa's)
- The family's letters to Santa
- Homer as Mall Santa
- Bart's encouragement for Homer to keep earning money
- Patty & Selma in general
-Lisa telling off Aunt Patty for dissing Homer in such articulate language that I had to hear very close to hear what she said (I knew what she said though). What a badass daddy's girl!
- Homer and Bart taking home Santa's Little Helper (and the family's reactions)
The family and Grandpa Abe singing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" -- with Homer snapping at Bart and Lisa for adding funny lyrics to it (the former later getting strangled for the first time because of it).
Favorite Lines:
- "Oh, Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg. The Batmobile broke its wheel, and the Joker got awa- (YANK)" -Bart
--
-
Marge: You will not be getting a tattoo for Christmas!
Homer: Yeah, if you want one you'll have to pay for it out of your own allowance.
Marge: Homer!
--
Marge: (writing) Dear Friends of the Simpson Family, We had some sadness and some gladness this year. First the sadness: our little cat Snowball was unexpectedly run over and went to Kitty Heaven. But we bought a new little cat, Snowball II, so I guess life goes on. Speaking of life going on, Grampa is still with us, feisty as ever. Maggie is walking by herself, Lisa got straight A's and Bart... well, we love Bart. The magic of the season has touched us all.
Homer: Marge! Haven't you finished that stupid letter yet?
Marge: [writing] Homer sends his love. Happy Holidays...
Homer: Marge!
Marge: [writing] The Simpsons.
--
Homer: (buying a chew toy for Maggie) It says it's for dogs... but she can't read.
--
Tattoo Removal Technician: (turning on laser) Now whatever you do, boy, don't squirm. You don't want to get this sucker near your eye or groin.
--
Homer: Dasher, Dancer... Prancer... Nixon... Comet... Cupid... Donna Dixon?
--
Bart: Hey, Santa, what's shakin', man?
Homer: (as Santa) What's your name, Bart-ner... er... little partner?
Bart: I'm Bart Simpson. Who the hell are you?
Homer: (annoyed) I'm Jolly ol' Saint Nick.
Bart: Oh, yeah? We'll see about that! (Pulls off Homer's Santa beard, just as their photo is taken)
Homer: D'oh!
--
Bart: Aw, come on, Dad, this could be the miracle that saves the Simpsons' Christmas. If TV has taught me anything, it's that miracles always happen to poor kids at Christmas. It happened to Tiny Tim, it happened to Charlie Brown, it happened to The Smurfs, and it's gonna happen to us!
Homer: Oh, all right. Who's Tiny Tim?
--
Patty: Where's Homer anyway? It's so typical of the big doofus to spoil it all.
Lisa: What, Aunt Patty?
Patty: Oh, nothing, dear. I'm just trashing your father.
Lisa: Well, I wish you wouldn't because, aside from the fact that he has the same frailties as all human beings, he's the only father I have. Therefore, he is my model of manhood, and my estimation of him will govern the prospects of my adult relationships. So I hope you bear in mind that any knock at him is a knock at me, and I am far too young to defend myself against such onslaughts.
Patty: Mm hm. Go watch your cartoon show, dear.
--
Marge: This is the best gift of all, Homer.
Homer: It is?
Marge: Yes, something to share our love - and frighten prowlers.
Bart: And if he runs away, he'll be easy to catch.
--
"OW! quitit." -Bart
--
"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" is not only a hilarious, brilliant and heartwarming start to The Simpsons TV series as a whole, but is also one of the best Christmas episodes and specials in television history (and maybe it's because I love the show very much, but even if not it still is). This episode was supposed to air later in the season, but thanks to sloppy animation of the intended debut "Some Enchanted Evening" (In fact the series was to first debut in Fall 1989 with that episode) being pointed out by EP and co-developer James L. Brooks, it was scrapped with this episode airing in it's place. Cheers to writer Mimi Pond (her only credit for the series) and director David Silverman (his first of many), and the rest of the early crew for putting together such a festive and fantastic debut.
Thank you all for joining me for my first ever review of The Simpsons. And stay tuned on January 14 where I'll review the rest of Season 1, starting with "Bart the Genius". Can't wait to do it, and I hope you'll all join me.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Or... Happy Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Boxing Day/Festivus/etc./New Year, everyone!
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