Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
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"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", also known as "The Simpsons Christmas Special" was the first episode of the half-hour length Simpsons series to air, though it was the eighth episode produced in season one. The series was originally planned to premier in the fall of 1989, but due to major problems with the animation of "Some Enchanted Evening", it instead began mid-season 1990 with this episode.
- December 17, 1989
- December 23, 1989
- July 1, 1990
- December 19, 1991
- December 23, 1993
- December 11, 1994
The episode deals with the Simpson family's efforts to celebrate Christmas on a constricted budget.
This episode was released on VHS by FOX Home Video in 1991. The VHS release was titled "The Simpsons Christmas Special."
Synopsis
In this episode, Marge asks the children what they would like for Christmas. Lisa requests a pony. Bart asks for a tattoo. Marge takes them to the mall to buy presents. Bart spies a tattoo parlor and lies about his age to get a "Mother" tattoo. With only "Moth" completed, Marge bursts in and drags him out. She spends the family's Christmas money on removing Bart's tattoo and plans to use Homer's Christmas bonus to buy presents. However, Mr. Burns does not give his employees a bonus.
Discovering he has no money for Christmas, Homer gets a job at the mall as a Santa Claus. Bart goes to the mall and harasses Santa, pulling off his beard and exposing his identity. Homer is left without a job and only thirteen dollars. He gets a hot tip from his buddy, Barney Gumble, and takes Bart to the dog track. Homer bets on another dog. "Santa's Little Helper," on a hunch instead. Santa's Little Helper finishes last.
As a dejected Homer and Bart leave the track, Santa's Little Helper gets the boot from his owner for losing another race. Bart is ecstatic when Homer reluctantly agrees to take the dog home. The pair leave with the greyhound, ready to tell the family that there will be no Christmas. However, Marge and Lisa assume Santa's Little Helper is the family present and are overjoyed.
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer (The Simpson's Version)
All: Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,Had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it,
You would even say it glows.
Bart: Like a light bulb!
Homer: Bart!
All: All of the other reindeer,
Used to laugh and call him names.
Lisa: Like Schnozzola!
Homer: Lisa!
All: They never let poor Rudolph,
Join in any reindeer games.
Bart: Like strip poker!
Homer: I'm warning you two!
All: Then one foggy Christmas Eve,
Santa came to say,
Marge: Take it Homer!
Homer: Err... Rudolph, get your nose over here,
So you can guide my sleigh... today.
Marge: Oh, Homer...
All: Then all the reindeer loved him,
And they shouted out with glee:
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
You'll go down in history!
Bart: Like Attila the H- ugh, urk!
Homer: You little... grrrr!
References
- All in the Family: In a similar storyline, Archie does not get his Christmas bonus and puts off telling his family the news, was used in the classic sitcom's 1971 Christmas episode, "Christmas Day at the Bunkers."
- "The Christmas Song": The episode title is taken from the lyrics of this classic Christmas song, written by Mel Torme and Bob Wells.
- Christmas specials/movies - Bart references various yuletide specials - A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Smurfs Christmas Special, and A Christmas Carol - when he insists that a Christmas miracle will happen, despite the family's heretofore misfortune.
- Discount stores - The Circus of Values store where the Simpsons shop is Springfield's deep-discount store, a la Dollar General and Family Dollar, which were becoming popular during the mid- to late-1980s.
- Donna Dixon and Richard Nixon: Homer mentions the names of the actress and the former U.S. President when trying to name the reindeer.
- "Jingle Bells": Bart adds alternative lyrics to the melody of "Jingle Bells." While singing the song Bart mentions Batman and Robin.
- Miracle on 34th Street: The Christmas movie is homaged in the scene where Bart visits with "Santa" (Homer) and - just like the boy who is rude to Santa in the movie - makes the disrespectful remark, "I'm Bart Simpson; who the hell are you?" (because he suspects Homer is not the real Santa).
- "Dog-o-War" is a pun on the name of champion race horse Man O'War.
- A Christmas Carol, is mentioned as having a scene portrayed at the Christmas Pageant. Tiny Tim is mentioned as well.
- "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer": The song is given new lyrics by both Bart and Lisa. Bart refers to strip poker and Attila the Hun, while Lisa mentions pergolas.
- The James Bond series: Bond is strapped down to a metal desk and has a high powered laser going towards him, like what happens to Bart.
Trivia
- The Springfield Elementary School Christmas show receives 3 1/2 stars in a recent review advertised in front of the building.
- Lisa requests a pony six times on her Christmas wish list.
- Marge pulls her car into parking area "ZZ" at the Springfield Mall.
- One tattoo in the Happy Sailor Tattoo Parlor features a knife piercing a heart.
- 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.
- An animation goof appears near the end of the episode: while Homer and Marge are in closeup, the background behind them is upside down, as Bart's portrait shows.
- The Second Grade class, Lisa's class, presents "Santas of many lands". In Germany Santa gives the parents of bad children whipping rods for Christmas.
- There are 28 children in Bart's 4th Grade class on stage during the Christmas concert.
- When Homer tells Marge to turn on the juice for the Christmas lights on their house and garage only 5 work and then one pops and goes out leaving 4.
- 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.
- The "slightly irregular" Christmas trees cost $45.
- The mechanical rabbit's name is Shirley
- Dogs in the race against Santa's Little Helper:
- *Quadruped
- *Whirlwind
- *Fido
- *Dog O' War
- *Chew My Shoe
External links
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