Today is the start of my 12 Days of Christmas Specials posts. Leading to and ending on Christmas day I will be talking about several Christmas themed episodes and tv specials made throughout the years. This is my personal list on cartoons and animation that have a special place in my heart from seeing them. So without further ado I bring you the one, the only
Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
This was the series premiere of the Simpsons, not originally planned first episode but the one that aired first. Now let me start by saying that by just watching this episode might not make you convinced that this show would end up being the cultural phenomenon that it is today. However, it will show you that the creators of this show were doing something very different.
We begin with seeing the Simpson family late for a Christmas pageant that Bart and Lisa Simpson will be performing in.
Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin layed an egg. The batmobile lost a wheel and the Joker got away!
After sitting through the kids performances and being trapped into watching the rest of Christmas pageants events, Homer grows bored.
The rest of the episode is just as if not even more atypical from your normal Christmas special fare. Marge writes in a letter about the Simpsons past year, from them getting a new cat after that last one was run over to Maggie learning to walk on her own. Homer in his love of Christmas decorates the house with lights and proudly asks Marge to turn them on.
Of course, Flanders, their neighbor, is also setting up lights.
Marge goes shopping with the kids at the mall only to end up spending all the Christmas shopping money on removing a tattoo Bart attempted to get.
Meanwhile Homer attends work with the usual attentiveness and attitude viewers will grow to know over the years.
Mr. Burns ends up cutting the Christmas bonuses for the year, leaving Homer without the money for gifts Marge was depending on.
Homer comes back home thinking Marges money will cover them. Yet upon learning of the money being gone, Homer lies about losing his bonus to his family, not wanting to look badly as the breadwinner for his family.
Homer tries shopping for inexpensive gifts at a store. However, upon running into Flanders he becomes frustrated at his lack of quality presents.
Not wanting to disappoint his family, Homer ends up taking a job as the malls Santa as suggested by Barney.
Um
Dasher
Dancer
Prancer
Nixon
Comet
Cupid
Donna Dixon?
Back home, Marges sisters Patty and Selma have arrived, much to the dismay of the kids and Homer.
The sisters question the Simpsons celebrating with no tree. This leads Homer to go off into the night in a fury. Chopping down a privately owned tree and running back home with it before the owner can shoot him down.
Bart ends up discovering Homers moonlighting. However, Bart is appreciative of what Homer is doing.
You must really love us to sink so low.
Unfortunately, due to various expenses, Homer receives only a measly thirteen-dollar check. Barney tells Homer of a dog run that is going down tonight on Christmas Eve and Bart convinces Homer that the odds are in their favor.
Aw, come on, Dad. This could be the miracle that saves the Simpsons Christmas. If TV has taught me anything, its 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 its going to happen to us!
Upon hearing about a late minute entry by the name of Santas Little Helper, Homer bets all his money on the new dog, despite the reluctance of his son.
Back home, Marges sisters continue to whine about Homer until Lisa speaks up.
Lisa:
What Aunt Patty?
Patty:
Oh nothing, dear. Im just trashing your father.
Well, I wish that you wouldnt. Because, aside from the fact that he has the same frailties as all human beings, hes 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.
Yet for all the good that happens on Christmas, Homer just cant catch a break. Santas Little Helper comes in last, and Homer loses all the money he earned.
It doesnt seem possible, but I guess TV has betrayed me.
While Homer and Bart scramble to find any dropped winner tickets in the parking lot, watching Barney go off with his wins, an unexpected visitor drops into Homers arms. Santas Little Helper, who was chased away by his owner for losing ends up in Homers hands. Bart begs Homer to let them keep the dog.
But hes a loser! Hes pathetic! Hes
.
a Simpson
Homer comes back home and confesses to not receiving his bonus and working another job to make it up. Bart shows off the new dog to the family who lovingly embrace him and thank Homer for what he brought home.
The family than sings Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer ending the night on a warm note.
Is the first episode of Simpsons, a perfect one? No, I wouldnt say that. Is it the peak of the show? Not at all. In fact, they manage to easily surpass the pilot just a few episodes later. This episode is more grounded, more restrained its ridiculousness than future ones would be. The voices of some characters are different from how they end up being remembered and the pacing feels more experimental than practiced, as is expected.
Yet does this episode capture the essence of the Simpsons and Christmas in less than a half hour? Yes, yes it does. You fall in love with this family by the time the credits roll. The fact that no lavish miracle besides a loser dog comes to the Simpsons, despite all Holiday spirit surrounding them, is groundbreaking. The fact that the creators boldly let kids talk to adults in such a informal manner in the show and combined adult themes with a family message is astonishing. Whats more, is how all of this comes together and just works. That, everyone, is what makes the first episode of Simpsons special, a Christmas special.
