1-1 Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire
First aired: December 17th 1989
The first full length episode of the Simpsons and a Christmas special. After Bart costs all of Marge's Christmas money to have a tattoo removed, and Homer's Christmas bonus is cancelled, it's up to Homer to save Christmas by getting a job as a mall centre.
Most notable for: Being the episode where the Simpsons adopt Santa's Little Helper
First appearances: Homer Simpson, Marge Simpson, Bart Simpson, Lisa Simpson, Maggie Simpson, Principal Seymour Skinner, Ralph Wiggum, Mr Largo, Snowball II, Milhouse Van Houten, Lewis, Richard, Patty Bouvier, Ned Flanders, Todd Flanders, Weylon Smithers, Monty Burns, Dr Zitsofsky, Moe Szyslak, Barney Gumble, Selma Bouvier, Abraham Simpson, Santa's Little Helper.
Best Lines: Marge writing a letter; "Maggie is walking by herself, Lisa got straight A's, and Bart...well...we love Bart"
Marge (Lisa asks for a pony for Christmas): "You've asked for a pony for the last three years. And I keep telling you Santa can't fit a pony on his sleigh. Can't you take a hint?"
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!"
Mr Burns: "Hello, I'm proud to announce that we've been able to increase safety here at the plant without increasing the cost to the consumer. Or affecting management pay raises."
Homer: "Ooooh panty hose...practical and alluring!"
Barney: "I got me a part time job working as a Santa down at the mall." Homer: "Wow! Can I do that?" Barney: "I dont know, they're pretty selective. *burps*"
Interviewer: "Do you like children?" Homer: "What do you mean? All the time? Even when they're nuts?"
Bart: "I'm Bart Simpson, who the hell are you?"
Bart: "You must really love us to sink so low."
Bart: ""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: "Well okay let's go. Who's Tiny Tim?"
Bart: "It doesn't seem possible, but I guess TV has betrayed me."
Homer: "But he's a loser. He's pathetic. He's a Simpson!"
Marge: "Something to share our love. And frighten prowlers."
Best Moments: The whole section at Springfield Downs. Pretty much sets the scene for 20 odd years of the Simpson family. Taking a cue from TV, Homer making completely the wrong decision and ending up the loser, and pretty much only taking Santa's Little Helper home because he's a loser too!
Again, setting the scene for Flanders to be constantly upstaging Homer and his family with the Christmas decorations
Overall: It's not a brilliant episode when compared to the rest of the series, but overall, it's solid, introduces us to a lot of the characters and relationships, but has dated. 6/10
