Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire

"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.

The title refers to the line Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire from "The Christmas Song", written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells, and originally recorded by Nat King Cole in 1945.

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 shopping 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 Clause. 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.

The family sing 'Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer' at the end.

Production
Fox was very nervous about the show because they were unsure that they could sustain the audience's attention for the duration of the episode. They proposed that they should do three 7 minute shorts per episode and four specials until the audience adjusted. In the end, they gambled by asking FOX for 13 full-length episodes. The series was originally planned to premiere in the fall of 1989, but due to major problems with the animation of "Some Enchanted Evening", the series instead began on December 17, 1989 with this episode. "Some Enchanted Evening" instead aired as the season finale.

The episode, being the first to air, lacked the now famous opening sequence which was later added in the second episode when Groening thought of the idea of a longer opening sequence resulting in less animation.

The "santas of many lands" portion of the Christmas pageant is based on Matt Groening's experience in the second grade when he did a report on Christmas in Russia. Groening also used that reference in his strip "Life in Hell" when he spoofed himself as a young man, being told that it is too bad his grandmother is from Russia, because Christmas is against the law there. Also, Matt Groening claims that this episode has been incorrectly credited with creating the "alternate version" of Jingle Bells.

David Silverman directed this episode, although Rich Moore storyboarded it and designed Flanders. Several of the scenes were laid out by Eric Stefani, brother of Gwen Stefani. In this episode, Barney had yellow hair which was the same color as his skin, but that was later dropped because of the belief that only the Simpson family should have such hair.

Reception
The episode was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 1990, Outstanding Animated Program and "Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or Special." Because "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" is considered to be a separate special, The Simpsons was nominated twice in the Animated Program category; the episode would lose to fellow The Simpsons episode "Life on the Fast Lane".

Signs and Other Things To Read

 * 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.
 * Next door to the tattoo parlor is Dr. Zitsofsky Dermatology Clinic. A sign in the window reads, "Tattoos removed by laser."
 * Homer receives a 13 dollar check: He grossed $120 less social security, less unemployment insurance, less santa training, less costume purchase, less beard rental, less Christmas club.

Difficult To See Stuff

 * One tattoo in the Happy Sailor Tattoo Parlor features a knife piercing a heart.
 * Marge pulls her car into parking area "ZZ" at the Springfield Mall.
 * The "slightly irregular" Christmas trees cost $45.
 * Santa's Little Helper was number 8.

Counting Scenes

 * There are 28 children in Bart's 4th Grade class on stage during the Christmas concert

Characters

 * 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

Errors

 * When Homer says that he isn't getting a bonus from the power plant he is facing the kitchen but in the next shot Marge is behind Homer who is behind the kitchen.
 * 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.
 * Moe has black hair and Barney has blonde hair in the first episode.

Cultural references

 * All in the Family: In a similar storyline, Archie Bunker 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 Robert 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.