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 premire 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 at the Dr. Zitsofsky Dermatology Clinic and plans to use Homer's Christmas bonus to buy presents. However, Mr. Burns does not give his employees a christmas bonus that year.

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 estatic 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, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming less than One Hour)|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
**While Bart and Lisa were writing their letters to Santa(twice) **Again off-screen shortly **Homer asks for the extension cord **Outside admiring Ned's Christmas lights
 * There are 28 children in Bart's 4th Grade class on stage during the Christmas concert.
 * Maggie fell 5 times:

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

 * Flanders decorations say "Merry Xmas", but being the devoted Christian he is, he surely would not have this.
 * Lewis changes from black to yellow when Milhouse dares Bart to pull Santa's beard off.
 * After Homer brings Santa's Little Helper home, Homer and Marge hug, and if you look behind them, the background is upside down. There is a picture hanging upside down, and there is a lamp which seems to be hanging from the ceiling. Then in the next shot, the background is normal.
 * When Homer walks out Circus of Values with his purchases, he bumps into Flanders, and all the presents scatter everywhere. Watch out for a red present with a green bow that goes flying near the left hand side of the screen. As soon as it hits the ground it turns into a pink box with a white bow wrapped around it, with no shot changes.
 * While having breakfast, all of the Simpsons' glasses of orange juice keep disappearing and reappearing throughout the scene.
 * Bart yanks Homer's beard off in the mall, Homer then takes Bart into Santa's workshop. When they are inside Santa's workshop, Homer's beard is back on, despite the fact that he didn't put it back on, he let it fall to the ground when Bart pulled it off.
 * When Marge is speaking on the phone to her sisters, her sisters say something that sounds like they said that Homer is ugly. Marge then puts down the phone wire that she was curling round her finger. It is easier to see this when you are using DVD, because then you can go into slow-motion, but you can temporarily see that the phone wire disappears when Marge puts it down. It is at the very end of an early scene, because as soon as this happens it changes to another scene.
 * When Homer finds out that he has no Christmas bonus the background behind Marge is the kitchen, but then it cuts to Homer and the background behind him is the kitchen too.
 * When Homer and Flanders drop their presents, the presents move around and change colours between shots.
 * When Homer has been informed about the Christmas money being spent on Bart getting his tattoo surgically removed, he leaves the house. When he opens and closes the door to leave, the wreath on the door is white with a red bow. When Homer then turns to look his Christmas decorations, the wreath is now green.
 * Just before the kitchen mistake, Marge comes through the door and you see that she has come from a room with a piano in it. It has a musical book on it. But when the shot changes so we see Marge turn the jar upside down, the book of musical notes has disappeared.
 * When Mr. Burns comes on the P.A. system Homer started eating a donut, he takes a bite and after that the donut stays the same size even though he takes 2 more bites.
 * When Homer is putting Christmas lights around the outside of the house, he falls from the roof. You can then hear Lisa and Bart sarcastically clap. But you can see they both have their hands by their side, and no-one is clapping.
 * When Millhouse, Bart and Lewis are talking about the fake Santa, Millhouse's eyebrows go from blue to black to blue again.
 * When Homer walks up the front drive you can see the road and there are no markings on it. But when he turns to look at his house, there are orange lines running down the road.
 * When Marge reveals the Christmas money from her hair, her necklace changes from red to white.
 * 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.
 * Despite Santas Little Helper joining the Simpsons in this episode, he is not seen or talked about in any other episodes of season 1.

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.

Episode quotes

 * Homer: How many grades does this school have?




 * [Bart is singing in the school choir, so Marge cannot hear him individually]
 * Marge]]: Isn't Bart sweet, Homer? He sings like an angel.
 * Bart]]: [close up, singing] Oh, Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg. The Batmobile broke its wheel, and the Joker got away!




 * 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 going to happen to us.
 * Homer: Oh, all right. Who's Tiny Tim?




 * [Marge shows Homer that the Christmas money jar is empty because of Bart]
 * Homer: [gasps and screams] Oh! It's true! The jar is empty! Oh my God! We're ruined. Christmas is cancelled. No presents for anyone!




 * 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: Alright, children. Let me have those letters and I'll send them to Santa's workshop in the North Pole.
 * Bart: Oh please, there's only one fat guy that brings us presents and his name ain't Santa.




 * 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 sends his love. Happy Holidays, The Simpsons.




 * 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.


 * 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 his fake beard, just as their photo is taken]
 * Homer: D'oh!


 * Bart: Dad, you must really love us to sink so low.




 * Homer: Thirteen bucks? Hey, wait a minute!
 * Clerk: That's right. One hundred and twenty dollars gross, less social security, less unemployment insurance, less Santa training, less costume purchase, less beard rental, less Christmas club. See you next year.




 * Homer: [buying a chewtoy for Maggie] It says it's for dogs, but she can't read.




 * Homer: Dasher, Dancer... Prancer... Nixon, Comet, Cupid... Donna Dixon.




 * 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.




 * Homer (as Santa): [as he is walking out of his 'workshop'] Hey little kids! Santa's back! Ho! Ho! [hits his head on the doorway] D'oh! Dammit to---




 * [Homer falls off the roof whilst trying to hang Christmas lights]
 * Homer: Alright kids, prepare to be dazzled. Marge! Turn on the juice!
 * [Marge turns on the Christmas lights, and the results are less than spectacular. One bulb even blows out]
 * Homer: Well, what do you think kids? Beauty, isn't it?
 * Lisa]]: Nice try, Dad.
 * Bart: Ugh...


 * [The whole family sings at the end, with Grampa playing the music by piano]
 * Family: 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 lightbulb!
 * Homer: Bart!!!
 * Family: All of the other reindeer
 * Used to laugh and call him names.
 * Lisa: Like Schnozzola!
 * Homer: Lisa!!!
 * Family: They never let poor Rudolph
 * Join in any reindeer games.
 * Bart: Like strip poker!
 * Homer: I'm warning you two...!!
 * Family: 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."
 * Abe: Oh, Homer...
 * Family: 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 Hu- [gets strangled by Homer]
 * Homer: Why, you little--!!!

Characters

 * Homer Simpson
 * Marge Simpson
 * Maggie Simpson
 * Norman
 * Principal Seymour Skinner
 * Ralph Wiggum
 * Dewey Largo
 * Lisa Simpson
 * Milhouse Van Houten
 * Sherri
 * Terri
 * Wendell
 * Lewis
 * Bart Simpson
 * Snowball II
 * Ned Flanders
 * Todd Flanders
 * Tattoo Parlor Guy
 * Waylon Smithers (voice only)
 * Charles Montgomery Burns
 * Dr. Zitsofsky
 * Moe Szyslak
 * Barney Gumble
 * The Hypnotist
 * Patty Bouvier
 * Selma Bouvier
 * Whirlwind
 * Abe Simpson
 * The Happy Little Elves
 * Santa's Little Helper
 * Sir Gallahan
 * Shirley
 * Quadruped
 * Fido
 * Dog O' War
 * Chew My Shoe
 * Santa’s Little Helper’s Original Owner
 * Daria

Vehicles

 * Orange Station Wagon
 * Pink Sedan

Locations

 * Springfield Elementary School
 * 742 Evergreen Terrace
 * Flanders House
 * Springfield Mall
 * The Happy Sailor Tattoo Parlor
 * Springfield Nuclear Power Plant
 * Popcorn Shack
 * Circus of Values
 * Moe's Tavern
 * Santa School
 * Springfield Downs

Credits
Credits