Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"
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Episode Information
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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.
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."
Contents
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.
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.
Apperances
- Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson, Barney Gumble, Elf Moldy, Grampa
- Julie Kanver as Marge Simpson, Selma Bouvier, Patty Bouvier
- Nancy Cartwright as Ralph Wiggum, Bart Simpson, SNPP worker, Radio singer, boy, Lewis, Elf Bubbles
- Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson
- Harry Shearer as Seymour Skinner, Mr. Largo, Ned Flanders, Tatoo Parlour Man, Smithers, Dr. Zitofsky, Loudspeaker Voice, Santa Clause Manager, Santa Clause Teacher, Announcer, Clerk
- Jo Ann Harris as Girl
- Pamela Hayden as Santa Girl, Todd Flanders, Santa Lady, Milhouse, Son
- Christopher Collins as Moe Syzlak and Mr. Burns
Crew
Produced By
Larina Adamson .... co-producer (as Larina Jean Adamson)
James L. Brooks .... executive producer
Matt Groening .... executive producer
Al Jean .... co-producer
J. Michael Mendel .... associate producer
Mike Reiss .... co-producer
Richard Sakai .... producer
Sam Simon .... executive producer
Original Music by
Richard Gibbs
Film Editing by
Ric Eisman
Brian K. Roberts
Casting by
Bonita Pietila
Production Management
Sherry Argaman .... animation production manager
Michael Stanislavsky .... executive in charge of production: Gracie Films
Art Department
Rich Moore .... storyboards
Gyorgyi Peluce .... background painting
Gyorgyi Peluce .... color designer
Sound Department
Brad Brock .... sound mixer
Gary Montgomery .... sound re-recording mixer
Travis Powers .... sound effects editor
Brian K. Roberts .... dialogue editor
Derek Sample .... adr recordist (uncredited)
Camera and Electrical Department
James Keefer .... animation camera operator (as Jim Keefer)
Wesley Smith .... animation camera operator
Animation Department
Alvaro Arce .... background designer
Bronwen Barry .... layout artist
Tibor Belay .... layout artist
Cullen Blaine .... layout artist
Gabor Csupo .... supervising animation director
Zeon Davush .... layout artist
Steve Fellner .... layout artist
Milton Gray .... layout artist (as Milton Grey)
Matt Groening .... character designer
Dolores Hanson .... animation checker
Dale Hendrickson .... character designer
Karenia Kaminski .... layout artist (as Karenia Kaminsky)
Jang Woo Lee .... layout artist
Maxine Markota .... animation checker
Michael O'Connor .... layout artist
Eduardo Olivares .... layout artist
Phil Ortiz .... background designer
Phil Ortiz .... character designer
Margot Pipkin .... animation producer
Greg Reyna .... layout artist
Swinton O. Scott III .... layout artist (as Swinton Scott)
Sam Simon .... character designer
Don Spencer .... animation director: overseas
Eric Stefani .... layout artist
Michael Swanigan .... layout artist
Gregg Vanzo .... layout artist
Nikki Vanzo .... animation checker
Editorial Department
Don Barrozo .... assistant film editor
Joseph A. Boucher .... post-production coordinator
Brian K. Roberts .... post-production coordinator (uncredited)
Music Department
Felix Bernard .... composer: song "Winter Wonderland"
Danny Elfman .... composer: theme "The Simpsons"
Chris Ledesma .... music editor
Harry Warren .... composer: song "We're in the Money"
Other crew
Stuart Baker .... assistant to producers
Brad Bird .... executive consultant
James L. Brooks .... executive creative consultant
Donavan Brown .... production assistant
Steve Gottfried .... assistant to producers
Todd Jacobsen .... production assistant
Louise Jaffe .... script supervisor
Don Judge .... cleanup artist
Nancy Kruse .... cleanup artist
Stephen J. Lineweaver .... visual consultant (as Stephen Lineweaver)
Patty MacDonald .... assistant to executive producer
Michael McCusker .... assistant to producers
Eleanor Mills .... production assistant (as Elenore Mills)
Daria Paris .... assistant to executive producer
Lana Repp-Lewis .... assistant to producers (as Lana Repp Lewis)
Leslie Richter .... assistant to producers
Joe Russo .... cleanup artist
Sam Simon .... creative supervisor
Julie Steddom Smith .... assistant to executive producer (as Julie Stedmon Smith)
Lisa Stewart .... assistant to producers
Jon Vitti .... story editor
Sarah Werner .... production coordinator
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 "Santa's 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.
- Homer shops at the Circus of Values store when he does not receive his Christmas bonus and since Marge had to spend all the money they saved for Christmas getting Bart's tattoo removed he proceeds to buy the following: Marge receives a 6-pack of pantyhoses. Bart receives a 3-pack of pads of paper. Maggie receives a porkchop squeak toy.
- Moe has black hair and Barney has blonde hair in the first episode.
- The "slightly irregular" Christmas trees cost $45.
- The Christmas tree Homer steals has a bird house in it.
- 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.
- Barney bets on Whirlwind, #6, who has won his last five races.
- In the fourth race Sir Galahad is replaced by Santa's Little Helper.
- The odds on Santa's Little Helper are 99 to 1.
- 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
- Santa's Little Helper was number 8
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.
