Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"
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Episode Information
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- ""This might be the miracle that saves the Simpsons' Christmas""
- ―Bart Simpson
"Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire", also known as "The Simpsons Christmas Special" was the first episode of the half-hour length Simpsons series. The episode deals with the Simpson family's efforts to celebrate Christmas on a constricted budget.
Created By
Matt Groeng
Defolved By
James L. Brooks Matt Groeng Sam Simon
Execetive Producers
Matt Groeng James L. Brooks Adam West
Starring
Dan Castelina Jayne Barbera
Ela Hunt Willam Hanna
And
Sherry Gunther
Also Starring
James L. Brooks
Theme By Danny Elfman
Music By
John Cusdan
Music Editor
Reesewither Spoon
Animation Film Editor
Film Roman, Inc.
(C) 20th Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reversed
Creative Producer
Matt Groeng
Execetive Of Vistant Producer
James L. Brooks
GRACIE FILMS IN ASSOTCIATION WITH
20th Television
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. 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 first Simpsons episode produced), 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.
Matt Groening was going to do a 30 minute special based on the Tracey Ullman shorts; that probably evolved in this episode. This was revealed in the book 'Planet Simpson'.
Release
This episode was released on VHS by FOX Home Video in 1991. The VHS release was titled "The Simpsons Christmas Special". It was later released on VHS and DVD in Christmas with the Simpsons in 2001, and then eventually released in 2001 in the Season One boxset.
Reception
The episode was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 1990: "Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming less than One Hour)" 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".
References
External Links
- "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" at The Simpsons.com
"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" at the The Simpsons Archive
