The Simpsons (animation)/Recap/S01/E01 Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire

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Marge: Isn't Bart sweet, Homer? He sings like an angel.
Bart: (close up) Oh, Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg. The Batmobile broke its wheel, and the Joker got awa- (cut off)

"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" (production code 7G08), also known as "The Simpsons Christmas Special" was the first full episode of The Simpsons ever aired, although it was originally produced as the eighth episode.

After going to the Springfield Elementary School Christmas pageant, Marge asks Lisa and Bart for their letters to Santa. Lisa wishes for a pony, while Bart instead wants a tattoo. When Marge, Lisa and Bart go shopping the next day, Bart slips away to the tattoo parlor and gets a tattoo that reads "mother". Counting on Homer's Christmas bonus, Marge spends the Christmas money getting the tattoo removed. However, at the Power Plant Mr. Burns announces that there will be no Christmas bonus for this year.

When Homer discovers that Marge has spent the Christmas money on removing Bart's tattoo, he decides not to worry the family by making them think that they're might be no presents for the year, and so starts working as a Mall Santa. On Christmas Eve, Bart goes to the mall deciding to harass the fake Santa. When he pulls off the beard he discovers that the Santa is actually Homer.

Homer is paid less than he expected at the end of the day, and is convinced to go to the racing dog tracks. He bets all his money on a last-minute entry called Santa's Little Helper, who then loses. As they leave the track, Homer and Bart see the dog's owner abandon him for losing the race. Bart asks Homer is they can keep the dog as a pet, and Homer reluctantly allows him to. When Homer comes home, thinking he'll have to come clean, the family think that Santa's Little Helper is meant to be a present for the whole family and all is forgiven.

Tropes used in The Simpsons (animation)/Recap/S01/E01 Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire include:
  • All Girls Like Ponies: Lisa asks Santa for one in her letter.
  • Christmas Episode: An odd example of the Christmas special being the first episode.
    • However, it's only the first full length episode. Shorts had been running on The Tracey Ullman Show for the previous three years.
    • And it was eighth in production order (note how Santa's Little Helper isn't in half the season one episodes).
  • Mall Santa: Homer becomes one half-way through the episode in order to help pay for Christmas after he doesn't get his Chrimstas bonus.
  • Shout-Out:
    • The episode's title is a reference to "The Christmas Song", also known as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire".
    • One of the race dogs is called "Dog o' War", similar to the actual racehorse Man o' War.
    • In one scene Bart is strapped to a table with a laser moving towards him, like the iconic scene in Goldfinger.
    • When Bart talks about Christmas Miracles from television he mentions Charlie Brown, The Smurfs, and Tiny Tim.
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