Retro Review: Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire

Or the One Where: The Simpsons learn the true meaning of Christmas after adopting former racing dog and fellow lovable loser Santa's Little Helper.

The Setup: After Bart gets a tattoo, the family Christmas money is spent getting it removed, forcing Homer to go to great lengths in order to assure a merry Christmas for his family.

Retro Review: Some Enchanted Evening

Or The One Where: Marge and Homer spend an evening out while Bart and Lisa tussle with the Babysitter Bandit.

The Setup: Feeling unappreciated at home, Marge is enraged at Homer until he surprises her with a night out.

A Work In Progress: While it aired as the last episode of the first season, this was the first episode ever produced for the show. When it came back from being animated, the animation was so shoddy the producers arranged to have the premiere of the show pushed back so they could revise it, and instead of the planned debut in the fall, "The Simpsons" first appeared in December with the Christmas episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire." As a result, this episode has some rough edges in places where the original animation conflicts with the revised animation.

Barney's hair is blond in this episode, and Moe's is black instead of gray. Moe was originally voiced in this episode by Christopher Collins before being overdubbed by Hank Azaria. Collins also provided the voice of Mr. Burns in "Homer's Odyssey" (before Harry Shearer took over the role), and was the voice of Cobra Commander and Starscream.

Favorite Lines:

Bart: You know what happens. They find Captain Quick's treasure. All the elves dance around like little green idiots. I puke. The End.
Lisa: Bart, you're just like Chilly, the elf who cannot love.

Bart: We know who you are, Ms. Botz. Or should I say, Ms. Botzcowski. You're the Babysitter Bandit.
Ms. Botz : You're a smart young man, Bart. I hope you're smart enough to keep your mouth shut.
Lisa: He isn't.

Marge: The way I see it, if you've raised three children who can knock out and hog-tie a perfect stranger, you must be doing something right.


Teebore's Take: While the original animation might have been rough, the script is solid, showing from the beginning the writers' ability to blend the traditional sitcom with the zany and outrageous. This is the third episode this season which deals in some part with Marge's anger towards Homer (alongside "Homer's Night Out" and "Life in the Fast Lane"), which suggests that if the writers were out of ideas for a Bart story, a Homer/Marge conflict was their fallback option.

Which is interesting, considering how many plots these days revolve around the idea of "Homer and Marge's marriage is in trouble because of X." While the examples of such plots from the first season aren't nearly as over the top as later examples, it's interesting to note that the Homer/Marge marital conflict episodes have been part of the show's foundation since the beginning. Which isn't meant to excuse the dearth of such (mainly poor) episodes of late; it's merely an interesting observation that even back in the beginning, roughly 25% of the episodes dealt with trouble between Homer and Marge.

Crank Call: Bart calls Moe's looking for Al Coholic and later, Oliver Clothesoff.

Classic:

A solid outing and a template for what's to come, especially impressive for being one of the earliest episodes produced.

And with that, the first season comes to a close. My personal recollection of the first season has always been "crude animation and funny, but not spectacular, episodes." Perhaps my memory does the season a disservice, for while the animation is still rough around the edges, and the episodes are more solid than they are spectacular (in particular, lacking the laugh out loud lines later seasons will be known for), I enjoyed these episodes far more this time around than I have in the past.

Aside from a couple of clunkers, one boring ("Homer's Odyssey"), the other a victim of mis-characterization ("There's No Disgrace Like Home", though it can be excused somewhat for being the first episode written), the episodes settle into a comfortable group ranging from the good ("Call of the Simpsons, "The Telltale Head") to the great ("The Crepes of Wrath", "Krusty Gets Busted"). As a whole, the season is alot closer to what the show will become than I often think.

Retro Review: Krusty Gets Busted

Or The One Where: Sideshow Bob frames Krusty the Clown for armed robbery

The Setup: On his way home from work, Homer stops at the Kwik-E-Mart and witnesses what appears to be Krusty committing armed robbery.

A Work In Progress: Sideshow Bob appeared briefly in the background of "The Telltale Head" but this is his first speaking appearance, and the episode which establishes most of his personality and sets up his role as Bart's archenemy, making this the first of numerous "Sideshow Bob" episodes.

Similarly, Krusty has appeared or been referenced in previous episodes, but this is the first time his character is explored in any way, including the fact that he's illiterate.

Bart's fanboy devotion to Krusty is fully established, and this is the first of numerous "Bart and Krusty" episodes. It's also the first of a handful of "Bart and Lisa team up to right a wrong" episodes, a plot later writers will lampoon on the show from time to time.

Emmy-winning local anchorman Kent Brockman also appears for the first time.

Favorite Lines:

Marge: My, all this senseless violence. I don't understand the appeal.
Bart: We don't expect you to, Mom.
Lisa: If cartoons were meant for adults, they'd put them on in prime time.

Bart: Dad, you're giving in to mob mentality!
Homer: No I'm not, I'm hopping on the bandwagon! Now come on, son, get with the winning team!

Sideshow Bob: And I would've gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for these meddling kids!


Teebore's Take: The introduction of one of my favorite characters as well as a neat little mystery in the plot makes this probably my favorite season one episode. Plus, seeing Bart and Lisa work together instead against one another is always fun. Making an erudite, eloquent Englishman (with psychopathic tendencies) the archenemy of the low-brow, uncouth, characteristically American Simpson family was a stroke a genius, and led to some of the show's best episodes.

Classic:

The introduction of a classic character and the first use of several future plot tropes definitely makes this one a classic.

Retro Review: The Crepes of Wrath

Or the One Where: Bart goes to France.

The Setup: Forced to clean his room, Bart discovers an unused cherry bomb he later inadvertently uses on Principal Skinner's mother. Fed up with his antics, Skinner approaches Homer and Marge with the option of deportation.

A Work in Progress: Principal Skinner's mother Agnes appears for the first time, though it will be awhile before she's given a first name and her acerbic personality. In this, she's simply a kindly old lady who refers to Skinner as "Spanky."

Favorite Lines:

Skinner: You wouldn't be getting a French boy, you'd be getting an Albanian.
Homer: You mean, all white with pink eyes?

Skinner: You might find his accent peculiar. Certain aspects of his culture may seem absurd, perhaps even offensive. But I urge you all to give little Adil the benefit of the doubt. This way, and only in this way, do we hope to better understand our backward neighbors throughout the world.

Adil: How can you defend a country where five percent of the people control ninety-five percent of the wealth?
Lisa: I'm defending a country where people can think and act and worship any way they want. Adil: Cannot!
Lisa: Can too!
Adil: Cannot!
Lisa: Can too!
Homer: Please, please, kids, stop fighting. Maybe Lisa's right about America being the land of opportunity, and maybe Adil's got a point about the machinery of capitalism being oiled with the blood of the workers.


Teebore's Take: Another first-season favorite of mine, this episode is notable for being the first of many plots centered around the idea of one character or the family visiting another place or country. The setup for Bart's trip to France is, like most of the first season, much more realistic and reasoned than some of the later excuses for trips to foreign lands (I'm thinking particularly of the "Simpsons go to Africa" episode). Also, this episode is the first time "The Simpsons" goes out of its way to mock another culture for laughs, in this case, the French. Combine all that with the contrast between Bart and Adil (the Albanian student the Simpsons host in Bart's absence)'s separate experiences and Homer's complete cluelessness regarding Adil's Communist mission (a plot that strikes the right note of zany for this episode), and this episode is a winner.

Classic:

The first "the Simpsons go to ____!" episode, the first time "The Simpsons" satirizes another culture, and funny to boot: definitely an all time classic.

Retro Review: Homer's Night Out

Or The One Where: Homer gets photographed dancing with an exotic belly dancer at a Bachelor party.

The Setup: After buying a mail-order spy camera, Bart takes the aforementioned picture, which quickly makes the rounds through Springfield.

A Work in Progress: After Lenny's debut in the last episode, Carl makes his in this one.

Favorite Lines:

Lisa: Mom! Bart was taking a picture of his butt!

Barney: If you get hungry in the middle of the night, there's a open beer in the fridge.

Marge: Homer, you don't even know why you're apologizing.
Homer: Yes, I do. Because I'm hungry, my clothes are smelly, and I'm tired.


Teebore's Take: On the heels of the last episode comes another Homer/Marge relationship episode, this one Homer-centric. Like the last episode, it's enjoyable and well-crafted though not necessarily laugh-out-loud funny. One of the things I enjoy the most about the episode is that by the end, Homer realizes the reason Marge is angry at him (he set a bad example for Bart) and why she's right to be angry about that, on his own, without Marge having to nag him about it or spell it out for him. It's the kind of subtle character work that has long since left Homer behind.

Classic:

Nothing particularly stand-out or memorable about this one, but another solid outing.

Retro Review: Life on the Fast Lane

Or The One Where: Marge falls for Jacques, a sleazy bowling instructor.

The Setup: Homer buys Marge a bowling ball fit for his hand, with his name engraved on it, for her birthday. Incensed by his selfishness, Marge decides to use the ball herself.

A Work in Progress: Helen Lovejoy, Reverend Lovejoy's wife, appears for the first time, as does Lenny.

Jacques, the bowling instructor voiced by Albert Brooks, makes his first, and aside from a few later background appearances, only appearance.

This episode is considered a favorite by many, and won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less than One Hour), the first for "The Simpsons." Matt Groening ranks it as his second favorite episode of all time. It's a good episode, but I don't hold it in the same esteem as Mr. Groening.

Favorite Lines:

Marge: What's Brunch?
Jacques: You'd love it, It's not quite breakfast, it's not quite lunch, but it comes with a slice of cantaloupe at the end. You don't get completely what you would at breakfast, but you get a good meal!

Marge: You certainly have a lot of bowling trophies.
Jacques: Ha ha...they're not for bowling Marge. You're so naive, they're for lovemaking!

Jacques: To the most beautiful moment in life, Better than a deed, better than a memory, the moment... of anticipation!


Teebore's Take: Though not as comical nor as surreal as the later examples it inspired, this episode is, in many ways, the first of the now-numerous "Homer and Marge have relationship problems" episodes. As such, it's the first episode to focus primarily on Homer and Marge's relationship, relegating the kids to the background for an episode. Homer forgetting Marge's birthday and giving her gifts he intends for himself is standard sitcom fare, but his gift of a bowling ball engraved with his name, and Marge's subsequent determination to use the ball herself puts a "Simpsons" edge on the proceedings. This is also one of the first episodes to use the device of having a plot thread in the first act that exists only as a lead-in to the main plot of the episode, a device that will become the standard as the show continues.


Classic:

No major new characters are introduced, but this is remains a highlight of the first season while serving as the first examination of Homer and Marge's relationship.

Retro Review: The Telltale Head

Or The One Where: Bart cuts off the head of the Jebediah Springfield statue.

The Setup: On his way to see Space Mutants 4 ("the trilogy continues!"), Bart runs into Jimbo, Dolph and Kearney, the local hooligans, and decides to cut off the head of the town founder's statue so they'll think he's cool.

A Work in Progress: Krusty the Clown, Sideshow Bob, Reverend Lovejoy, Apu and Jimbo, Dolph and Kearney all appear for the first time.

The Simpsons attend church for the first time, in their typical fractured way, with Homer listening to a football game on Bart's Walkman.

The story of frontiersman Jebediah Springfield, who once fought a bear with his bare hands and founded the town which bares his name, is told for the time. It will be expanded on (and questioned) in the season seven episode "Lisa the Iconoclast."

This one of the few episodes to display the title onscreen.

The Space Mutants, a horror film franchise in "The Simpsons" universe, appears for the first time. They are featured as the villains in the Simpsons video game for the NES.

Also, the fact that Smithers' affection for Mr. Burns is something greater than employer/loyal yes man is suggested for the first time.

Favorite Lines:

Bart: Uh, ma'am? What if you're a really good person, but you get into a really, really bad fight and your leg gets gangrene and it has to be amputated. Will it be waiting for you in heaven?
Sunday School Teacher: For the last time, Bart, yes!

Sunday School Teacher: The ventriloquist goes to heaven, but the dummy doesn't.
Bart: Ooh-ooh-ooh! Me!
Sunday School Teacher: Bart?
Bart: What about a robot with a human brain?
Sunday School Teacher: I don't know! All these questions! Is a little blind faith too much to ask!?!

Bart: But sneaking into movies is practically stealing, man.
Kearney: Practically?
Jimbo: It is stealing.
Bart: Well, okay. I just wanted to make sure we aren't deluding ourselves.


Teebore's Take: A classic example of what "The Simpsons", especially in the early years, did very well: mix a standard sitcom premise (Bart learns a lesson about the importance of popularity) with a surreal plot (he learns this lesson by hacksawing off the head of a statue and incurring the wraith of an angry mob). Not incredibly funny, but watchable nonetheless. Amongst the funniest bits is the family's first act foray into church, both Homer's frantic following of the football game during the sermon and Bart peppering his Sunday school teacher with metaphysical questions regarding what does and does not earn a place in heaven.

Classic:

A host of major supporting characters appear for the first time, the myth of Jebediah Springfield is established, and the Homer/Bart lesson-learning all account for the high marks. Plus, this is the episode that gives us our "Classic" icon.

Retro Review: Call of the Simpsons

Or The One Where: The Simpsons get lost in the woods and Homer is mistaken for Bigfoot.

The Setup: Jealous of Flander's luxury RV, Homer buys a rundown model, which he proceeds to promptly drive over a cliff, stranding the family in the wilderness.

A Work in Progress: Al Brooks voices Bob, of Bob's RVs, making this the first episode of many, including "The Simpsons Movie", for which Mr. Brooks will provide his voice talent.

Favorite Lines:

Homer: Is that a good siren? Am I approved?
Bob: You ever known a siren to be good? No Mr. Simpson, it's not. It's a bad siren. That's the computer in case I went blind telling me, 'sell the vehicle to this fella and you're out of business!' That's what the siren says. It seems the Ultimate Behemoth is a wee bit out of your price range, and 'wee bit' is me being polite. You couldn't afford this thing if you lived to be a million.

Marge: Homer, I'm telling you, this is not the Interstate.
Homer: Pffffft. Maps.

Lisa: Remember, Dad: the handle of the Big Dipper points towards the North Star.
Homer: Heh heh, that's nice, Lisa. But we're not in astronomy class. We're in the woods.


Teebore's Take: This is one of my first-season favorites, nothing groundbreaking but solidly funny throughout, with the right balance of sitcom humor and zany antics. I particularly enjoy the gag where Homer sets a trap for an animal, only to have the trap fling the animal miles away through the air. Of course, highlight of the episode involves Maggie being befriended by a pack of benevolent bears who still bottles of milk for her and allow her to ride on their backs.

Classic:

One of the first solid, all around funny episodes.

Retro Review: Moaning Lisa

Or The One Where: A depressed Lisa meets Bleeding Gums Murphy

The Setup: Lisa is feeling depressed and melancholy, and no one can cheer her up.

A Work In Progress: Jazzman "Bleeding Gums" Murphy appears for the first time. He'll show up in the background from time to time before dying in the classic season six episode "'Round Springfield."

The groundwork for much of Lisa's characterization is laid here. She isn't quite the precocious genius we know her to be yet, but her relative sensitivity, empathy and ostracism from the rest of the family are all on display, and her love of jazz and the saxophone are established for the first time.

Favorite Lines:

Largo: Lisa, there's no room for crazy bebop in "My Country 'Tis of Thee''.
Lisa: But Mr. Largo! That's what my country's all about.
Largo: What?!?
Lisa: I'm wailing out for the homeless family living out of a car. The idle farmer whose land has been taken away by uncaring bureaucrats. The West Virginia coal-miner caught...
Largo: Well, that's all fine and good, but Lisa, none of those unpleasant people are going to be at the recital next week.

PE Teacher: Lisa! We are playing dodge-ball here. The object of the game is to avoid the ball, by weaving or ducking out of its path.
Lisa: In other words, to dodge the ball.

Marge: Lisa! Get away from that jazz man!
Lisa: But Mom! Can I stay a little longer? Can I Mom, can I?
Marge: Come on, come on. We were worried about you...Nothing personal, I just fear the unfamiliar.


Teebore's Take: I remember when I was younger and I'd watch this episode, I would get so enraged when, after Homer has received training from a local kid on how to finally beat Bart at a boxing video game, Marge unplugs the game just as Homer is about to deliver the finishing blow so he'll pay more attention to Lisa. I understood the importance of Homer paying attention to Lisa, but at the same time, it wouldn't have killed her if Homer took an extra second or two before hearing herannouncement. Now that I'm older, when I watch this episode, well, I still get enraged at Marge, but not as much as I used to.

Crank Call: Bart calls looking for Jock, last name Strap.

Classic:

It does much to lay the foundation of Lisa's character, but isn't terribly funny or memorably aside from that.

Retro Review: Bart the General

Or The One Where: Bart builds an army of kids and goes to war with Nelson

The Setup: Bart defends Lisa from one of Nelson's toadies, drawing the wraith of the bully himself.

A Work In Progress: Nelson appears for the first time. While he always maintains his status as a something of a bully, he is never again as menacing as he is here, and obviously becomes one of the show's most well-known supporting characters (his even more well known catchphrase is not used in this episode, however). In the first wave of Simpsons action figures, Nelson was one of the only non-Simpson family characters to warrant a figure, ostensibly because the line was trying to sell him as the villain of the piece, due to this episode.

Herman, the one-armed owner of the military surplus store to which Grandpa takes Bart, is also introduced. Harry Shearer voices the character in a voice inspired by Bush the Elder. Herman is another one of those early season supporting characters that faded into the background while others rose to prominence.

Favorite Lines:

Marge: Well, Bart, I hope you're going straight to the principal about this.
Bart: I... guess I could do that.
Homer: What!? And violate the code of the schoolyard!? I'd rather Bart die!
Marge: What on earth are you talking about, Homer!?
Homer: The code of the schoolyard, Marge! The rules that teach a boy to be a man. Let's see. Don't tattle. Always make fun of those different from you. Never say anything, unless you're sure everyone feels exactly the same way you do.

Herman: How many men do you have?
Bart: None.
Herman: You'll need more.

Bart: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Contrary to what you've just seen, war is neither glamorous nor fun. There are no winners, only losers. There are no good wars, with the following exceptions: The American Revolution, World War II, and the Star Wars Trilogy.


Teebore's Take: After "Bart the Genius" this was the episode that really cemented Bart as the star of the show in its early goings. I've always had a certain fondness for this episode, though it isn't the best of the first season. Marge's naivete regarding Nelson (she suggest they try talking it out) is hilariously frustrating, and I love the fact that even when Bart fights back one-on-one against Nelson, nothing Homer teaches him works. Also, watching it again recently, I questioned the effectiveness of Bart's army using water balloons as their primary weapon against Nelson at the end. Even in terms of non-lethal, kid-friendly, network-appeasing weapons there has to be something better than water balloons: what's the worse thing that can happen? Nelson gets wet? And once he's wet, why would he care if he continues to be pummeled by balloons?

Classic:

Bart's star continues to rise while a bully is born.