Season 1 Episode 1: Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire

Original Airdate: December 17, 1989

        It’s interesting to view the first episode of what became the most recognizable show in television history, mainly in that it’s both a familiar and alienating experience. The show has always been very cynical and dark, but in its golden years it balanced these serious topics with a lightness of comedy that never allowed the show to get somber. This initial episode is mostly just bleak and miserable though, without the usual comic momentum to counteract its sardonic world view. The animation is also noticeably of poorer quality, the voices all sound a little off, and certain locations and characters look different in these early episodes. For instance, Moe's Bar and Mr. Burn's office look nothing like how they looked in the rest of the series, and Barney's blonde in this episode. Much of the supporting cast also didn't exist by this point, but Grandpa, Patty and Selma, Milhouse, Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, Moe, Barney, and Ned and Todd Flanders (no Maude or Rod yet) all make their first appearances.

The Simpson family struggles and struggles in this first episode, in a not so delightful Christmas special, and mostly it just comes off as sad to watch instead of riotously funny. The show's subversion of usual TV cliches is evident from the very start, in how no miracle is bestowed upon this poor family in desperate need of help, but the lively comic timing to tie it all together is lacking. The series has had many plots about the family’s money problems, but this episode paints almost too vivid of a portrait of a financially down-on-its-luck family. The show obviously hasn’t even come close to reaching its comic potential by this point (which is to be expected in any pilot), but with such a grim storyline, it’s almost a drag to watch.

Homer won’t be receiving his Christmas bonus this year, and after Marge has to use all of the saved up holiday money to pay for Bart’s tattoo removal, Homer spends the rest of the episode struggling trying to provide a nice Christmas for his kids. But he of course never gets a break. He becomes a department store Santa Claus, but the money he receives is less than adequate to pay for any presents. He has to steal a Christmas tree because they’re too damn expensive. At home he has to deal with cruel comments from his hated nasty in-laws Patty and Selma. And to top it off, snooty Flanders (here quite different from the character he became) flaunts his wealth and extravagant Christmas presents and decorations at every opportunity. The climax involves Homer and Bart betting on a losing dog at the race track, and then digging through beer cans and cigarette butts in the parking lot trying to find a winning ticket. The dog is Santa's Little Helper, and after being thrown out by his owner, is of course taken in and becomes the Simpsons beloved pet, to the delight of Bart and Lisa. This makes for a sort of happy ending, but mainly the episode still comes off as kind of miserable. There’s an intensity to Homer’s hellish struggle to provide for his family that I appreciate, as it’s rare for a cartoon to focus so thoroughly on a financially unstable family. But still, the show has seen funnier days. It’s all forgiven of course; it’s the first episode, and most shows, even great ones, don’t have great pilots.

Marge, Bart, and Lisa are basically the same characters they’ve been throughout the series, but Homer is noticeably different, and not just in voice (which is deeper and less funny sounding). In this initial episode, he’s a slightly dopey sad sack desperately trying to provide for his wife and kids. Homer was more well-meaning in earlier seasons before he became completely crazy, selfish, and dangerous. He’s mostly normal and restrained here, and his (mutedly) violent outbursts are driven more by circumstance than his usual goofy over-the-top stupidity and insanity.

Overall, the first episode of the greatest show in history is sadder than it is funny. Even the title of the episode, which at first appears to be a simple holiday pun, has darker overtones once you think about it. I remember buying the first season enthusiastically back when I was 12 and being sorely disappointed by these first batch of episodes. But I think looking at it on its own merits, it’s very moving. Homer’s pain is almost stark and realistic, and while the episode provides inconsistent laughs, points have to be given to its emotional resonance. The show eventually balanced the comedy and sentimentality better than it does here, before completely throwing the emotional core away, but I respect this episode’s guts for going in dark, not always pleasant directions. Already it was apparent that this was no ordinary cartoon; it was something much more complex. It just hadn’t found its voice yet.