{"id":27175,"date":"2017-12-18T00:25:37","date_gmt":"2017-12-18T05:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=27175"},"modified":"2017-12-17T20:31:28","modified_gmt":"2017-12-18T01:31:28","slug":"my-first-christmas-with-the-simpsons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/18\/my-first-christmas-with-the-simpsons\/","title":{"rendered":"My First Christmas with \u201cThe Simpsons\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I was first introduced to \u201cThe Simpsons\u201d on December 17th<\/sup>, 1989 at the age of six, when I spent all day with my dad and brother visiting my grandparents for the Christmas season. After arriving in the evening to my aunt\u2019s house, my dad ensured we\u2019d be there a while and I sat down with my big cousin to watch \u201cThe Simpsons\u201d special \u201cSimpsons Roasting on an Open Fire.\u201d Little did I know this simple yellow skinned family of underdogs and losers would become one of the biggest comedic and creative influences of my life. It\u2019s a show that\u2019s stuck with me well in to my thirties, and it all started \u201cSimpsons Roasting on an Open Fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

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It took me years until I learned that \u201cThe Simpsons\u201d was actually a spin off from a live action comedy show called \u201cThe Tracey Ullmann Show.\u201d While the series itself ended up only lasting a season, the animated segments \u201cThe Simpsons\u201d spun off in to a series. And you know the saying: The rest is history.<\/p>\n

I loved \u201cSimpsons Roasting on An Open Fire,\u201d hell we all did. My cousins and I sat and watched, laughing constantly at the antics of this unusual family, and rooted for their father Homer to succeed at getting his children gifts for Christmas. Sure, he was loud, rough around the edges, and kind of dumb, but he really loved his family. That\u2019s one of the reasons why \u201cThe Simpsons\u201d has remained so prevalent in pop culture. Despite the brilliant writing, and goofy characters, the show has always had a big heart underneath every episode of the series, and \u201cSimpsons Roasting on an Open Fire\u201d is not afraid to be heartfelt.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Simpsons\u201d had an almost immediate influence on its entire audience creating dialogue you could quote for hours. My cousins and me would mimic the \u201cOw! Quit it!\u201d moment from the special where Lisa and Maggie keep poking Bart\u2019s freshly scarred arm after he had a tattoo surgically removed.<\/p>\n

The Simpsons are about to have the perfect Christmas, as Homer is preparing the Christmas decorations, and is anxiously awaiting the Christmas bonus from his boss Mr. Burns at the power plant he works in. Sadly, Homer discovers that he will not be receiving his bonus for the year, and now has to rely on the family\u2019s emergency money for gifts for the children. Just his luck, his bratty son Bart stops off at the mall tattoo parlor to one he wants for the holidays.<\/p>\n

When Marge discovers it, she has to spend the money on removing the tattoo from Bart\u2019s arm. The sad dilemma is that Homer is relying on the Emergency money, and doesn\u2019t know Marge spent it on Bart; as well Marge is now relying on Homer\u2019s bonus, and has no idea that he didn\u2019t receive the bonus for the year. \u201cSimpsons Roasting on an Open Fire\u201d is the unconventional tale centering on the holidays, and sets its sights on the inherent bad luck the family suffers day in and day out.<\/p>\n

Homer, though envious and petty in his rivalry with neighbor Flanders, still feels like a disappointment, and scrambles to earn money for the holiday celebrations. Homer has to suffer through a training course to become the local Mall\u2019s new Santa, and has to endure dozens of obnoxious kids for the sake of claiming his pay. In one instance, he even eats a donut off of a child\u2019s hand, after spending many hours working. After Bart pulls a prank on Homer (unaware he\u2019s a mall Santa) he\u2019s let in on Homer\u2019s desperate attempts to make his family happy for the holidays.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimpsons Roasting on an Open Fire\u201d took the very unique step of endearing us to the Simpsons family, before making us laugh, as it begins on a down to Earth and comical note. Homer and Marge are suffering through a Christmas pageant at Springfield Elementary where they\u2019re forced to listen to their children Bart and Lisa perform Christmas carols. This gives us a clear idea of the characters, especially young Bart Simpson, as he sings \u201cJingle Bells\u201d in his own satirical verses \u201cJingle Bells, Batman Smells, Robin Laid an Egg, the Batmobile Lost its Wheel, and the Joker Got Away–!\u201d<\/p>\n

Suffice to say we at school sang that song a thousand times a day, and giggled every single time. Bart truly was a menace when the Simpsons stormed America. The special props up many future character arcs, with Bart being bratty, and Lisa being unconventional. During the gallery of various nationalities\u2019 Santa, she plays a South Seas\u2019 Santa, performing a tribal dance, and of course,<\/p>\n

Maggie watches with her trusty pacifier. The episode is filled with laughs, and gags that would become recurring jokes for years (including Homer\u2019s obnoxious sister in laws, and his rivalry with his upright Christian neighbor Flanders). \u201cSimpsons Roasting on an Open Fire\u201d ends as a tale of Homer and The Simpsons, a perpetual loser heading a group of underachievers, who finds solace in another loser; the other loser of course being \u201cSanta\u2019s Little Helper,\u201d Bart\u2019s best friend and pet Greyhound. \u201cSimpsons Roasting on an Open Fire\u201d marks the first appearance of Bart\u2019s future best friend, a losing greyhound who jumps in to the Homer\u2019s arm for safety, and finds a home among five damaged but loving characters.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cSimpsons Roasting on an Open Fire\u201d is in the spirit of \u201cThe Grinch that Stole Christmas,\u201d where a materialistic brood discovers that material goods matters nothing as long as you have family. Although they don\u2019t have much during Christmas, the Simpsons find the joy in being with one another, and that in and of itself is a great gift.<\/p>\n

Originally Published Dec 11, 2013<\/em><\/strong> on Pop Optiq.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n