The Simpsons (TV Series) Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (1989) User Reviews

A Great Kickoff To the Best TV Series!

[g-bodyl · 9/10 · 8 August 2013]

The Simpsons is one of the best, if not the best animated television series to exist. This episode, "The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" is a great pilot. Since this is the pilot, the animation is a little rough and the voices are not as coherent, but would you expect on such a cheap budget? This episode is pretty funny, but not hilarious. However, this episode features heartwarming, earnest moments from the Simpson family.

This first episode is set at Christmas time. Homer does not receive his Christmas bonus this year, so he thinks he will ruin Christmas because Marge had to use her money to remove Bart's tattoo. But he gets a job as Santa thinking this will help his family out. But will it? Overall, this is a great start to a long-running series.

This is one of the heartwarming episodes you will encounter in this series. I rate this episode 9/10.

A leaner but not meaner Simpsons

[BrandtSponseller · 9/10 · 23 July 2006]

The most interesting thing for any contemporary Simpsons fans to notice in this first episode is how much everything has changed over the years.

The early Simpsons shows were created on a much smaller budget, necessitating a smaller, less experienced, and in some ways, less skilled team. As a result, the animation style here is much rougher. There are far fewer people doing voices. The voice work isn't nearly as smooth as it would become. The personalities of the characters hadn't settled into norms. There aren't as many layers of jokes zipping frantically by.

The feel, overall, isn't that removed from, say, a Beavis and Butthead episode. Not that that's a bad thing. I happen to love Beavis and Butthead, too. It's just a much rougher style than we've come to expect from The Simpsons.

Aside from all of that, though, this is a charming Christmas episode, almost a Simpsons version of A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). Like that famous work, an elementary school pageant is featured prominently, there are problems procuring a Christmas tree, and the "true meaning of Christmas", aside from commercialism, is explored, although here it is done so unwillingly, and there are no religious-tinged speeches to accompany the proceedings--The Simpsons is known for its irreverence, after all. But at its heart, while humorously introducing us to the main characters, this really is a sweet Christmas story and worth watching for that purpose, which is what I plan to save future viewings for.

Seems to have been forgotten by most people

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 9/10 · 16 December 2005]

When you mention Christmas specials one would normally think of Charlie Brown, The Smurfs, He-Man/She-Ra or any other franchise that 'saves Christmas'. No one really remembers that the Simpsons began with their very own Christmas special.

Already a hit as an animated short series on the Tracey Ullman show, The Simpsons kicked off their 17-year plus career as a prime-time family with this festive episode.

Excited and filled with yuletide cheer The Simpsons come face to face with disaster when Marge's savings need to be blown on tattoo-removal surgery for Bart. And Mr. Burns cancels bonuses for all his semi-skilled employees. Flanders is already throwing his family the best Christmas ever and to make matters worse Patty and Selma show up and cast their judging eyes upon Homer in a more evil way than usual. He can't let them all down so he humiliates himself with a job as a mall Santa Claus.

The job pays poorly so he gambles it at the track, expecting a miracle to happen. Do you think it will? Since this was way back at the very beginning of The Simpsons the animation looks pretty rough and the voice acting (especially from some of the children) sounds a lot like the Charlie Brown phonetic acting. And since this is an older episode Homer isn't the machine he became in 1998+ seasons. He's still a human being with feelings who tries to be a good dad. Bart is still a kid who gets in trouble and Marge is still a devoted mum. You know what I mean when I say that none of this is really relevant in The Simpsons anymore since every new season just gets worse and worse as the writers get more and more cynical.

This one Christmas Special represents the exact opposite of all that. It was made to make a difference to your Christmas. And if your tired of the awful bore that it's become now then perhaps you should check it out.

A beautiful, sweet episode

[KatiesGhost · 10/10 · 2 November 2008]

"Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire" is one of the sweetest and greatest Simpsons episodes of all time, and this was the very first episode.

Even though the animation might be a little crude, but that's the fun of it! I actually thought the animation from "The Simpsons" back from Season 1 to Season 4 was actually really good.

This was the episode that we first fell in love with The Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. It also marked for characters like Mr. Burns, Grandpa Abe, Patty & Selma, and of course, Santa's Little Helper.

Overall, this is a sweet, beautiful, and heartwarming Christmas episode that's great to watch around Christmas time.

The one that started it all

[atinder · 10/10 · 20 June 2014]

The one that started it all, this is one of the best episodes,it's one of my favourites.

I watch it yevery single year over roundabout Christmas time, even when I put the tree up this has to be on.

I love watching this episode when it's cold and snowy and in the winter months.

There Simpsons first episode will seem funny to say compared to the latest Seasons, As the cartoon may seem a little odd.

However there were some baby funny moment in this episode , that will make you laugh out loud.

I really like the plot with this episode and we see their Simpsons get their dog for Christmas

I am going to give this episode a 10 out of 10.

The One that Started It All

[travisimo · 9/10 · 6 December 2003]

I remember hearing about this special back in the third grade, "The Simpsons was the best cartoon, and you just had to see it!" Unfortunately, we didn't get Fox in my little Idaho town. Finally, when we did get Fox, I started my weekly ritual of visiting the Simpsons every Thursday and then on Sundays.

This is a solid Christmas special. It's a more heartfelt episode compared to the episodes produced today. Homer wasn't nearly as much of a buffoon as he is today, and this episode isn't as hysterical as future episodes, but what it may lack in some comedy, it makes up in story and character development. While Bart was quite the troublemaker, he still cared deeply for his father and his family. Plus, the family singing of Rudolph played in the credits was great!

This was our first meeting with the Simpsons, and it would continue to be a great relationship.

"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" was a great start for the long-running animated show "The Simpsons"

[tavm · 10/10 · 20 October 2012]

When Fox celebrated the network's 25th year last spring, (even though, technically, it actually started the previous fall of '86 with the late night show "The Late Show starring Joan Rivers". The people in power are obviously only counting when its prime-time lineup began with "Married...with Children" the following year.) it picked this Simpsons Christmas special as the second show in its anniversary line-up that night between the first ep of that first show I mentioned in the parenthesis and the 25th anniversary special that followed. This longest-running TV family actually began life the two years prior to this initial episode of "The Simpsons" as a running animated skit of short length on "The Tracy Ullman Show". The buzz there led to a commitment to full-length series which ended up with an even bigger buzz which lasts to this day. It seems dad Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) won't get the Christmas bonus at work and Marge (Julie Kavner) had to spend her savings to get rid of son Bart's (Nancy Cartwright) tattoo. So Homer becomes a Santa at the mall but the check turns out to not be much. So he and Bart end up trying to win at the dog races and...If you haven't seen this, I won't reveal what happens. I'll just say that while the edge of those Tracy Ullman shorts are here, there's also some warmth that balances the humor. And hearing Lisa (Yeardley Smith) defend her father in front of in-laws Patty and Selma (both also voiced by Ms. Kavner) was also funny and touching. Really, this was a fine start for the iconic series. So on that note, Happy 25th, Fox!

The First Episode...

[taylorkingston · 7/10 · 18 June 2015]

I enjoy this episode. It's a pretty good first episode, even though it wasn't intended to be the first one. It's funny and it does a good introduction for the characters of the show.

In this episode, it's Christmas and Homer feels like the holiday is doomed after he doesn't receive a holiday bonus from the Nuclear Power Plant. To make extra money, he becomes a mall Santa. Bart gets a tattoo and Marge has to spend the Christmas money to get it removed. Since Homer got paid so little, he decides to bet it on the race track, but ends up bringing home an abandoned greyhound named Santa's Little Helper, who turned out to be the best Christmas present the kids could've hoped for.

Fun Fact: This episode was not originally meant to be the first episode of the series. This was actually the eighth episode made, but since it was aired so close to Christmas, they decided to move it up. Hence the reason why Santa's Little Helper doesn't appear in immediate episodes after this one.

Overall, I give this episode a 7 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Great.

Decent start

[Red_Identity · 14 December 2013]

I've never seen the show before, so this this be my first time going through it. This is a decent enough pilot, but I've only heard the show gets better after the first season. The second episode, Bart the Genous, is much better and I hope the show is more like that than this, but this is still good enough. The voice acting is pretty good, the animation still sort of sketchy right now, as is to be expected. It gives us a good insight into what the characters will be like, and overall I very much look forward to watching the show and seeing all the reasons why it's so acclaimed and considered so highly (well, the first 10 seasons or so). Recommended.

"Jingle bells, Batman smells..."

[MaxBorg89 · 9/10 · 9 October 2008]

It all begins with a school pageant: all the students make some kind of contribution since Christmas is coming, and in the audience one notices Homer (Dan Castellaneta) and Marge Simpson (Julie Kavner), eager to see their kids Bart (Nancy Cartwright) and Lisa (Yeardley Smith) perform. Inevitably, Bart screws everything up with his rendition of "Jingle Bells", prompting Principal Skinner (Harry Shearer) to throw him out. It's funny. It's the last thing one would expect from a Christmas special. And that's just the start of what became an American TV institution (some even consider it THE ultimate US series).

Following the school incident, further trouble awaits Homer when he learns he won't receive a Christmas bonus that year. Knowing he'll otherwise disappoint his family and be taunted by Marge's unbearable sisters, he accepts the humiliation of dressing up as Santa Claus at the local mall. Naturally, Bart decides to have fun at his expense once again. Yes, it's not gonna be a normal holiday in the Simpson family.

Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire was actually the eighth episode made for the series, but since the show was scheduled to begin airing just before Christmas (the precise date is December 17th, 1989), it became the series premiere, which resulted in at least one blatant plot hole (Santa's Little Helper, introduced here, is an absentee for most of Season One). On a technical level, the episode is also less polished than later efforts, still baring a resemblance to the original Tracey Ullman Show shorts (the same goes for Castellaneta's vocal characterization of Homer, which started out as a Walter Matthau impression).

The dodgy animation does not, however, detract from The Simpsons' primary quality: it's really, really funny, in a bold, merciless way. In fact, it should be noted that from the very beginning (as relative a concept as that is), Matt Groening, James L. Brooks and the others knew exactly what would get the most laughs: any scene featuring Homer and Bart together. Proof? Two lines spoken by the kid: "Dad, there's one fat guy who gives us presents for Christmas, and his name ain't Santa Claus.", and, when he sees his father doing the Santa job, "Hi, I'm Bart Simpson. Who the hell are you?". That and so much more made this the ideal Christmas gift for TV audiences in 1989.

good, not even close to great but certainly made me laugh

[dobbin-4 · 6/10 · 6 January 2008]

The Simpsons roasting on an open fire is the first episode to air of The Simpsons a show which would become the most known show ever and best. This episode centres around mostly Homer who gets let off from a Christmas bonus that year because Mr Burns want's to save money and is only giving bonuses to the more experienced workers. In their last source of money Bart gets a tattoo with his Christmas money and Marge has to pay $1000 to get it lasered off. The episode is humorous and while not being as clever or well constructed humour wise but I laughed at least 5 times at Homer showing off early signs of him becoming what makes him famous now 19 years since this first showed in America. I rate this episode 69% for being good but certainly not what Simpsons is famous for.

Timeless Christmas Classic from 1989

[rebeccaajclarke · 10/10 · 5 November 2022]

I find the very first The Simpsons Christmas Special is a Timeless Classic, Despite the dated animation, But the story writing is very strong, witty and heartwarming, The Characters are memorable, good voice acting and it teaches very good morals, the sad part is Marge spend the Christmas Money on the surgery to remove her preteen son's tattoo at the Springfield Shopping Mall, But on the bright side The Simpsons Family have adopted the greyhound called Santa's Little Helper, despite he have lost at the Greyhound Race, and it is the best gift of all, It is a very good Christmas Classic, I'm giving this a 10/10 and Merry Christmas.

Not all Winners

[Seras11123 · 6/10 · 25 November 2021]

In the beginning episode of The Simpsons, we see there being a large emphasis being placed on morals and family values. Not the joke machine it later became. Not that I mind it. Mushy Simpsons aren't necessarily bad either as there's still plenty of irrelevancy to be found.

For the main family, very much of what we know and love is present. There's pieces missing to make it feel whole, but that's understandable considering the daring nature of it and how time has dated this. Obviously nothing like it airing in '89 though. Homer's a lovable oof, Bart is an underachiever, etc.

A rugged beginning but there is so much more to follow. But overall this is a sweet opening which successfully established a long lasting legeacy. Stay tuned. It'll only get better.

The Best Pilot Ever

[Christmas-Reviewer · 9/10 · 25 June 2019]

Review Date 6/25/2019

I have Reviewed OVER 500 "Christmas Films and Specials". Please BEWARE Of films and specials with just one review! For instance When "It's a POSITIVE" chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. "If its Negative" then they may have a grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare about these films.

When Homer doesn't get his Christmas bonus he is up the creek because Marge just spent the Christmas funds on getting Bart's tattoo removed. Very Funny!

The Best Christmas Special Since Charlie Brown Killed that Tree (Revised and Expanded)

[cinemastupid · 10/10 · 6 December 2009]

Everyone loves the Simpsons. They are the modern dysfunctional family. They first got noticed on the Tracy Ullman show, but were given an entire show, that outlived the previous by years. This is the first episode to premiere of the Simpsons on television, over 20 years ago. Today's youth is probably familiar with the movie, which was good, but this is truly the Simpsons. It is intelligent, funny, strange, and overall great. Not to mention the first appearance of Santa's Little Helper. If you're looking for a laugh, or just some classic Simpsons-Mania, go to the store and purchase season one. Some of the following seasons are completely better, like 4,5,7 but this... this is just fantastic. Trust me, you will not regret it. Just remember, though, the Simpson's has been declining in quality, but this isn't a threat to get old Simpson's back.

Still charming decades later.

[MlleSedTortue · 8/10 · 14 December 2020]

It's interesting to look back at the Simpsons first episode, one that was not necessarily meant to be the series opener and see how it still succeeds. Expanding on the original shorts, the episode does a good enough job by giving each family member a proper introduction. Of course most the episode is dedicated to Homer and Bart, but it demonstrates early on the that despite how dense Homer might be, he is still a loving father who goes out of his way to ensure his family has the best holiday possible. It really is the strength of these early Simpsons episodes in that while they may not be as funny as those from the later golden age, they still have a heart and sincerity to them that makes them special.

He's a Simpson

[snoozejonc · 9/10 · 31 May 2022]

Homer is struggling to provide a nice Christmas for the family.

This is a great festive first episode with a decent plot and good humour.

There is a nice heartwarming little story about a father trying his best to deliver during the festive season.

The comedy is very good, with some wonderfully observational moments about family life and great situations like the tattoo. My favourite part is 'Santa' sounding off to a little girl about Mrs Claus' sisters.

For me it's an 8.5/10 but I round upwards.

Not the Simpsons of later years but still enjoyable with an amusing air to it

[bob the moo · 18 January 2006]

When Bart gets a tattoo, Marge is forced to spend the family Christmas money on getting it removed; but at least they'll have Homer's Christmas bonus to cover them. However there is no bonus to be had, but Homer is too proud to admit it and sets out to take up an extra job to somehow try and save Christmas for the Simpsons.

The pilot for one of the most successful shows on television is a remarkably assured affair. Going from the rough shorts on the Tracey Ullman show to this, the jump is impressive and, although it is not as good as it would become a couple of series later, it is still unmistakably The Simpsons. The plot is pretty much the reliable turn to Homer trying to do things right while failing at the same time, it is not as sharp a comedy as later episodes and not as clever but it is still an enjoyable Christmas special with a gentle comedy. The message about the Christmas spirit is nothing that new but it is quite refreshingly free of sentimentality.

The characters are not quite the Simpsons that I have gotten used to but they are still OK. Homer is more a lovable dolt rather than the bitter, angry dolt that I personally prefer; Marge is a simple loving mother while Bart is naughty but still just a boy. Lisa is Lisa from the start and I enjoyed seeing the cast of support characters at their starting points (Barnie, Moe, Grandpa, Marge's sisters etc) but this is not the episode to come to looking for the characters you know from later episodes. Matching the characters, the voice work is not as strong and sharp as it would be later – most noticeably Homer is slower and thicker in his voice than later.

Overall though, this is a surprisingly solid first full showing for The Simpsons. It isn't the programme that it would become in several series time but it is still an enjoyable Christmas special with some good laughs and a general air of humour to it.

Openings, made easy.

[bpatten-59637 · 7/10 · 17 September 2020]

To open a show, to open a series, a franchise, a corporal medium to the world requires a lot. It means to allows every single character to be introduced, obviously not properly, but so much so as to let the audience become familiar with them all. What "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" does is let the dynamics and ideas flow over you as water, as a brisk Christmas Eve in 1989, letting you into the world of Springfield and the Simpsons. The episode has it's cliche and somewhat sporadically cringey moments, but aside from that, it's a fantastic opener.

If you're used to the "Simpsons" of today, you won't recognize this.

[MovieAddict2016 · 8/10 · 24 January 2006]

I purchased the "Simpsons" first and second season box sets a couple years ago, and what I was most astonished at is the shift in animation (more so than the humor itself) - the Simpsons look more like the Berenstain Bears than the familiar yellow cartoon characters we've grown accustomed to over the years.

The animation is rough, edgy and the transitions are awkward - there are no quick cuts punctuated by clips from the "Simpsons" theme song (which is what they use today to often transition scenes) - all of this isn't instantly noticeable, but after seeing older episodes a couple times I started to realize what was subconsciously making it feel like an entirely different television show.

Still, they had to start somewhere, and for what it is this is a very good pilot for the TV show.

It takes place at Christmas time (obviously). Mr. Burns announces that there will be no Christmas bonuses this year, meaning less spending money. Bart goes to the mall and gets a tattoo, and when Marge has it removed, it costs them all of their Christmas stash.

Homer takes advice from Barney and dresses up as Santa Claus at the mall, then bets on a dog at a local race track with the poor amount of money he's earned, but things continue to spiral downhill and Homer is left feeling like a failure - until, of course, everything is wrapped up quite nicely (without spoiling it).

Compared to episodes from Seasons 4 & 5 this is a rather flat and poorly animated "Simpsons" fare. However, when you take into account that this was the pilot and the start of everything, you know they had to start somewhere and, all considered, this was a good place to begin.

A classic Simpsons episode

[jakeobwalket-98572 · 7/10 · 13 December 2020]

Animation: 5/10: the animation is fine.

Story: 8/10: the story is very enjoyable

Lore: 2/10: Santa little helper

Episode overall: 7/10

Merry Simpsonmas

[rossrobinson · 10/10 · 19 September 2003]

The simpsons had the first episode as a christmas special. I loved what i saw on the episode, this is the first episode out of the whole series of the simpsons, the date that started with this episode was 17th december 1989.

A Really Good Christmas Special and The First Episode of The Simpsons

[GravityLoudHouseLover1 · 10/10 · 23 December 2019]

Hello Merry Christmas Today I'm Reviewing a Christmas Episode and The First episode of The Simpsons. "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". The episode aired 30 years ago on December 17, 1989. The episode is about Homer Simpson trying to buy Christmas Presents for his family but his boss Mr. Burns doesn't give anyone A Christmas raise so Homer Hopes Marge saves for Christmas with a Money Jar but Bart Simpson gets a Tattoo that Marge then takes him to a doctor to get it removed which cost a lot of money. So Homer Gets a Job as a Mall Santa but only gets paid $ 13. So Homer and Bart go to a dog bidding race but the dog Named Santa's Little Helper that they bid on loses but Homer take the Dog home because He a Simpson. Homer tries to tell everybody that he didn't get a Christmas raise but everyone instead focused on Santa's Little Helper & Marge kiss Homer & during the credits the Family Sings Jingle Bells and Lisa & Bart sing the song incorrect which Annoys Homer. Anyway for a First Episode & a Christmas Special of the Simpsons this is great. 10/10

Great Start to the best series ever

[MarvelFan4321 · 10/10 · 27 November 2010]

Simpsons roasting on a open fire is not the quality of a episode today but it is very funny.The story works and is in deph with the characters well developed and always giving something to do.

The emotional side of this story is very well balanced out with the humour with Homer trying to get a job so he can get Christmas presents for everyone after he does not get his Christmas bonus from Mr.burns and Bart gets a tattoo and Marge spends all the money she has to remove it.

The ending is a turning point when Santas little helper jumps into homers arms and a happy ending to a great episode with more episodes coming. My Final Rating:96%