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Difference between revisions of "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire/References"

Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
m (Cultural references)
(I moved the pictures for the animation errors to the goofs section. Not to mention the copyright of 1990 was a goof, since it aired 1989, although since Some Enchanted Evening was delayed due to its animation, this episode could've probably aired in 1990.)
 
(95 intermediate revisions by 23 users not shown)
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{{TabR
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{{TabR|nogags}}
|episode=Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
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{{EpisodePrevNextRef|TV Simpsons|Bart the Genius}}
}}
+
 
{{EpisodePrevNextRef|TV Simpsons|Bart the Genius|Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire}}
+
== Cultural references ==
==Notes==
+
*The episode features a similar storyline to the "Christmas Day at the Bunkers" episode of ''[[All in the Family]]''.
*This is the first and (so far) only episode that does not start with any kind of show opening. The title is shown and then the episode begins.
+
*The title is a reference to the line "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" from "{{W|The Christmas Song}}".
*This episode was nominated for, but did not win, a Primetime Emmy Award in the categories of "Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or less)" and "Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special."
+
*Bart refers to ''{{W|A Charlie Brown Christmas}}''
 +
*Bart refers to ''{{W|The Smurfs|The Smurfs Christmas Special}}''
 +
*Skinner mentions the book ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' and Bart refers to {{W2|Tiny Tim|A Christmas Carol}}.
 +
*Bart sings "[[Jingle Bells]]" with alternative "Batman Smells" lyrics.
 +
*Bart makes a disrespectful remark to a mall Santa, like in ''[[Miracle on 34th Street]]''.
 +
*The race-dog Dog o' War is a reference to racehorse {{W|Man o' War}}.
 +
*The family sing [[Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer]] at the end.
 +
*Bart is strapped to a table with a laser moving towards him, in a reference to ''{{W2|Goldfinger|film}}''.
 +
*Part of the plot is similar to ''{{W|The Gift of the Magi}}'': Homer doesn't get his Christmas bonus and says to himself "Oh well, thank goodness for the big jar" and Marge used her money to remove Bart's tattoo and says to herself "Oh well, thank goodness for Homer's Christmas bonus", similar to how in this short story by O'Henry, a man sells his watch to buy his wife an expensive set of combs and his wife has her hair cut, selling the remainder to a wigmaker, in order to buy a gold chain for her husband's watch.
 +
*[[Germany|German]] for "Merry Christmas" is "Fröhliche Weihnachten" or "Frohe Weihnachten".
 +
*There is no [[Japan]]ese word for "Merry Christmas." It is said as an English word with Japanese pronunciation: "Merii Kurisumasu". It is written メリークリスマス.
 +
 
 +
== Trivia ==
 +
*This is the only full-length episode to air in 1989, and in the 1980s in general.
 +
*Marge leaves her car door open when she gets to school for the performance.
 +
*This is the first episode that does not start with any kind of show opening. The title is shown and then the episode begins.
 +
*This episode was nominated for, but did not win, a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] in the categories of "Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or less)" and "Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special".
 
*DVD commentary revealed that the creators got letters of praise for heightening the awareness of the abandonment of racing dogs, who are often thrown out onto the streets when their owners decide the dogs are no longer profitable, even though they did not know it was a serious problem when they created the episode.
 
*DVD commentary revealed that the creators got letters of praise for heightening the awareness of the abandonment of racing dogs, who are often thrown out onto the streets when their owners decide the dogs are no longer profitable, even though they did not know it was a serious problem when they created the episode.
*When Lisa is doing the tribal dance, many people were curious as to why she isn't wearing anything from the waist down. Years later, the DVD commentary for this episode revealed that Lisa is actually wearing a leotard, and is in fact not naked.
+
*When [[Lisa]] is doing the tribal dance, many people were curious as to why she isn't wearing anything from the waist down. Years later, the DVD commentary for this episode revealed that Lisa is actually wearing a leotard, and is in fact not naked.
*Matt Groening said that he was inspired to do the "Christmas of Many Lands" sketch by an oral report he gave when he was in the second grade. Groening, whose grandmother is from Russia, gave a report on how Russian children are greeted by "Grandfather Winter" and given gifts from him, and how due to differences in the Julian and Gregorian calenders the Russians celebrate their Christmas in January.
+
*[[Matt Groening]] said that he was inspired to do the "Christmas of Many Lands" sketch by an oral report he gave when he was in the second grade. Groening, whose grandmother is from Russia, gave a report on how Russian children are greeted by "Grandfather Winter" and given gifts from him, and how due to differences in the Julian and Gregorian calenders the Russians celebrate their Christmas in January.
*[[Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer]] is heard playing.
+
[[File:Man who looks like Lou.png|thumb|The man that looks like Lou, talking to his son.]]
 +
*This episode was re-aired April 22, 2012, as part of Fox's 25th anniversary, 17 years and just over 4 months since the episode's last airing. After one page of the ending credits in that repeat, [[:File:FOX's 25th Anniversary Special Simpson First Episode.png|this]] appeared.
 +
*During the original broadcast, "The Simpsons Christmas Special" bumpers were seen at the end of ad-breaks, before the next part of the episode aired.
 +
*A man with a child is at the dog tracks. He appears to have the same character design as [[Lou]], but has yellow skin, and a similar voice, but is a bit higher.
 +
*The little boy in the play at the beginning appears to be [[Ralph Wiggum]], but his voice is completely different.
  
== Trivia ==
+
== Continuity ==
=== Signs and Other Things To Read ===
+
*Marge comments that Bart sings like an angel. In "[[New Kids on the Blecch]]", Marge says he's not much of a singer
*The [[Springfield Elementary School]] Christmas show receives 3 1/2 stars in a recent review advertised in front of the building.
+
 
*Lisa requests a pony six times on her Christmas wish list.
+
=== Signs and other things to read ===
*Next door to the tattoo parlor is Dr. Zitsofsky's Dermatology Clinic. A sign in the window reads, "Tattoos removed by laser."
+
*The [[Springfield Elementary School]] [[Christmas]] show receives 3 1/2 ({{star|3.5}}) stars from ''[[The Springfield Shopper]]'' in a recent review advertised in front of the building.
*Homer receives a 13 dollar check: He grossed $120 less social security, less unemployment insurance, less santa training, less costume purchase, less beard rental, less Christmas club.
+
*Two doors down from the [[The Happy Sailor Tattoo Parlor|tattoo parlor]] is [[Dr. Zitsofsky Dermatology Clinic]]. A sign in the window reads, "Tattoos removed by laser".
 +
*Homer receives a $13 check: He grossed $120 less social security, less unemployment insurance, less Santa training, less costume purchase, less beard rental, less Christmas club.
  
 
=== Background jokes ===
 
=== Background jokes ===
*One tattoo in the Happy Sailor Tattoo Parlor features a knife piercing a heart.
+
*One tattoo in The Happy Sailor Tattoo Parlor features a knife piercing a heart.
 
*Marge pulls her car into parking area "ZZ" at the [[Springfield Mall]].
 
*Marge pulls her car into parking area "ZZ" at the [[Springfield Mall]].
*The "slightly irregular" Christmas trees cost $45.
+
*The [[X-mas Trees Slightly Irregular|"slightly irregular" Christmas trees]] cost $45.
*Santa's Little Helper was number 8 in the greyhound race.
+
*[[Santa's Little Helper]] was number 8 in the greyhound race.
  
=== Counting Scenes ===
+
=== Counting scenes ===
*There are 28 children in Bart's 4th Grade class on stage during the Christmas concert.
+
*There are 28 children in [[Bart]]'s [[Fourth Grade|4th Grade]] class on stage during the Christmas concert, including Bart himself.
 +
[[File:Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire - SES's Fourth Grade.png|thumb|400px|Bart's class in the episode.]]
 +
*Lisa requests a pony six times on her Christmas wish list.
 
*Maggie fell 5 times:
 
*Maggie fell 5 times:
**While Bart and Lisa were writing their letters to Santa (twice)
+
**While Bart and Lisa were writing their letters to [[Santa]] (twice)
 
**Again off-screen shortly
 
**Again off-screen shortly
**Homer asks for the extension cord
+
**[[Homer]] asks for the extension cord
**Outside admiring Ned's Christmas lights
+
**Outside admiring [[Ned]]'s Christmas lights
  
 
=== Characters ===
 
=== Characters ===
*The mechanical rabbit's name is Screwy
+
*The mechanical rabbit seen at the racetrack is called [[Screwy]], as said by the announcer.
 
*Dogs in the race against Santa's Little Helper:
 
*Dogs in the race against Santa's Little Helper:
**Quadruped
+
**[[Quadruped]]
**Whirlwind
+
**[[Whirlwind]]
**Fido
+
**[[Fido]]
**Dog O' War
+
**[[Dog O' War]]
**Chew My Shoe
+
**[[Chew My Shoe]]
*This marks the first episode with [[Santa's Little Helper]], [[Patty Bouvier]], [[Selma Bouvier]], [[Ned Flanders]], [[Todd Flanders]], [[Mr. Burns]] and [[Smithers]].
 
  
== Errors ==
+
=== Differences from the promotional image and the scene from the episode ===
*Lewis changes from black to yellow when Milhouse dares Bart to pull Santa's beard off.
+
[[File:Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire promo.png|thumb|The promo image.]]
*After Homer brings Santa's Little Helper home, Homer and Marge hug, and if you look behind them, the background is upside down. There is a picture hanging upside down, and there is a lamp which seems to be hanging from the ceiling. Then in the next shot, the background is normal.
+
[[File:Jingle Bells carol.png|thumb|The scene from the episode.]]
*When Homer walks out Circus of Values with his purchases, he bumps into Flanders, and all the presents scatter everywhere. Watch out for a red present with a green bow that goes flying near the left hand side of the screen. As soon as it hits the ground it turns into a pink box with a white bow wrapped around it, with no shot changes. Other presents move around and change colors too.
+
 
 +
*In the episode scene:
 +
**The Christmas tree doesn't have any lights on it, but a bird house instead. There are also no presents next to the tree.
 +
**Patty and Selma can be seen singing.
 +
**The piano Grampa is playing is purple, not brown.
 +
**Grampa is wearing a purple sweater, not a green one.
 +
**There appear to be cushions on the window sill in the promo, but there aren't in the episode scene.
 +
**It is darker outside.
 +
**Homer's Santa suit is slightly different.
 +
**Bart is wearing a blue hoodie, but in the promo he just has a t-shirt on.
 +
**The stool Grampa is sitting on is different.
 +
**There is a red carpet on the floor.
 +
Note: It is very likely that FOX wanted to avoid spoilers so a similar image was used as the promo image.
 +
 
 +
== Goofs ==
 +
[[File:Marge with phone goof.png|200px|thumb|The difference between these two frames are a few seconds. As you can see, the phone wire disappears as Marge puts her hand down.]]
 +
[[File:Lewis' coloring error.png|200px|thumb|Lewis' coloring error.]]
 +
[[File:Upside-down scene.png|200px|thumb|The upside-down scene.]]
 +
[[File:1990 copyright.png|200px|thumb|The 1990 copyright.]]
 +
 
 +
*[[Sherri]] and [[Terri]] have brown hair and yellow skin in this episode.
 +
*The [[girl with a ponytail]] appears in this episode; however, she is seen in the [[Fourth Grade]] and not the [[Second Grade|second]].
 +
*[[Lewis Clark]] changes from black to yellow when [[Milhouse]] dares Bart to pull Santa's beard off. Also, his hair changes.
 +
*After Homer brings Santa's Little Helper home, Homer and [[Marge]] hug, and if you look behind them, the background is upside down. There is a picture of Bart hanging upside down, and there is a lamp which seems to be hanging from the ceiling. Then in the next shot, the background is normal.
 +
*When Homer walks out off [[Circus of Values]] with his purchases, he bumps into Flanders, and all the presents scatter everywhere. Watch out for a red present with a green bow that goes flying near the left hand side of the screen. As soon as it hits the ground, it turns into a pink box with a white bow wrapped around it, with no shot changes. Other presents move around and change colors, too.
 
*While having breakfast, all of the Simpsons' glasses of orange juice keep disappearing and reappearing throughout the scene.
 
*While having breakfast, all of the Simpsons' glasses of orange juice keep disappearing and reappearing throughout the scene.
 
*Bart yanks Homer's beard off in the mall, Homer then takes Bart into Santa's workshop. When they are inside Santa's workshop, Homer's beard is back on, despite the fact that he didn't put it back on, he let it fall to the ground when Bart pulled it off.
 
*Bart yanks Homer's beard off in the mall, Homer then takes Bart into Santa's workshop. When they are inside Santa's workshop, Homer's beard is back on, despite the fact that he didn't put it back on, he let it fall to the ground when Bart pulled it off.
*When Marge is speaking on the phone to her sisters, her sisters say something that sounds like they said that Homer is ugly. Marge then puts down the phone wire that she was curling round her finger. It is easier to see this when you are using DVD, because then you can go into slow-motion, but you can temporarily see that the phone wire disappears when Marge puts it down. It is at the very end of an early scene, because as soon as this happens it changes to another scene.
+
*When Marge is speaking on the phone to her sisters, Marge puts down the phone wire that she was curling round her finger. Half way through putting it down, the whole phone wire disappears. This is quite hard to see as it changes to the next scene quite quickly.
*When Homer finds out that he has no Christmas bonus the background behind Marge is the kitchen, but then it cuts to Homer and the background behind him is the kitchen too.
+
*Marge comes through the door and you see that she has come from a room with a piano in it. It has a musical book on it. But when the shot changes so we see Marge turn the jar upside down, the book of musical notes has disappeared.
*When Homer has been informed about the Christmas money being spent on Bart getting his tattoo surgically removed, he leaves the house. When he opens and closes the door to leave, the wreath on the door is white with a red bow. When Homer then turns to look his Christmas decorations, the wreath is now green.
+
*When Homer finds out that he has no Christmas bonus, the background behind Marge is the kitchen, but then it cuts to Homer and the background behind him is the kitchen, too.
*Just before the kitchen mistake, Marge comes through the door and you see that she has come from a room with a piano in it. It has a musical book on it. But when the shot changes so we see Marge turn the jar upside down, the book of musical notes has disappeared.
+
*When Homer has been informed about the Christmas money being spent on Bart getting his tattoo surgically removed, he leaves the house. When he opens and closes the door to leave, the wreath on the door is white with a red bow. When Homer then turns to look at his Christmas decorations, the wreath is now green.
*When Mr. Burns comes on the P.A. system Homer started eating a donut, he takes a bite and after that the donut stays the same size even though he takes 2 more bites. Additionally, when Mr Burns says that there will be no Christmas Bonuses, everyone's donut disappears.
+
*When Mr. Burns comes on the P.A. system, Homer started eating a donut. He takes a bite and after that the donut stays the same size even though he takes 2 more bites. Additionally, when Mr. Burns says that there will be no Christmas bonuses, some people's donuts disappear.
*When Homer is putting Christmas lights around the outside of the house, he falls from the roof. You can then hear Lisa and Bart sarcastically clap. But you can see they both have their hands by their side, and no-one is clapping.
+
*When Homer is putting Christmas lights around the outside of the house, he falls from the roof. You can then hear Lisa and Bart sarcastically clap. But you can see they both have their hands by their side, and no one is clapping.
 
*When Milhouse, Bart and Lewis are talking about the fake Santa, Milhouse's eyebrows go from blue to black to blue again.
 
*When Milhouse, Bart and Lewis are talking about the fake Santa, Milhouse's eyebrows go from blue to black to blue again.
 
*When Homer walks up the front drive you can see the road and there are no markings on it. But when he turns to look at his house, there are orange lines running down the road.
 
*When Homer walks up the front drive you can see the road and there are no markings on it. But when he turns to look at his house, there are orange lines running down the road.
 
*When Marge reveals the Christmas money from her hair, her necklace changes from red to white.
 
*When Marge reveals the Christmas money from her hair, her necklace changes from red to white.
*When Homer says that he isn't getting a bonus from the power plant he is facing the kitchen but in the next shot Marge is behind Homer who is behind the kitchen.
+
*When Homer says that he isn't getting a bonus from the [[Springfield Nuclear Power Plant|Power Plant]] he is facing the kitchen but in the next shot Marge is behind Homer who is behind the kitchen.
*The little boy in the play at the beginning appears to be [[Ralph Wiggum]], but his voice is completely different.
+
*When Homer goes into the kitchen before leaving, he turns left, and apparently goes out the front door.
 +
*[[Wendell]] is yellow in this episode.
 +
*When Homer hands Marge the phone, it appears that the phone base is on the floor infront of her, as the phone wire isn't stretched from across the room.
 +
*When Homer puts the pork chop chew toy in the trolley, it stays perched in one position on the screen, not falling to the bottom of the trolley.
 +
*During Homer's drive to get a Christmas tree, his car changes from pink to blue to pink to black.
 +
*When Lisa talks to [[Patty]], some of the lines that make the spikes in Lisa's hair disappear.
 +
*When Lisa is touching Bart's bandage of his tattoo, he says "Ow. Quit it". When he says, "Ow", his mouth moves for the "O" bit, but not the "w" bit.
 +
*This episode's credits have a [[1990]] copyright, despite airing in [[1989]].
 +
**This may be a typo.
 +
**A more likely explanation is because this episode was originally intended to air half way through season 1, meaning it would have aired in 1990.
 +
 
 +
{{Season 1|R}}
  
== Cultural references ==
+
[[Category:Trivia]]
*[[wikipedia:All in the Family|All in the Family]]: similar storyline.
 
*[[wikipedia:The Christmas Song|The Christmas Song]]: title is a pun on the line "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire".
 
*[[wikipedia:Peanuts|Peanuts]]: Bart refers to ''A Charlie Brown Christmas''
 
*[[wikipedia:The Smurfs|The Smurfs]]: Bart refers to ''The Smurfs Christmas Special''
 
*[[wikipedia:A Christmas Carol|A Christmas Carol]]: Skinner mentions the book and Bart refers to Tiny Tim.
 
*[[wikipedia:Jingle Bells|Jingle Bells]]: Bart sings the "Batman Smells" alternative.
 
*[[wikipedia:Miracle on 34th Street|Miracle on 34th Street]]: Bart makes a disrespectful remark to a mall Santa.
 
*[[wikipedia:Man o' War|Man o' War]]: a dog is called Dog o' War.
 
*[[wikipedia:Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer|Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer]]: The family sings it at the end.
 
*[[wikipedia:Goldfinger (film)|Goldfinger]]: Bart is strapped to a table with a laser moving towards him.
 
*[[wikipedia:The Gift of the Magi|Gift of the Magi]]: Homer doesn't get his Christmas bonus and says to himself "Oh well, thank goodness for the big jar" and Marge used her money to remove Bart's tattoo and says to herself "Oh well, thank goodness for Homer's Christmas bonus", similar to how in this short story by O'Henry, a man sells his watch to buy his wife an expensive set of combs and his wife has her hair cut, selling the remainder to a wigmaker, in order to buy a gold chain for her husband's watch.
 
{{Season 1 R}}
 
[[Category:References]]
 
 
[[Category:Cultural references]]
 
[[Category:Cultural references]]
[[Category:Trivia]]
+
[[Category:Goofs]]

Latest revision as of 19:04, November 13, 2022

References/Trivia


Season 1 Episode References
Short 48 "TV Simpsons"
001
"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"
"Bart the Genius" 002


Cultural references[edit]

  • The episode features a similar storyline to the "Christmas Day at the Bunkers" episode of All in the Family.
  • The title is a reference to the line "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" from "The Christmas Song".
  • Bart refers to A Charlie Brown Christmas
  • Bart refers to The Smurfs Christmas Special
  • Skinner mentions the book A Christmas Carol and Bart refers to Tiny Tim.
  • Bart sings "Jingle Bells" with alternative "Batman Smells" lyrics.
  • Bart makes a disrespectful remark to a mall Santa, like in Miracle on 34th Street.
  • The race-dog Dog o' War is a reference to racehorse Man o' War.
  • The family sing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer at the end.
  • Bart is strapped to a table with a laser moving towards him, in a reference to Goldfinger.
  • Part of the plot is similar to The Gift of the Magi: Homer doesn't get his Christmas bonus and says to himself "Oh well, thank goodness for the big jar" and Marge used her money to remove Bart's tattoo and says to herself "Oh well, thank goodness for Homer's Christmas bonus", similar to how in this short story by O'Henry, a man sells his watch to buy his wife an expensive set of combs and his wife has her hair cut, selling the remainder to a wigmaker, in order to buy a gold chain for her husband's watch.
  • German for "Merry Christmas" is "Fröhliche Weihnachten" or "Frohe Weihnachten".
  • There is no Japanese word for "Merry Christmas." It is said as an English word with Japanese pronunciation: "Merii Kurisumasu". It is written メリークリスマス.

Trivia[edit]

  • This is the only full-length episode to air in 1989, and in the 1980s in general.
  • Marge leaves her car door open when she gets to school for the performance.
  • This is the first episode that does not start with any kind of show opening. The title is shown and then the episode begins.
  • This episode was nominated for, but did not win, a Primetime Emmy Award in the categories of "Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or less)" and "Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special".
  • DVD commentary revealed that the creators got letters of praise for heightening the awareness of the abandonment of racing dogs, who are often thrown out onto the streets when their owners decide the dogs are no longer profitable, even though they did not know it was a serious problem when they created the episode.
  • When Lisa is doing the tribal dance, many people were curious as to why she isn't wearing anything from the waist down. Years later, the DVD commentary for this episode revealed that Lisa is actually wearing a leotard, and is in fact not naked.
  • Matt Groening said that he was inspired to do the "Christmas of Many Lands" sketch by an oral report he gave when he was in the second grade. Groening, whose grandmother is from Russia, gave a report on how Russian children are greeted by "Grandfather Winter" and given gifts from him, and how due to differences in the Julian and Gregorian calenders the Russians celebrate their Christmas in January.
The man that looks like Lou, talking to his son.
  • This episode was re-aired April 22, 2012, as part of Fox's 25th anniversary, 17 years and just over 4 months since the episode's last airing. After one page of the ending credits in that repeat, this appeared.
  • During the original broadcast, "The Simpsons Christmas Special" bumpers were seen at the end of ad-breaks, before the next part of the episode aired.
  • A man with a child is at the dog tracks. He appears to have the same character design as Lou, but has yellow skin, and a similar voice, but is a bit higher.
  • The little boy in the play at the beginning appears to be Ralph Wiggum, but his voice is completely different.

Continuity[edit]

  • Marge comments that Bart sings like an angel. In "New Kids on the Blecch", Marge says he's not much of a singer

Signs and other things to read[edit]

Background jokes[edit]

Counting scenes[edit]

  • There are 28 children in Bart's 4th Grade class on stage during the Christmas concert, including Bart himself.
Bart's class in the episode.
  • Lisa requests a pony six times on her Christmas wish list.
  • Maggie fell 5 times:
    • While Bart and Lisa were writing their letters to Santa (twice)
    • Again off-screen shortly
    • Homer asks for the extension cord
    • Outside admiring Ned's Christmas lights

Characters[edit]

Differences from the promotional image and the scene from the episode[edit]

The promo image.
The scene from the episode.
  • In the episode scene:
    • The Christmas tree doesn't have any lights on it, but a bird house instead. There are also no presents next to the tree.
    • Patty and Selma can be seen singing.
    • The piano Grampa is playing is purple, not brown.
    • Grampa is wearing a purple sweater, not a green one.
    • There appear to be cushions on the window sill in the promo, but there aren't in the episode scene.
    • It is darker outside.
    • Homer's Santa suit is slightly different.
    • Bart is wearing a blue hoodie, but in the promo he just has a t-shirt on.
    • The stool Grampa is sitting on is different.
    • There is a red carpet on the floor.

Note: It is very likely that FOX wanted to avoid spoilers so a similar image was used as the promo image.

Goofs[edit]

The difference between these two frames are a few seconds. As you can see, the phone wire disappears as Marge puts her hand down.
Lewis' coloring error.
The upside-down scene.
The 1990 copyright.
  • Sherri and Terri have brown hair and yellow skin in this episode.
  • The girl with a ponytail appears in this episode; however, she is seen in the Fourth Grade and not the second.
  • Lewis Clark changes from black to yellow when Milhouse dares Bart to pull Santa's beard off. Also, his hair changes.
  • After Homer brings Santa's Little Helper home, Homer and Marge hug, and if you look behind them, the background is upside down. There is a picture of Bart hanging upside down, and there is a lamp which seems to be hanging from the ceiling. Then in the next shot, the background is normal.
  • When Homer walks out off Circus of Values with his purchases, he bumps into Flanders, and all the presents scatter everywhere. Watch out for a red present with a green bow that goes flying near the left hand side of the screen. As soon as it hits the ground, it turns into a pink box with a white bow wrapped around it, with no shot changes. Other presents move around and change colors, too.
  • While having breakfast, all of the Simpsons' glasses of orange juice keep disappearing and reappearing throughout the scene.
  • Bart yanks Homer's beard off in the mall, Homer then takes Bart into Santa's workshop. When they are inside Santa's workshop, Homer's beard is back on, despite the fact that he didn't put it back on, he let it fall to the ground when Bart pulled it off.
  • When Marge is speaking on the phone to her sisters, Marge puts down the phone wire that she was curling round her finger. Half way through putting it down, the whole phone wire disappears. This is quite hard to see as it changes to the next scene quite quickly.
  • Marge comes through the door and you see that she has come from a room with a piano in it. It has a musical book on it. But when the shot changes so we see Marge turn the jar upside down, the book of musical notes has disappeared.
  • When Homer finds out that he has no Christmas bonus, the background behind Marge is the kitchen, but then it cuts to Homer and the background behind him is the kitchen, too.
  • When Homer has been informed about the Christmas money being spent on Bart getting his tattoo surgically removed, he leaves the house. When he opens and closes the door to leave, the wreath on the door is white with a red bow. When Homer then turns to look at his Christmas decorations, the wreath is now green.
  • When Mr. Burns comes on the P.A. system, Homer started eating a donut. He takes a bite and after that the donut stays the same size even though he takes 2 more bites. Additionally, when Mr. Burns says that there will be no Christmas bonuses, some people's donuts disappear.
  • When Homer is putting Christmas lights around the outside of the house, he falls from the roof. You can then hear Lisa and Bart sarcastically clap. But you can see they both have their hands by their side, and no one is clapping.
  • When Milhouse, Bart and Lewis are talking about the fake Santa, Milhouse's eyebrows go from blue to black to blue again.
  • When Homer walks up the front drive you can see the road and there are no markings on it. But when he turns to look at his house, there are orange lines running down the road.
  • When Marge reveals the Christmas money from her hair, her necklace changes from red to white.
  • When Homer says that he isn't getting a bonus from the Power Plant he is facing the kitchen but in the next shot Marge is behind Homer who is behind the kitchen.
  • When Homer goes into the kitchen before leaving, he turns left, and apparently goes out the front door.
  • Wendell is yellow in this episode.
  • When Homer hands Marge the phone, it appears that the phone base is on the floor infront of her, as the phone wire isn't stretched from across the room.
  • When Homer puts the pork chop chew toy in the trolley, it stays perched in one position on the screen, not falling to the bottom of the trolley.
  • During Homer's drive to get a Christmas tree, his car changes from pink to blue to pink to black.
  • When Lisa talks to Patty, some of the lines that make the spikes in Lisa's hair disappear.
  • When Lisa is touching Bart's bandage of his tattoo, he says "Ow. Quit it". When he says, "Ow", his mouth moves for the "O" bit, but not the "w" bit.
  • This episode's credits have a 1990 copyright, despite airing in 1989.
    • This may be a typo.
    • A more likely explanation is because this episode was originally intended to air half way through season 1, meaning it would have aired in 1990.
Season 1 References
Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire Bart the Genius Homer's Odyssey There's No Disgrace Like Home Bart the General Moaning Lisa The Call of the Simpsons The Telltale Head Life on the Fast Lane Homer's Night Out The Crepes of Wrath Krusty Gets Busted Some Enchanted Evening