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Difference between revisions of "The Simpsons shorts"

Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
(Season 3)
(Removed all red links)
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'''The Simpsons Shorts''' is a series of one-minute shorts that ran on the variety show ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'' for three seasons, before the characters spun off into their own half-hour prime time show called ''[[The Simpsons]]''. The shorts were created by cartoonist [[Matt Groening]] in the lobby of [[James L. Brooks]]'s office. He had been called in to pitch a series of animated shorts, and had intended to present his ''[[Life in Hell]]'' series. When he realized that animating ''Life in Hell'' would require him to rescind publication rights for his life's work, Groening decided to go in another direction.<ref name="americasfirstfamily">{{cite video|people=BBC|year=2000|title='The Simpsons': America's First Family (6 minute edit for the season 1 DVD)|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250735/|format=DVD|location=UK|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> He hurriedly sketched out his version of a dysfunctional family, and named the characters after his own family.<ref name="americasfirstfamily"/> Bart was modeled after Groening's older brother, Mark, but given a different name which was chosen as an [[anagram]] of "brat."<ref name="mark">{{cite news|first=Alan |last=Paul|title=Matt Groening||format=Interview|publisher=Flux Magazine Issue #6|pages= |page= |date=[[1999-09-30]]}}</ref>  
+
'''The Simpsons Shorts''' is a series of one-minute shorts that ran on the variety show ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'' for three seasons, before the characters spun off into their own half-hour prime time show called ''[[The Simpsons]]''. The shorts were created by cartoonist [[Matt Groening]] in the lobby of [[James L. Brooks]]'s office. He had been called in to pitch a series of animated shorts, and had intended to present his ''[[Life in Hell]]'' series. When he realized that animating ''Life in Hell'' would require him to rescind publication rights for his life's work, Groening decided to go in another direction.<ref name="americasfirstfamily">{{cite video|people=BBC|year=2000|title='The Simpsons': America's First Family (6 minute edit for the season 1 DVD)|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250735/|format=DVD|location=UK|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> He hurriedly sketched out his version of a dysfunctional family, and named the characters after his own family.<ref name="americasfirstfamily"/> Bart was modeled after Groening's older brother, Mark, but given a different name which was chosen as an anagram of "brat."<ref name="mark">{{cite news|first=Alan |last=Paul|title=Matt Groening||format=Interview|publisher=Flux Magazine Issue #6|pages= |page= |date=[[1999-09-30]]}}</ref>
  
 
The stories were written and storyboarded by Matt Groening.<ref name="silverman">{{cite web|author=Cagle, Daryl|url=http://cagle.msnbc.com/hogan/interviews/silverman.asp|title=The David Silverman Interview|accessdate=2006-12-29|publisher=MSNBC}}</ref> The family was crudely drawn, because Groening had submitted basic sketches to the animators, assuming they would clean them up; instead they just traced over his drawings.<ref name="americasfirstfamily"/> The animation was produced domestically at [[Klasky Csupo]],<ref name="animation">{{cite news |first=Harvey |last=Deneroff|title=Matt Groening's Baby Turns 10||publisher=Animation Magazine, Vol. 14, #1|date=[[January 2000]]|pages=10, 12}}</ref> with [[Wesley Archer]], [[David Silverman]], and [[Bill Kopp]] being animators for the first season.<ref name="silverman"/> After season one it was animated by Archer and Silverman.<ref name="silverman"/> Georgie Peluse was the colorist and the person who decided to make the characters yellow.<ref name="silverman"/>
 
The stories were written and storyboarded by Matt Groening.<ref name="silverman">{{cite web|author=Cagle, Daryl|url=http://cagle.msnbc.com/hogan/interviews/silverman.asp|title=The David Silverman Interview|accessdate=2006-12-29|publisher=MSNBC}}</ref> The family was crudely drawn, because Groening had submitted basic sketches to the animators, assuming they would clean them up; instead they just traced over his drawings.<ref name="americasfirstfamily"/> The animation was produced domestically at [[Klasky Csupo]],<ref name="animation">{{cite news |first=Harvey |last=Deneroff|title=Matt Groening's Baby Turns 10||publisher=Animation Magazine, Vol. 14, #1|date=[[January 2000]]|pages=10, 12}}</ref> with [[Wesley Archer]], [[David Silverman]], and [[Bill Kopp]] being animators for the first season.<ref name="silverman"/> After season one it was animated by Archer and Silverman.<ref name="silverman"/> Georgie Peluse was the colorist and the person who decided to make the characters yellow.<ref name="silverman"/>
  
The characters are voiced by the same people known from ''The Simpsons''. [[Dan Castellaneta]] performed the voices of [[Homer Simpson]], [[Abraham Simpson]], and [[Krusty the Clown]].<ref name="crew">{{cite book|last=Richmond |first=Ray|coauthors=Antonia Coffman|title=The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to our Favorite Family |year=1997 |publisher=Harper Collins Publishers|id=ISBN 0-00063-8898-1|pages=p. 178}}</ref> Homer's voice sounds different on the shorts compared to most episodes of the half-hour show. His voice was in the beginning a loose impression of [[Walter Matthau]], but it became more robust and humorous on the half-hour show, allowing Homer to cover a fuller range of emotions.<ref>{{cite news|author=Brownfield, Paul|title=He's Homer, but This Odyssey Is His Own|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=[[1999-07-06]]}}</ref> [[Julie Kavner]], [[Nancy Cartwright]], and [[Yeardley Smith]] performed the voices of [[Marge Simpson]], [[Bart Simpson]], and [[Lisa Simpson]] respectively.<ref name="crew"/>
+
The characters are voiced by the same people known from ''The Simpsons''. [[Dan Castellaneta]] performed the voices of [[Homer Simpson]], [[Abraham Simpson]], and [[Krusty the Clown]]. Homer's voice sounds different on the shorts compared to most episodes of the half-hour show. His voice was in the beginning a loose impression of [[Walter Matthau]], but it became more robust and humorous on the half-hour show, allowing Homer to cover a fuller range of emotions.<ref>{{cite news|author=Brownfield, Paul|title=He's Homer, but This Odyssey Is His Own|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=[[1999-07-06]]}}</ref> [[Julie Kavner]], [[Nancy Cartwright]], and [[Yeardley Smith]] performed the voices of [[Marge Simpson]], [[Bart Simpson]], and [[Lisa Simpson]] respectively.
  
The shorts were featured on the first three seasons on ''The Tracey Ullman Show''. By the fourth and last season of ''The Tracey Ullman Show'' the first season of the half-hour show was on the air. In the two first seasons the shorts were divided into three or four parts,<ref name="book">{{cite book|last=Richmond |first=Ray|coauthors=Antonia Coffman|title=The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to our Favorite Family |year=1997 |publisher=Harper Collins Publishers|id=ISBN 0-00063-8898-1|pages=pp. 14-15}}</ref> In the third season they were played as a single story.<ref name="book"/> [[Tracey Ullman]] filed a lawsuit, claiming that her show was the source of ''The Simpsons'' success and therefore should receive a share of the show's profit. Eventually the courts ruled in favor of the network.<ref name="ullman">{{cite news |first=Frank|last=Spotnitz||title=Eat my shorts!|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|page=8(1)|date=[[1992-10-23]]}}</ref>
+
The shorts were featured on the first three seasons on ''The Tracey Ullman Show''. By the fourth and last season of ''The Tracey Ullman Show'' the first season of the half-hour show was on the air. In the two first seasons the shorts were divided into three or four parts, in the third season they were played as a single story. [[Tracey Ullman]] filed a lawsuit, claiming that her show was the source of ''The Simpsons'' success and therefore should receive a share of the show's profit. Eventually the courts ruled in favor of the network.<ref name="ullman">{{cite news |first=Frank|last=Spotnitz||title=Eat my shorts!|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|page=8(1)|date=[[1992-10-23]]}}</ref>
  
Only a few of these shorts have been released on DVD. "Good Night" was included on The Simpsons [[The Simpsons DVD Sets|season 1 DVD]]. Five of these shorts were later used in the clip show episode "[[The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular]]" on the half-hour show, which was released on the season 7 DVD. These five shorts were "Good Night", "The Perfect Crime", "Space Patrol", "World War III", and "Bathtime".<ref>{{cite book|last=Richmond |first=Ray|coauthors=Antonia Coffman|title=The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to our Favorite Family |year=1997 |publisher=Harper Collins Publishers|id=ISBN 0-00063-8898-1|pages=p. 191}}</ref> Groening has announced that all of the shorts will be available on mobile phones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pr-inside.com/groenings-r...urn-r14068.htm|title=Groening's repeats u-turn|date=[[2006-08-06]]|accessdate=2007-01-11}}</ref>
+
Only a few of these shorts have been released on DVD. "Good Night" was included on The Simpsons [[Season 1|season 1]] DVD. Five of these shorts were later used in the clip show episode "[[The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular]]" on the half-hour show, which was released on the season 7 DVD. These five shorts were "Good Night", "The Perfect Crime", "Space Patrol", "World War III", and "Bathtime". Groening has announced that all of the shorts will be available on mobile phones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pr-inside.com/groenings-r...urn-r14068.htm|title=Groening's repeats u-turn|date=2006-08-06|accessdate=2007-01-11}}</ref>
  
 
== Season 1 ==
 
== Season 1 ==
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
 
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |#
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |#
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Airdate
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Airdate
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Title
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Title
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Screenshot
+
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Image
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|1 - 101
 
|1 - 101
|[[April 19]], [[1987]]
+
|April 19, [[1987]]
 
|"[[Good Night (The Simpsons short)|Good Night]]"
 
|"[[Good Night (The Simpsons short)|Good Night]]"
 
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Goodnightshort.JPG|120px]]
 
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Goodnightshort.JPG|120px]]
Line 25: Line 24:
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|2 - 102
 
|2 - 102
|[[May 3]], [[1987]]
+
|May 3, [[1987]]
 
|"Watching TV"
 
|"Watching TV"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons watching tv.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart and Lisa quarrel over what channel they should watch. Repeatedly Maggie comes up to the television and changes the channel. The only thing they eventually agree on is to stop Maggie changing the channel. Later Homer is saying a speech about family matters and stops when the show comes back on.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart and Lisa quarrel over what channel they should watch. Repeatedly Maggie comes up to the television and changes the channel. The only thing they eventually agree on is to stop Maggie changing the channel. Later Homer is saying a speech about family matters and stops when the show comes back on.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|3 - 103
 
|3 - 103
|[[May 10]], [[1987]]
+
|May 10, [[1987]]
 
|"Jumping Bart"
 
|"Jumping Bart"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons jumping bart.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:JumpingBart.jpg|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer makes several attempts to have Bart jump into his arms. Each time Bart jumps Homer is distracted and fails to catch him.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer makes several attempts to have Bart jump into his arms. Each time Bart jumps Homer is distracted and fails to catch him.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|4 - 104
 
|4 - 104
|[[May 31]], [[1987]]
+
|May 31, [[1987]]
 
|"Babysitting Maggie"
 
|"Babysitting Maggie"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons babysitting maggie.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Maggienooooooooooo!.jpg|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Marge puts Bart and Lisa in charge of babysitting Maggie. They totally ignore her, and she gets electrocuted, falls down the stairs and chases a butterfly onto the roof only to fall off the roof.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Marge puts Bart and Lisa in charge of babysitting Maggie. They totally ignore her, and she gets electrocuted, falls down the stairs and chases a butterfly onto the roof only to fall off the roof.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|5 - 105
 
|5 - 105
|[[June 21]], [[1987]]
+
|June 21, [[1987]]
 
|"The Pacifier"
 
|"The Pacifier"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons the pacifier.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Chill.jpg|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart and Lisa take Maggie's pacifier away to stop her from sucking on it. Maggie has an entire drawerful of them and refuses to kick the habit.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart and Lisa take Maggie's pacifier away to stop her from sucking on it. Maggie has an entire drawerful of them and refuses to kick the habit.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|6 - 106
 
|6 - 106
|[[June 28]], [[1987]]
+
|June 28, [[1987]]
 
|"Burping Contest"
 
|"Burping Contest"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons burping contest.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Brawo!.jpg|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart, Lisa and Maggie compete in a contest to see who can make the most disgusting burp. Marge objects several times, but to no avail.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart, Lisa and Maggie compete in a contest to see who can make the most disgusting burp. Marge objects several times, but to no avail.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|7 - 107
 
|7 - 107
|[[July 12]], [[1987]]
+
|July 12, [[1987]]
 
|"Dinnertime
 
|"Dinnertime
 
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Short.eatingdinner.JPG|120px]]
 
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Short.eatingdinner.JPG|120px]]
Line 69: Line 68:
 
== Season 2 ==
 
== Season 2 ==
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
 
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |#
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |#
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Airdate
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Airdate
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Title
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Title
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Screenshot
+
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Image
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|8 - 201
 
|8 - 201
|[[September 22]], [[1987]]
+
|September 22, [[1987]]
 
|"Making Faces"
 
|"Making Faces"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons Making Faces.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Terribleface.jpg|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The kids make scary faces at each other. Marge warns them that if they make scary faces, the faces will stay there forever. This warning has the opposite effect.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The kids make scary faces at each other. Marge warns them that if they make scary faces, the faces will stay there forever. This warning has the opposite effect.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|9 - 202
 
|9 - 202
|[[October 4]], [[1987]]
+
|October 4, [[1987]]
 
|"The Funeral"
 
|"The Funeral"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons The Funeral.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Funeral.png|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" | Uncle Hubert is dead and the family attends his funeral. Bart is determined to see his uncle's corpse, but passes out when he glances into the casket.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" | Uncle Hubert is dead and the family attends his funeral. Bart is determined to see his uncle's corpse, but passes out when he glances into the casket.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|10 - 203
 
|10 - 203
|[[October 11]], [[1987]]
+
|October 11, [[1987]]
 
|"What Maggie's Thinking"
 
|"What Maggie's Thinking"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons Maggies Brain.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Maggies Brain short.png|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart and Lisa wonder what's inside Maggie's mind when looking at her in her crib. Maggie sees them as demons and later as infants with her being the grown up.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart and Lisa wonder what's inside Maggie's mind when looking at her in her crib. Maggie sees them as demons and later as infants with her being the grown up.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|11 - 204
 
|11 - 204
|[[October 18]], [[1987]]
+
|October 18, [[1987]]
 
|"Football"
 
|"Football"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons Football.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Short.worldwarIII.JPG|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer promises the kids chocolate milkshakes if Bart can catch one of his father's long football passes. Unfortunately, there are many obstacles to overcome.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer promises the kids chocolate milkshakes if Bart can catch one of his father's long football passes. Unfortunately, there are many obstacles to overcome.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|12 - 205
 
|12 - 205
|[[October 25]], [[1987]]
+
|October 25, [[1987]]
 
|"House of Cards"
 
|"House of Cards"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons House Of Cards.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart tries to make a house of cards, but Lisa and Maggie make noises that cause the house to fall every time.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart tries to make a house of cards, but Lisa and Maggie make noises that cause the house to fall every time.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|13 - 206
 
|13 - 206
|[[November 1]], [[1987]]
+
|November 1, [[1987]]
 
|"Bart and Homer's Dinner"
 
|"Bart and Homer's Dinner"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons Bart And Homer Dinner.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The girls are out watching a ballet and Homer is in charge of the dinner. Bart can't stomach it when he is forced to eat a mix of fish nuggets and pork-a-roni.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The girls are out watching a ballet and Homer is in charge of the dinner. Bart can't stomach it when he is forced to eat a mix of fish nuggets and pork-a-roni.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|14 - 207
 
|14 - 207
|[[November 8]], [[1987]]
+
|November , [[1987]]
 
|"Space Patrol"
 
|"Space Patrol"
 
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Short.spacepatrol.JPG|120px]]
 
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Short.spacepatrol.JPG|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart, Lisa and Maggie play a game of "Space Patrol" while Homer and Marge are out. Lisa plays a superhero with Maggie as her sidekick, while Bart puts a jug on his head with the pretense of it being the helmet of an alien warlord. However, his head stuck in the jug and Lisa "frees" Bart using a croquet mallet.  
+
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart, Lisa and Maggie play a game of "Space Patrol" while Homer and Marge are out. Lisa plays a superhero with Maggie as her sidekick, while Bart puts a jug on his head with the pretense of it being the helmet of an alien warlord. However, his head stuck in the jug and Lisa "frees" Bart using a croquet mallet.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|15 - 208
 
|15 - 208
|[[November 15]], [[1987]]
+
|November 15, [[1987]]
 
|"Bart's Haircut"
 
|"Bart's Haircut"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons Barts Haircut.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart's hair is too long and he is sent to a barber. His hair cut is too short and he tries multiple ways to hide it.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart's hair is too long and he is sent to a barber. His hair cut is too short and he tries multiple ways to hide it.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|16 - 209
 
|16 - 209
|[[November 22]], [[1987]]
+
|November 22, [[1987]]
 
|"World War III"
 
|"World War III"
 
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Short.worldwarIII.JPG|120px]]
 
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Short.worldwarIII.JPG|120px]]
Line 139: Line 137:
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|17 - 210
 
|17 - 210
|[[December 13]], [[1987]]
+
|December 13, [[1987]]
 
|"The Perfect Crime"
 
|"The Perfect Crime"
 
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Short.perfectcrime.JPG|120px]]
 
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Short.perfectcrime.JPG|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Marge bakes a batch of delicious cookies and Bart attempts to steal them, when everyone except him and Maggie leave the kitchen. Homer and Marge come back to find the tray empty, but Maggie guides them along a trail of cookies running across the floor. The family catches Bart lying on his back in his bedroom amidst a pile of cookie crumbs.  
+
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Marge bakes a batch of delicious cookies and Bart attempts to steal them, when everyone except him and Maggie leave the kitchen. Homer and Marge come back to find the tray empty, but Maggie guides them along a trail of cookies running across the floor. The family catches Bart lying on his back in his bedroom amidst a pile of cookie crumbs.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|18 - 211
 
|18 - 211
|[[December 20]], [[1987]]
+
|December 20, [[1987]]
 
|"Scary Stories"
 
|"Scary Stories"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons Scary Stories.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:ScaryStories.png|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart tells Lisa and Maggie a series of scary stories in the dark only to believe they're coming true.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart tells Lisa and Maggie a series of scary stories in the dark only to believe they're coming true.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|19 - 212
 
|19 - 212
|[[January 10]], [[1988]]
+
|January 10, [[1988]]
 
|"Grampa and the Kids"
 
|"Grampa and the Kids"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons Grampa And The Kids.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Grampa tells the kids stories from the good old days. When the kids stop paying attention to him, he feigns his own death to recapture their attention.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Grampa tells the kids stories from the good old days. When the kids stop paying attention to him, he feigns his own death to recapture their attention.
* This is [[Abraham Simpson]]'s first appearance.
 
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|20 - 213
 
|20 - 213
|[[January 24]], [[1988]]
+
|January 24, [[1988]]
 
|"Gone Fishin'"
 
|"Gone Fishin'"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons Gone Fishing.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart and Homer go on a fishing trip. Homer asks Bart for a balogna sandwich, but Bart forgot the bologna. He puts the bait on the sandwich instead. When they get the boat in the water they hit rapids and later fall off of a waterfall.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart and Homer go on a fishing trip. Homer asks Bart for a balogna sandwich, but Bart forgot the bologna. He puts the bait on the sandwich instead. When they get the boat in the water they hit rapids and later fall off of a waterfall.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|21 - 214
 
|21 - 214
|[[February 7]], [[1988]]
+
|February 7, [[1988]]
 
|"Skateboarding"
 
|"Skateboarding"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons Skateboarding.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Skatebording.jpg|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart teaches his sisters how to skateboard, but is outdone every time he tries to show off.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart teaches his sisters how to skateboard, but is outdone every time he tries to show off.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|22 - 215
 
|22 - 215
|[[February 14]], [[1988]]
+
|February 14, [[1988]]
 
|"The Pagans"
 
|"The Pagans"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons The Pagans.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" | When the family is on their way to church, the kids declares themselves pagans. After the car breakes down in the nature, the kids start acting like pagans much to Homer's disliking.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" | When the family is on their way to church, the kids declares themselves pagans. After the car breakes down in the nature, the kids start acting like pagans much to Homer's disliking.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|23 - 216
 
|23 - 216
|[[February 21]], [[1988]]
+
|February 21, [[1988]]
 
|"Closeted"
 
|"Closeted"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons Closeted.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Closet.png|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart tries to avoid to doing chores and ends up hiding in the closet. He finds himself locked in and must find a way to bust out.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart tries to avoid to doing chores and ends up hiding in the closet. He finds himself locked in and must find a way to bust out.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|24 - 217
 
|24 - 217
|[[February 28]], [[1988]]
+
|February 28, [[1988]]
 
|"The Aquarium"
 
|"The Aquarium"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons The Aquarium.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Aquarium.png|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer takes Bart, Lisa and Maggie to the aquarium. Bart finds a way to get into the shark tank and swims with a shark.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer takes Bart, Lisa and Maggie to the aquarium. Bart finds a way to get into the shark tank and swims with a shark.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|25 - 218
 
|25 - 218
|[[March 6]], [[1988]]
+
|[March 6, [[1988]]
 
|"Family Portrait"
 
|"Family Portrait"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons Family Portrait.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Family Portrait.png|120px]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer has trouble taking a normal family portrait. Everytime they are close to a good picture the family sabotages the shot.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer has trouble taking a normal family portrait. Everytime they are close to a good picture the family sabotages the shot.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|26 - 219
 
|26 - 219
|[[March 13]], [[1988]]
+
|March 13, [[1988]]
 
|"Bart's Hiccups"
 
|"Bart's Hiccups"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons Barts Hiccups.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Lisa and Maggie try to cure Bart's hiccups. The cure is some rather unorthodox methods.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Lisa and Maggie try to cure Bart's hiccups. The cure is some rather unorthodox methods.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|27 - 220
 
|27 - 220
|[[March 20]], [[1988]]
+
|March 20, [[1988]]
 
|"The Money Jar"
 
|"The Money Jar"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons The Money Jar.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Marge warns the kids that they shouldn't steal from the money jar. Bart, Lisa and Maggie tries to fight the temptation of stealing the money.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Marge warns the kids that they shouldn't steal from the money jar. Bart, Lisa and Maggie tries to fight the temptation of stealing the money.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|28 - 221
 
|28 - 221
|[[May 1]], [[1988]]
+
|May 1, [[1988]]
 
|"The Art Museum"
 
|"The Art Museum"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons The Art Museum.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The Simpsons go to an art museum. Bart stares at a nude painting and Lisa plays with an ancient vase. Marge realizes that the kids are too young to appreciate fine arts.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The Simpsons go to an art museum. Bart stares at a nude painting and Lisa plays with an ancient vase. Marge realizes that the kids are too young to appreciate fine arts.
* This is the first time Bart says "Ay carumba!" and "Whoooa, Mama!".
 
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|29 - 222
 
|29 - 222
|[[May 8]], [[1988]]
+
|May 8, [[1988]]
 
|"Zoo Story"
 
|"Zoo Story"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simpsons Zoo Story.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The family goes to the zoo and find a lot of similarities between them and the monkeys. Homer unwisely teases a monkey at the zoo and gets a faceful of poo for his trouble.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The family goes to the zoo and find a lot of similarities between them and the monkeys. Homer unwisely teases a monkey at the zoo and gets a faceful of poo for his trouble.
Line 237: Line 233:
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Airdate
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Airdate
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Title
 
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Title
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Screenshot
+
! style="background-color: #fada00" |Image
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|30 - 301
 
|30 - 301
|[[November 6]], [[1988]]
+
|November 6, [[1988]]
 
|"Shut Up, Simpsons"
 
|"Shut Up, Simpsons"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x01.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Maggie squeaks her toy, which causes a chain reaction of anger in the family. An attempt for reconciliation leads to even more anger.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Maggie squeaks her toy, which causes a chain reaction of anger in the family. An attempt for reconciliation leads to even more anger.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|31 - 302
 
|31 - 302
|[[November 13]], [[1988]]
+
|November 13, [[1988]]
 
|"Shell Game"
 
|"Shell Game"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x02 - The Shell Game.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart tries to hide the cookies he stole from the jar by distracting his parents with the shell game. When his plan seems to succeed, he is bested by Maggie.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart tries to hide the cookies he stole from the jar by distracting his parents with the shell game. When his plan seems to succeed, he is bested by Maggie.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|32 - 303
 
|32 - 303
|[[November 20]], [[1988]]
+
|November 20, [[1988]]
 
|"The Bart Simpson Show"
 
|"The Bart Simpson Show"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x03.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" | The kids are watching TV and Homer tells them to stop watching violent cartoons. Unable to watch cartoons Bart puts on his own show, which eventually angers Homer even more.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" | The kids are watching TV and Homer tells them to stop watching violent cartoons. Unable to watch cartoons Bart puts on his own show, which eventually angers Homer even more.
 
 
* First appearance of [[Itchy and Scratchy]] and first instance where Homer chokes Bart
 
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|33 - 304
 
|33 - 304
|[[November 27]], [[1988]]
+
|November 27, [[1988]]
 
|"Punching Bag"
 
|"Punching Bag"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x04.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |
 
Bart and Lisa take out their frustrations on a punching bag with Homer's picture on it. When Homer commands Marge to make the kids stop, he later finds her punching the bag.
 
Bart and Lisa take out their frustrations on a punching bag with Homer's picture on it. When Homer commands Marge to make the kids stop, he later finds her punching the bag.
 
 
*This is the first time Homer says "[[D'oh]]!"
 
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|34 - 305
 
|34 - 305
|[[December 18]], [[1988]]
+
|December 18, [[1988]]
 
|"Simpson Christmas"
 
|"Simpson Christmas"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x05.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart tells a story of a traditional Christmas in the Simpson family in the style of "The Night Before Christmas".
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart tells a story of a traditional Christmas in the Simpson family in the style of "The Night Before Christmas".
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|35 - 306
 
|35 - 306
|[[January 15]], [[1989]]
+
|January 15, [[1989]]
 
|"The Krusty the Clown Show"
 
|"The Krusty the Clown Show"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x06.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The kids get to see Krusty's show live for the first time.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The kids get to see Krusty's show live for the first time.
 
 
* First appearance of [[Krusty the Clown]].
 
 
|-bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|-bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|36 - 307
 
|36 - 307
|[[January 29]], [[1989]]
+
|January 29, [[1989]]
 
|"Bart the Hero"
 
|"Bart the Hero"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x07.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Sent out to exercise, Bart foils a robbery attempt.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Sent out to exercise, Bart foils a robbery attempt.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|37 - 308
 
|37 - 308
|[[February 5]], [[1989]]
+
|February 5, [[1989]]
 
|"Bart's Little Fantasy"
 
|"Bart's Little Fantasy"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x08.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart tells a story about large kids who throw their small parents into a small room.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart tells a story about large kids who throw their small parents into a small room.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|38 - 309
 
|38 - 309
|[[February 12]], [[1989]]
+
|February 12, [[1989]]
 
|"Scary Movie"
 
|"Scary Movie"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:THe Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x09.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart, Lisa and Maggie go to the movie to see "The Happy Little Elves Return" (much to Bart's dismay), but Bart convinces the girls to see "Space Mutants" instead. However, Bart ends up being scared by it.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart, Lisa and Maggie go to the movie to see "The Happy Little Elves Return" (much to Bart's dismay), but Bart convinces the girls to see "Space Mutants" instead. However, Bart ends up being scared by it.
 
 
* First mentioning of "[[The Happy Little Elves]]" and "Space Mutants".
 
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|39 - 310
 
|39 - 310
|[[February 19]], [[1989]]
+
|February 19, [[1989]]
 
|"Homer Hypnotism"
 
|"Homer Hypnotism"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x10.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer tries hypnosis to calm down his crazy kids.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer tries hypnosis to calm down his crazy kids.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|40 - 311
 
|40 - 311
|[[February 26]], [[1989]]
+
|February 26, [[1989]]
 
|"Shoplifting"
 
|"Shoplifting"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x11.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart's attempt to swipe some chocolate is foiled.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart's attempt to swipe some chocolate is foiled.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|41 - 312
 
|41 - 312
|[[March 12]], [[1989]]
+
|March 12, [[1989]]
 
|"Echo Canyon"
 
|"Echo Canyon"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x12.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The family drives to Echo Canyon, takes turns making echoes, and Bart almost makes a boulder crunch the family car.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The family drives to Echo Canyon, takes turns making echoes, and Bart almost makes a boulder crunch the family car.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|42 - 313
 
|42 - 313
|[[March 19]], [[1989]]
+
|March 19, [[1989]]
 
|"Bathtime"
 
|"Bathtime"
 
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Short.bathtime.JPG|120px]]
 
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Short.bathtime.JPG|120px]]
Line 344: Line 328:
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|43 - 314
 
|43 - 314
|[[March 26]], [[1989]]
+
|March 26, [[1989]]
 
|"Bart's Nightmare"
 
|"Bart's Nightmare"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:null.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |In this sequel to "Shell Game", Bart has a nightmare after eating every single cookie from the cookie jar.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |In this sequel to "Shell Game", Bart has a nightmare after eating every single cookie from the cookie jar.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|44 - 315
 
|44 - 315
|[[April 16]], [[1989]]
+
|April 16, [[1989]]
 
|"Bart of the Jungle"
 
|"Bart of the Jungle"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x15.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The kids swing from the trees off Homer's ties.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |The kids swing from the trees off Homer's ties.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|45 - 316
 
|45 - 316
|[[April 23]], [[1989]]
+
|April 23, [[1989]]
 
|"Family Therapy"
 
|"Family Therapy"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x16.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer takes the family to a psychologist.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer takes the family to a psychologist.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|46 - 317
 
|46 - 317
|[[April 30]], [[1989]]
+
|April 30, [[1989]]
 
|"Maggie in Peril (Chapter One)"
 
|"Maggie in Peril (Chapter One)"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x17.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart kicks Maggie's ball out of sight and she takes off to retrieve it back.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Bart kicks Maggie's ball out of sight and she takes off to retrieve it back.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|47 - 318
 
|47 - 318
|[[May 7]], [[1989]]
+
|May 7, [[1989]]
 
|"Maggie in Peril (The Thrilling Conclusion)"
 
|"Maggie in Peril (The Thrilling Conclusion)"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x18.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" | Part 2. Maggie floats in the air hanging on to balloons and lands safely back in her playpen.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" | Part 2. Maggie floats in the air hanging on to balloons and lands safely back in her playpen.
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|- bgcolor="#fff4a7"
 
|48 - 319
 
|48 - 319
|[[May 14]], [[1989]]
+
|May 14, [[1989]]
 
|"TV Simpsons"
 
|"TV Simpsons"
|rowspan="2"|[[File:The Simpsons - The Tracey Ullman Shorts - 3x19.jpg|120px]]
+
|rowspan="2"|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer attempts to fix the television antenna on the roof.
 
|colspan="3" style="background-color: #FEF8E2;" |Homer attempts to fix the television antenna on the roof.
Line 388: Line 372:
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
The episode guide is based on:
 
* {{cite book|last=Richmond |first=Ray|coauthors=Antonia Coffman|title=The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to our Favorite Family |year=1997 |publisher=Harper Collins Publishers|id=ISBN 0-00063-8898-1|pages=pp. 14-15}}
 
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
Line 395: Line 377:
 
{{simpsons}}
 
{{simpsons}}
 
[[es:Cortos]]
 
[[es:Cortos]]
 
 
[[Category:Shorts| ]]
 
[[Category:Shorts| ]]

Revision as of 10:17, June 21, 2010

The Simpsons Shorts is a series of one-minute shorts that ran on the variety show The Tracey Ullman Show for three seasons, before the characters spun off into their own half-hour prime time show called The Simpsons. The shorts were created by cartoonist Matt Groening in the lobby of James L. Brooks's office. He had been called in to pitch a series of animated shorts, and had intended to present his Life in Hell series. When he realized that animating Life in Hell would require him to rescind publication rights for his life's work, Groening decided to go in another direction.[1] He hurriedly sketched out his version of a dysfunctional family, and named the characters after his own family.[1] Bart was modeled after Groening's older brother, Mark, but given a different name which was chosen as an anagram of "brat."[2]

The stories were written and storyboarded by Matt Groening.[3] The family was crudely drawn, because Groening had submitted basic sketches to the animators, assuming they would clean them up; instead they just traced over his drawings.[1] The animation was produced domestically at Klasky Csupo,[4] with Wesley Archer, David Silverman, and Bill Kopp being animators for the first season.[3] After season one it was animated by Archer and Silverman.[3] Georgie Peluse was the colorist and the person who decided to make the characters yellow.[3]

The characters are voiced by the same people known from The Simpsons. Dan Castellaneta performed the voices of Homer Simpson, Abraham Simpson, and Krusty the Clown. Homer's voice sounds different on the shorts compared to most episodes of the half-hour show. His voice was in the beginning a loose impression of Walter Matthau, but it became more robust and humorous on the half-hour show, allowing Homer to cover a fuller range of emotions.[5] Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, and Yeardley Smith performed the voices of Marge Simpson, Bart Simpson, and Lisa Simpson respectively.

The shorts were featured on the first three seasons on The Tracey Ullman Show. By the fourth and last season of The Tracey Ullman Show the first season of the half-hour show was on the air. In the two first seasons the shorts were divided into three or four parts, in the third season they were played as a single story. Tracey Ullman filed a lawsuit, claiming that her show was the source of The Simpsons success and therefore should receive a share of the show's profit. Eventually the courts ruled in favor of the network.[6]

Only a few of these shorts have been released on DVD. "Good Night" was included on The Simpsons season 1 DVD. Five of these shorts were later used in the clip show episode "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular" on the half-hour show, which was released on the season 7 DVD. These five shorts were "Good Night", "The Perfect Crime", "Space Patrol", "World War III", and "Bathtime". Groening has announced that all of the shorts will be available on mobile phones.[7]

Season 1

# Airdate Title Image
1 - 101 April 19, 1987 "Good Night" 120px
Marge and Homer say goodnight to their kids but all doesn't go to plan. Bart philosophically contemplates (first time and last) the wonders of the mind, Lisa hears Marge say "don't let the bed bugs bite" and fears that her bed bugs will eat her, and Maggie is traumatized by the lyrics of "rock-a-bye-baby"
2 - 102 May 3, 1987 "Watching TV"
Bart and Lisa quarrel over what channel they should watch. Repeatedly Maggie comes up to the television and changes the channel. The only thing they eventually agree on is to stop Maggie changing the channel. Later Homer is saying a speech about family matters and stops when the show comes back on.
3 - 103 May 10, 1987 "Jumping Bart" JumpingBart.jpg
Homer makes several attempts to have Bart jump into his arms. Each time Bart jumps Homer is distracted and fails to catch him.
4 - 104 May 31, 1987 "Babysitting Maggie" 120px
Marge puts Bart and Lisa in charge of babysitting Maggie. They totally ignore her, and she gets electrocuted, falls down the stairs and chases a butterfly onto the roof only to fall off the roof.
5 - 105 June 21, 1987 "The Pacifier" 120px
Bart and Lisa take Maggie's pacifier away to stop her from sucking on it. Maggie has an entire drawerful of them and refuses to kick the habit.
6 - 106 June 28, 1987 "Burping Contest" 120px
Bart, Lisa and Maggie compete in a contest to see who can make the most disgusting burp. Marge objects several times, but to no avail.
7 - 107 July 12, 1987 "Dinnertime 120px
Marge serves the family dinner and the family sits down for the meal. Marge insists that family should have table manners, but the family's crude eating habits are hard to stop.

Season 2

# Airdate Title Image
8 - 201 September 22, 1987 "Making Faces" 120px
The kids make scary faces at each other. Marge warns them that if they make scary faces, the faces will stay there forever. This warning has the opposite effect.
9 - 202 October 4, 1987 "The Funeral" Funeral.png
Uncle Hubert is dead and the family attends his funeral. Bart is determined to see his uncle's corpse, but passes out when he glances into the casket.
10 - 203 October 11, 1987 "What Maggie's Thinking" Maggies Brain short.png
Bart and Lisa wonder what's inside Maggie's mind when looking at her in her crib. Maggie sees them as demons and later as infants with her being the grown up.
11 - 204 October 18, 1987 "Football" 120px
Homer promises the kids chocolate milkshakes if Bart can catch one of his father's long football passes. Unfortunately, there are many obstacles to overcome.
12 - 205 October 25, 1987 "House of Cards"
Bart tries to make a house of cards, but Lisa and Maggie make noises that cause the house to fall every time.
13 - 206 November 1, 1987 "Bart and Homer's Dinner"
The girls are out watching a ballet and Homer is in charge of the dinner. Bart can't stomach it when he is forced to eat a mix of fish nuggets and pork-a-roni.
14 - 207 November , 1987 "Space Patrol" 120px
Bart, Lisa and Maggie play a game of "Space Patrol" while Homer and Marge are out. Lisa plays a superhero with Maggie as her sidekick, while Bart puts a jug on his head with the pretense of it being the helmet of an alien warlord. However, his head stuck in the jug and Lisa "frees" Bart using a croquet mallet.
15 - 208 November 15, 1987 "Bart's Haircut"
Bart's hair is too long and he is sent to a barber. His hair cut is too short and he tries multiple ways to hide it.
16 - 209 November 22, 1987 "World War III" 120px
Homer wakes up the family to practice for a nuclear drill. After multiple drills the family gets tired of him and traps him in the basement.
17 - 210 December 13, 1987 "The Perfect Crime" 120px
Marge bakes a batch of delicious cookies and Bart attempts to steal them, when everyone except him and Maggie leave the kitchen. Homer and Marge come back to find the tray empty, but Maggie guides them along a trail of cookies running across the floor. The family catches Bart lying on his back in his bedroom amidst a pile of cookie crumbs.
18 - 211 December 20, 1987 "Scary Stories" ScaryStories.png
Bart tells Lisa and Maggie a series of scary stories in the dark only to believe they're coming true.
19 - 212 January 10, 1988 "Grampa and the Kids"
Grampa tells the kids stories from the good old days. When the kids stop paying attention to him, he feigns his own death to recapture their attention.
20 - 213 January 24, 1988 "Gone Fishin'"
Bart and Homer go on a fishing trip. Homer asks Bart for a balogna sandwich, but Bart forgot the bologna. He puts the bait on the sandwich instead. When they get the boat in the water they hit rapids and later fall off of a waterfall.
21 - 214 February 7, 1988 "Skateboarding" Skatebording.jpg
Bart teaches his sisters how to skateboard, but is outdone every time he tries to show off.
22 - 215 February 14, 1988 "The Pagans"
When the family is on their way to church, the kids declares themselves pagans. After the car breakes down in the nature, the kids start acting like pagans much to Homer's disliking.
23 - 216 February 21, 1988 "Closeted" Closet.png
Bart tries to avoid to doing chores and ends up hiding in the closet. He finds himself locked in and must find a way to bust out.
24 - 217 February 28, 1988 "The Aquarium" The Aquarium.png
Homer takes Bart, Lisa and Maggie to the aquarium. Bart finds a way to get into the shark tank and swims with a shark.
25 - 218 [March 6, 1988 "Family Portrait" Family Portrait.png
Homer has trouble taking a normal family portrait. Everytime they are close to a good picture the family sabotages the shot.
26 - 219 March 13, 1988 "Bart's Hiccups"
Lisa and Maggie try to cure Bart's hiccups. The cure is some rather unorthodox methods.
27 - 220 March 20, 1988 "The Money Jar"
Marge warns the kids that they shouldn't steal from the money jar. Bart, Lisa and Maggie tries to fight the temptation of stealing the money.
28 - 221 May 1, 1988 "The Art Museum"
The Simpsons go to an art museum. Bart stares at a nude painting and Lisa plays with an ancient vase. Marge realizes that the kids are too young to appreciate fine arts.
29 - 222 May 8, 1988 "Zoo Story"
The family goes to the zoo and find a lot of similarities between them and the monkeys. Homer unwisely teases a monkey at the zoo and gets a faceful of poo for his trouble.

Season 3

# Airdate Title Image
30 - 301 November 6, 1988 "Shut Up, Simpsons"
Maggie squeaks her toy, which causes a chain reaction of anger in the family. An attempt for reconciliation leads to even more anger.
31 - 302 November 13, 1988 "Shell Game"
Bart tries to hide the cookies he stole from the jar by distracting his parents with the shell game. When his plan seems to succeed, he is bested by Maggie.
32 - 303 November 20, 1988 "The Bart Simpson Show"
The kids are watching TV and Homer tells them to stop watching violent cartoons. Unable to watch cartoons Bart puts on his own show, which eventually angers Homer even more.
33 - 304 November 27, 1988 "Punching Bag"

Bart and Lisa take out their frustrations on a punching bag with Homer's picture on it. When Homer commands Marge to make the kids stop, he later finds her punching the bag.

34 - 305 December 18, 1988 "Simpson Christmas"
Bart tells a story of a traditional Christmas in the Simpson family in the style of "The Night Before Christmas".
35 - 306 January 15, 1989 "The Krusty the Clown Show"
The kids get to see Krusty's show live for the first time.
36 - 307 January 29, 1989 "Bart the Hero"
Sent out to exercise, Bart foils a robbery attempt.
37 - 308 February 5, 1989 "Bart's Little Fantasy"
Bart tells a story about large kids who throw their small parents into a small room.
38 - 309 February 12, 1989 "Scary Movie"
Bart, Lisa and Maggie go to the movie to see "The Happy Little Elves Return" (much to Bart's dismay), but Bart convinces the girls to see "Space Mutants" instead. However, Bart ends up being scared by it.
39 - 310 February 19, 1989 "Homer Hypnotism"
Homer tries hypnosis to calm down his crazy kids.
40 - 311 February 26, 1989 "Shoplifting"
Bart's attempt to swipe some chocolate is foiled.
41 - 312 March 12, 1989 "Echo Canyon"
The family drives to Echo Canyon, takes turns making echoes, and Bart almost makes a boulder crunch the family car.
42 - 313 March 19, 1989 "Bathtime" 120px
Homer makes Bart take his "Sunday Night Bath", only to flood the bathroom.
43 - 314 March 26, 1989 "Bart's Nightmare"
In this sequel to "Shell Game", Bart has a nightmare after eating every single cookie from the cookie jar.
44 - 315 April 16, 1989 "Bart of the Jungle"
The kids swing from the trees off Homer's ties.
45 - 316 April 23, 1989 "Family Therapy"
Homer takes the family to a psychologist.
46 - 317 April 30, 1989 "Maggie in Peril (Chapter One)"
Bart kicks Maggie's ball out of sight and she takes off to retrieve it back.
47 - 318 May 7, 1989 "Maggie in Peril (The Thrilling Conclusion)"
Part 2. Maggie floats in the air hanging on to balloons and lands safely back in her playpen.
48 - 319 May 14, 1989 "TV Simpsons"
Homer attempts to fix the television antenna on the roof.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 BBC. (2000). 'The Simpsons': America's First Family (6 minute edit for the season 1 DVD) (DVD). UK: 20th Century Fox.
  2. Paul, Alan. "Matt Groening" (Interview)Flux Magazine Issue #6. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Cagle, Daryl. The David Silverman Interview. MSNBC. Retrieved on 2006-12-29.
  4. Deneroff, Harvey. "Matt Groening's Baby Turns 10"Animation Magazine, Vol. 14, #1, pp. 10, 12. 
  5. Brownfield, Paul. "He's Homer, but This Odyssey Is His Own"Los Angeles Times. 
  6. Spotnitz, Frank. "Eat my shorts!"Entertainment Weekly, p. 8(1). 
  7. Groening's repeats u-turn (2006-08-06). Retrieved on 2007-01-11.

External links

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