Difference between revisions of "Season 1"

Revision as of 12:34, June 24, 2010

The Simpsons (Season 1)

Season Information

Original run:	December 17, 1989 – May 13, 1990
No. of episodes:	13
Previous season:	Ullman shorts
Next season:	2
DVD boxset:	The Complete First Season

The Simpsons' first season began on 17th December 1989 with the first episode of the series, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" and ended on 13th May 1990 with "Some Enchanted Evening". Matt Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon were the show runners of the season.

It was originally intended that the season finale, "Some Enchanted Evening", would be the first episode of the season as well as the series which would have aired at Autumn of 1989. However, after a poorly received workprint of the episode, 70% of its animation had to be redone, delaying it to months throughout the season until finally being aired at the end of the season on 13th May 1990. Subsequent episodes in production such as "Bart the Genius" had minor problems that were easy to fix and were suitable for airing. As "Some Enchanted Evening" was being overhauled, the producers considered to air the Christmas special, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", on 17th December 1989 which had to be aired in the Christmas holidays of 1989 nonetheless.

The season had four nominations and won one of them. It won Outstanding Animated Program from "Life on the Fast Lane", which the episode was tied with "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" was nominated for "Outstanding Editing in a Miniseries or Special", "The Call of the Simpsons" was nominated for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special" and "The Simpsons Theme", composed by Danny Elfman, was nominated for "Outstanding Achievement in Main Title Theme Music".

All of the 13 episodes of Season 1, including extras such as the "Some Enchanted Evening" workprint, were released on DVD on 25th September 2001 in Region 1 and 24th September 2001 in Region 2 and 4. This is the First of the Complete Seasons of The Simpsons released in boxsets for home media.

Episodes

#	Original Title (Top) Alternative Title (Bottom)	Original Airdate	Directed by	Written by	Prod. code
1 - 1	"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" "The Simpsons Christmas Special"	December 17,1989	David Silverman	Mimi Pond	7G08
The Simpsons have a difficult Christmas with lack of money due to all their savings spent by an expensive tattoo removal treatment for Bart and no bonus for Homer. The family try to ensure a happy holiday, with Homer attempting to earn money elsewhere such as being Santa Claus.
2 - 2	"Bart the Genius"	January 14,1990	David Silverman	Jon Vitti	7G02
Bart is considered to be intelligent by a high test score despite being Martin Prince's test which Bart subsequently put his name on Martin's test and vice versa. He is then enrolled to a school of higher education that is beyond his learning capabilities and is alienated by its studentsand is closer to Homer.
3 - 3	"Homer's Odyssey"	January 21,1990	Wes Archer	Jay Kogan & Wallace Woldarsky	7G03
Homer is promptly fired by an incident he caused after being distracted by greeting Bart whilst on a field trip with his class. An unemployed Homer considers suicide, being unable to locate a job although then becomes a safety crusader, aware of potentially dangerous areas of Springfield after which his family were nearly run over by a truck after his attempted suicide.
4 - 4	"There's No Disgrace Like Home"	January 28, 1990	Gregg Vanzo & Kent Butterworth	Al Jean & Mike Reiss	7G04
Seeing their dysfunctionality and impoliteness, Homer attempts to straighten up his family's behaviour after a ruined picnic and a poor comparison to other families.
5 - 5	"Bart the General"	February 4, 1990	David Silverman	John Swartzwelder	7G05
Bart is constantly being bullied by Nelson Muntz, which he tries to stop this bullying with various if risky methods.
6 - 6	"Moaning Lisa"	February 11, 1990	Wes Archer	Al Jean & Mike Reiss	7G06
Lisa has become often depressed, altering what she does. She remains so until me Bleeding Gums Murphy, a musician who tells her to express her depression through playing her saxophone. Lisa eventually becomes happier during circumstances leading to this. Meanwhile, Bart continually beats Homer in a boxing video game and Homer tries to win against him.
7 - 7	July 12, 1987	"Dinnertime
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