This episode was actually the eighth produced but aired first. The originally intended pilot, "Some Enchanted Evening," was delayed due to major animation errors.
Desperate for a miracle, Homer and Bart head to the dog track on Christmas Eve to bet Homer's meager $13 earnings on a dog named . Although the dog finishes dead last, he is abandoned by his owner and subsequently adopted by the Simpsons, becoming "the best gift of all". Fascinating Trivia [S1E1] Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
In this debut, several characters looked different than they do today; for instance, Barney Gumble had yellow hair, and Moe Szyslak had black hair. This episode was actually the eighth produced but
Viewed by approximately 13.4 million people , it was one of the highest-rated shows in Fox’s young history at the time. Although the dog finishes dead last, he is
Eric Stefani, brother of singer Gwen Stefani, worked as a layout artist for this episode.
(S1E1) is the legendary 1989 Christmas special that launched the world's most famous animated family into a half-hour series. The Plot: A Not-So-Merry Christmas
When Homer learns he won’t be receiving a Christmas bonus, he takes a second job as a mall Santa to cover the family's holiday expenses. This financial crunch is worsened after Marge is forced to spend the family's savings to surgically remove a "Mother" tattoo that Bart got impulsively at the Happy Sailor .