Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire

"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", also known as The Simpsons Christmas Special, is the first full-length episode of The Simpsons to air despite originally being the eighth episode produced for season one. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 17, 1989.

The episode was written by Mimi Pond and directed by David Silverman. The title of it alludes to "The Christmas Song", also known as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire". It was was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 1990, and has received positive reviews from television critics. It was viewed by approximately 13.4 million viewers in its original airing.

Synopsis
Homer, Marge, and Maggie attend Bart and Lisa's Christmas pageant at Springfield Elementary School. At home, Marge asks the children what they want for Christmas and Bart asks for a tattoo. When Marge, Bart, and Lisa go Christmas shopping the next day, Bart sneaks away and starts getting a tattoo reading "Mother". Discovering this, Marge interrupts the process at "Moth" and immediately takes him to a laser removal clinic and spends the family's Christmas money getting Bart's tattoo removed. Meanwhile, at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, Homer learns that he will not be getting a Christmas bonus.

When Homer returns home and hears about the loss of the Christmas money, he decides not to tell Marge his own bad news. Instead, he does the shopping himself, buying cheap presents from a variety store which sells nothing over $5. At Moe's Tavern, Homer meets Barney dressed in a Santa outfit. On Barney's advice, he secretly takes a job as a mall Santa. Bart discovers this secret after he rips off Homer's fake beard on a dare by his friend Milhouse, but agrees not to tell the rest of the family.

Homer receives his paycheck and is dismayed to see that after deductions it is only for $13. Barney, who has received a check for the same amount, suggests betting it at the dog track. With encouragement from Bart, Homer agrees to gamble the paycheck and takes Bart with him to the track. Although Barney recommended they bet on a dog named Whirlwind, Homer decides to bet on a last-second entrant named Santa's Little Helper, believing it to be a sign. Santa's Little Helper, however, comes in dead last and his owner abandons him. The dog follows Homer and Bart, who eventually decide to keep him. When they return home, Homer plans to tell the family about his misfortune, but they think he brought the dog as a gift and everyone has a merry Christmas.

Availability
"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" was released on VHS by FOX Home Video in 1991. The VHS release was titled "The Simpsons Christmas Special."

On DVD, the episode is included on the show's First Season DVD set. It is also featured on a single-disc DVD titled Christmas with the Simpsons (later repackaged as The Simpsons Christmas), along with later episodes "", "Miracle on Evergreen Terrace", "Grift of the Magi" and "She of Little Faith".