This Is The Greatest Christmas TV Episode Of All Time – Prove Me Wrong

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Hi, I’m Guy Howie, a writer at ScreenRant, and I’ve always loved Christmas TV shows. I have fond childhood memories of watching holiday specials on TV, especially growing up in Britain where special Christmas episodes of popular shows like Only Fools and Horses and Gavin & Stacey were a big event. But for me, nothing beats The Simpsons – and the very first Christmas episode, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” is the best. Merry Christmas to fellow fans, and happy holidays to everyone! I’d love to hear what your favorite Christmas episode is, so share your thoughts in the comments below.

“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” was actually the first episode of The Simpsons shown on TV, airing on December 17, 1989. Interestingly, it was the eighth episode made. This premiere kicked off a hugely successful decade for the show – a level of dominance in television that’s rarely been matched since.

Okay, let me tell you, this episode really delivers! It’s a fantastic preview of what’s to come from The Simpsons, and it’s packed with that classic holiday spirit we all love. More importantly, it has everything that makes this show so special – the humor, the heart, the clever writing. Honestly, it’s a strong reminder why The Simpsons isn’t just a great cartoon, but a serious contender for the title of greatest TV show ever made.

“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” is a consistently funny and often hilarious episode, known for its bold humor and surprisingly warm heart. Above all, it perfectly captures what makes the show’s four main characters so memorable and beloved.

When it comes to TV families at Christmas, the very first episode of The Simpsons is hard to beat. Written by Mimi Pond, it’s a classic holiday episode that many still consider the best Christmas TV show almost forty years after it first aired.

The Simpsons Gave Us TV’s Definitive Christmas Story

Back in 1989, The Simpsons started as short animated segments on The Tracey Ullman Show, attracting a small but growing audience for the new Fox network. Even when Fox decided to create a full series, the show’s producers couldn’t afford to hire writers full-time. Plus, the animation studio working with them, Klasky Csupo, had never created a complete TV episode before.

For many years, Christmas stories were mostly found in movies and children’s TV shows. Even the most beloved holiday specials for kids, like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas!, had already been around for over 20 years.

Christmas TV was in need of a boost, and it surprisingly came from an unexpected place. When Simpsons creator Sam Simon asked his team of freelance writers to create a holiday episode, Mimi Pond, a 32-year-old cartoonist and writer known for her satire, eagerly volunteered. As she explained to Jezebel, she actually “hated Christmas.”

Despite being the very first episode, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” doesn’t quite capture the warmth of the show at its best. Later episodes, especially those focused on Christmas, feel genuinely touching – perhaps more so than any other Christmas specials on TV. They succeed because they show a realistic, flawed, and honest family, which perfectly embodies the true meaning of the holidays.

This episode feels more realistic than the typical, idealized Christmas scenes we often see. Mimi Pond’s somewhat skeptical view of the holidays likely contributed to her incredibly genuine depiction of a working-class American family at Christmas. Because of this authenticity, the episode’s heartwarming conclusion feels especially meaningful and well-deserved.

Many Christmas TV specials come and go, but this one has become a classic for viewers of all ages, perfectly capturing the spirit of a heartwarming Christmas miracle. Even after 37 seasons, the story of Santa’s Little Helper is still considered the best holiday episode ever made for television.

Homer Simpson’s Holiday Hardship Is Painfully Relatable

It’s funny how things line up sometimes! The very first episode of The Simpsons, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” actually premiered around the same time National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation hit theaters. What struck me is how similar the stories are – both center on a dad desperately trying to make Christmas special for his family, even after a huge disappointment: their boss unexpectedly cancels the Christmas bonus they were relying on. It’s a relatable struggle, and seeing it in both of these now-classic holiday stories is pretty neat.

These holiday stories feel familiar because they’ve been told so many times. But they’re especially relevant to the 1980s in the United States, a time defined by economic policies – often called Reaganomics – that favored businesses, cut government spending, and led to increased debt for families. Homer Simpson’s struggles during the holidays perfectly reflect the financial difficulties many people faced at the time.

After the strong economic growth following World War II slowed down in the mid-1970s, American families started to feel the strain in the 1980s, and the 2008 financial crisis made things even harder. Many families with modest incomes can easily relate to Homer’s struggles to afford a decent Christmas.

I have to say, this movie really throws a wrench into the cozy Christmas narratives we’ve been fed by TV for decades. Usually, if characters face problems during the holidays, it’s something minor. But this film dares to tackle real economic hardship, and surprisingly, it does so with a lot of heart and humor. It’s genuinely moving and stays with you long after the credits roll – The Simpsons really nailed it.

Lisa’s Response To Aunt Patty Is Still Her Greatest Simpsons Moment

Although Bart has some hilarious moments in “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” it’s Lisa who truly shines and delivers what many consider the episode’s most memorable scene. She doesn’t dominate the entire 23 minutes, but when her moment comes, she makes a lasting impression.

It’s impossible not to burst out laughing when Bart pictures Marge’s reaction to the tattoo he gets for her, even if you’ve seen the episode a hundred times. And his response to Homer dressing up as mall Santa is classic – he says, “You must really love us to sink so low,” perfectly timed with ironically sweet music.

It’s hard not to cry when Lisa suddenly stands up to Aunt Patty for disrespecting Homer. This scene is what makes The Simpsons different from almost every other comedy show – it’s a truly special moment.

Please don’t criticize him. He’s human, just like everyone else, and he’s my only father. I look up to him as a man, and how I see him will shape my future relationships. So, please remember that when you say something negative about him, it feels like a personal attack, and I’m not old enough to handle that right now.

Based on this single conversation, Mimi Pond deserved to be a regular writer for The Simpsons. Her contribution was instrumental in developing Lisa Simpson’s character – specifically, her role as the show’s strong-willed voice of conscience, known for both her intelligence and her deep compassion, even for those closest to her.

The Episode Is Also A Commentary On The Whole Holiday TV Genre

This Simpsons episode isn’t just funny and well-written with characters we care about—it’s also a clever spoof of classic Christmas TV specials. It playfully references A Christmas Carol and Charlie Brown, and even pokes fun at The Smurfs through a parody of a made-up show called “The Happy Little Elves.”

As a huge fan, I’ve always thought the very first Simpsons episode, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” is more than just a funny parody. What really struck me was the ending – Bart keeps talking about a “miracle” that’s supposed to fix everything for Christmas. It’s clear he’s learned from watching so many holiday TV specials that something good always happens at the last minute, and he’s genuinely expecting that to happen to his family too. It’s a surprisingly insightful little detail!

The show intentionally flips a common storyline on its head: instead of a lucky win, Homer loses all his money betting on a losing dog. The fact that the dog then runs to Homer for comfort creates a surprisingly heartwarming, yet imperfect, conclusion – one that feels more genuine and satisfying than a simple, happy ending.

As Homer famously says, “He’s a loser, he’s pathetic, he’s… a Simpson.” This line, perfectly voiced by Dan Castellaneta, captures what makes The Simpsons so great. The show playfully mocks different types of TV shows and movies, but then makes us care about the characters. We connect with them not in spite of their flaws, but because of them – we root for the underdog because of, not despite, their failures.

The show often delivers important messages, but it does so subtly, using dark humor and a seemingly innocent, childlike tone. Even when a character like Lisa tries to make a serious point – as she does with Homer in this episode – the impact is immediately lessened by someone responding with cluelessness or a quick, dismissive comment.

Patty’s sarcastic remark to Lisa – “Go watch your cartoon show, dear” – actually reflects what The Simpsons is showing us while we watch it. The show pretends to be just a simple “cartoon show,” but it’s this very simplicity that allows it to explore surprisingly deep and meaningful themes.

No Other Simpsons Christmas Episode Has Ever Topped It

“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” is widely considered the best Christmas episode of what many believe is the greatest sitcom ever made. While other Simpsons Christmas episodes are good, none quite capture the same level of humor, warmth, and genuine emotion.

While “Mr. Plow” and “Marge Be Not Proud” are definitely among the best episodes ever, they don’t quite feel as Christmassy as this season 1 episode does. Even a strong episode like “Holidays of Future Passed” from season 23 can’t compare to the lasting impact of this early classic.

As a huge Simpsons fan, I just love the very first episode, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire.” It really shows what makes each character special – from Marge stashing money in the most unexpected place, to Homer’s hilarious take on Santa’s reindeer, Bart’s unique spin on Christmas songs, and even Lisa’s unwavering belief that Santa will bring her a pony! It’s the perfect way to meet the Simpsons and get a feel for their charm, all wrapped up in a classic holiday story.

Everyone has a favorite holiday episode, and that’s perfectly fine. However, it’s difficult to find any other TV episode that captures the spirit of Christmas quite as well, especially when you consider all the past episodes of The Simpsons.

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2025-12-05 20:00