The Simpsons: Season 1 (1989-1990)
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Season Info
FOX's landmark animated comedy began in December 1989 with the episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire," in which family patriarch Homer deals with a Christmas in which he's too poor to buy presents by adopting a canine from the local dog-racing track named Santa's Little Helper. While the show was a phenomenon almost from the get-go (with the face of 10-year-old hell-raiser and initial breakout character Bart Simpson appearing on just about every form of merchandise imaginable), few could
Network: FOX
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Episodes
Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
The Simpsons Christmas Special is actually the first full-length episode of the popular animated television sitcom. In this episode, Bart gets a tattoo, and all of the family's Christmas money has to be used to surgically remove the tattoo from his arm. Not only was the family's savings drained, but Homer's Christmas bonus never materialized, so he's forced to take a job as a mall Santa to earn money for the holiday season. But Homer decides to spend the money at the racetrack, where he bets all of his salary on a greyhound called "Santa's Little Helper".
Bart the Genius
Academics have never been a priority for Bart Simpson (voice of Nancy Cartwright), and when Mrs. Krabappel (voice of Marcia Wallace) hands out a standardized IQ test that will "merely determine your future social stature and financial success," Bart hedges his bets by swiping a test from class brain Martin Prince (voice of Russi Taylor) and putting his name on it. Bart is as surprised as anyone when "his" test results confirm he has a genius IQ (while Martin is revealed to not be especially bright), and suddenly the school's staff decides Bart's rebellious behavior and previous poor grades were merely a product of boredom and dissatisfaction. Bart is transferred from Springfield Elementary to the Enriched Learning Center for Gifted Children, and he discovers his father Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) has a new respect and admiration for him. But Bart finds life among the super-intelligent is rough sledding, and his brighter sister Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) has a hard time believing her brother is a genius. "Bart the Genius" was first aired on January 14, 1990.
Homer's Odyssey
Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) has never been one of the more distinguished employees at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, but he reaches the last straw after a long series of accidents when he crashes an electric cart into a pipe full of radioactive waste -- just as his son Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) is touring the plant with his class from school. Homer has no luck finding a new job, and falls into a deep depression; eventually, Homer decides to drown himself by jumping off a bridge, but when his family arrives at the last moment to save him, they're nearly hit by a speeding car. Deciding the intersection near the bridge is dangerous, Homer appears at a Springfield City Council meeting to demand a stop sign be installed; when the council agrees, Homer decides he's found a new purpose in life, and he becomes Springfield's leading safety crusader. Before long, Homer has become affiliated with People Against People for Nuclear Energy, a group looking to close down the Nuclear Power Plant for a number of safety violations. But Homer still needs a job, and he finds himself torn when the plant's owner Mr. Burns (voice of Harry Shearer) offers him a cushy, higher-paying job to shut him up. "Homer's Odyssey" was first aired on January 21, 1990.
There's No Disgrace like Home
C. Montgomery Burns (voice of Harry Shearer), owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant -- and boss to Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) -- throws his annual employee picnic, which is hardly a relaxing experience for his workers, since he insists on winning all the games and tends to fire people who don't enjoy themselves. After observing the more highly functional families of his co-workers, Homer becomes depressed, convinced that the Simpsons are the worst family in Springfield. Determined to get his relationship with his wife and children back on track, Homer pawns the family's television and enrolls them all in group therapy with nationally advertised psychotherapist Dr. Marvin Monroe (voice of Shearer), who offers to give his patients double their money back if he can't resolve their issues. But Monroe soon realizes he's never been up against a challenge like treating the Simpsons. "There's No Disgrace Like Home" was first aired on January 28, 1990.
Bart the General
Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) makes the mistake of trying to protect a batch of cupcakes Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) made for her teacher from schoolyard bully and thug in training Nelson (voice of Cartwright). Nelson gives Bart a beating, and promises more of the same; Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) suggests that Bart try to reason with the bully, while Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) tells his son that fighting dirty is the only answer. Neither strategy seems to work, so Bart turns to Grampa Simpson (voice of Castellaneta) for advice. With the help of Herman (voice of Harry Shearer), the mildly insane owner of a store specializing in military relics, Bart and Grampa organize his fellow fourth graders into an army and orchestrate an all-out water-balloon war against Nelson and his fellow bullies. "Bart the General" was first aired on February 4, 1990.
Moaning Lisa
Lisa Simpson (voice of Yeardley Smith) is used to being a misfit, but one day she finds herself overcome by feelings of depression, and nothing she does seems to make her feel better. Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) is concerned, but can't seem to figure out what the matter is, and urges her daughter to ignore her feelings and put on a happy face. Lisa, however, makes friends with local jazz musician Bleeding Gums Murphy (voice of Ron Taylor), who shows her how to work out her bad feelings by playing the blues. Marge, however, isn't so sure that playing blues riffs will really help Lisa in the long run. Meanwhile, Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) has problems with Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright), who has been subjecting Homer to a series of "defeats -- correction, humiliating defeats" on their video boxing game; Homer is convinced he has to start winning if he wants to regain the respect of his son. "Moaning Lisa" first aired on February 11, 1990.
Call of the Simpsons
When his next-door neighbor Ned Flanders (voice of Harry Shearer) rolls up with a fancy new mobile home, Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) becomes jealous and decides he needs an RV of his own. However, given the dismal state of his credit rating, Homer has to settle for a used camper that's on its last legs. Undaunted, Homer rounds up the family and they set out for a camping trip; the Simpsons barely escape when the camper rolls over a cliff, and they find themselves forced to fend for themselves in the wilderness. Homer and Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) volunteer to find civilization and come back to rescue Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) and Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith), but a series of misadventures causes Homer to lose his clothing and he's soon captured by scientists convinced he's Bigfoot, while baby Maggie is adopted by a family of bears. Albert Brooks makes a guest appearance as the voice of Bob, the RV salesman. "The Call of the Simpson" was first aired on February 18, 1990.
The Telltale Head
While Bart Simpson (voice of Nancy Cartwright) may be the terror of the fourth grade, his delinquency is small potatoes compared to Jimbo (voice of Pamela Hayden), an older aspiring hooligan who runs with a crowd of rough kids. Bart decides to take in a showing of "Space Mutants IV" at the local movie house, but before he can buy his ticket, he runs into Jimbo, who offers to let Bart sneak in with him and his friends through the theater's rear exit. After spending the afternoon with Jimbo and his friends, Bart wants to do something to really impress his new pals; after joining them as they throw rocks at a statue of Jebediah Springfield, the town's founder, Bart thinks of a way to really show Jimbo he's tough -- he cuts off the statue's head. Soon it seems everyone in Springfield is up in arms about this act of vandalism -- including Jimbo, who informs Bart "I'd never cut the head off a guy who iced a bear with his bare hands!" Bart belatedly comes to the conclusion that he's gone too far, and owns up to the crime to his parents. Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) decides to help Bart return the head, but they run afoul of an angry mob protesting the desecration of the statue. "The Telltale Head" was first aired on February 25, 1990.
Life on the Fast Lane
Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) has a reputation for not being very good at picking out gifts for his wife Marge (voice of Julie Kavner), as evidenced by such past birthday presents as a tackle box and a Connie Chung calendar, but he hits a new low when Marge finds she's the recipient of a new bowling ball -- which has been drilled to fit Homer's hand and even has his name engraved on it. Marge is furious that Homer used her birthday as an excuse to get himself a gift, and while she doesn't bowl, she decides to learn just out of spite. Marge's early attempts to teach herself the game are disastrous, but she soon attracts the attention of Jacques (voice of Albert Brooks), a local professional bowler who has a French accent and a way with the ladies. Marge is more than flattered by the attention she's receiving from Jacques (who, just because he likes her, cuts his lesson fee from $50 to $25), and she begins spending more and more time with him. But when Jacques asks her to spend the afternoon at his apartment, she wonders if she ought to leave her marriage behind. Homer, Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith), and Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) all suspect that something more than a friendly game of ten pins is going on between Marge and Jacques, and all react with different degrees of dread. "Life on the Fast Lane" first aired on March 18, 1990.
Homer's Night Out
Homer Simpson (voice of Dan Castellaneta) informs his wife Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) that he has to attend a party for a co-worker who is about to be married, but he reassures her it will be a subdued affair. With Homer out for the evening, Marge opts to take Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) and Lisa (voice of Yeadley Smith) out for dinner to The Rusty Barnacle, a local seafood restaurant -- not knowing that the bachelor party is being held in a banquet room at the same restaurant. Bart is poking around the restaurant with his new miniature camera when he stumbles into the party and sees Homer dancing with Princess Kashmir (voice of Maggie Roswell), an exotic dancer hired as entertainment. Bart snaps a few pictures of Homer and Princess Kashmir together, and gives a copy of one to his friend Milhouse (voice of Pamela Hayden); Milhouse begins making copies of the snapshot, and soon it seems everyone in Springfield has seen the picture. When Marge gets wind of this, she's understandably furious, not only because her husband lied to her, but for setting a bad example to Bart. Homer, seeking forgiveness, spends the evening trying to find Princess Kashmir with Bart in tow, hoping to show his son that the dancer is more than just a sexual object, but before long, Homer has taken his son on a tour of every strip joint in town. "Homer's Night Out" was first aired March 25, 1990.
The Crepes of Wrath
After an incident with a cherry bomb sends Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) to the office of Principal Skinner (voice of Harry Shearer) one time too many, Skinner suggests the answer to Bart's discipline problems might be not to kick him out of school, but to ship him out of the country. Bart is sent to France as an exchange student, while Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) and Marge (voice of Julie Kavner) are entrusted with the care of Adil (voice of Tress MacNeille), a well-mannered student from Albania. However, everyone involved is in for a few surprises; Bart discovers that his French sponsors are actually the mean-spirited proprietors of a winery who use him for slave labor when not fortifying their product with anti-freeze, while Adil is actually a spy who uses Homer's naïveté to obtain classified information about American nuclear power plants. "The Crepes of Wrath" was first aired on April 15, 1990.
Krusty Gets Busted
Bart Simpson (voice of Nancy Cartwright) is a loyal fan of children's television star Krusty the Clown (voice of Dan Castellaneta) -- "He's my idol! I've based my whole life on his teachings!" -- so he's understandably upset when Homer (also voiced by Castellaneta), while stopping at the Kwik-E-Mart on the way home, witnesses Krusty committing armed robbery. While Homer is certain of what he saw, Bart just can't bring himself to believe that the beloved entertainer is guilty. As Krusty awaits trial, his sidekick Sideshow Bob (voice of Kelsey Grammer) takes over the show, and turns the formerly lowbrow program into "The Sideshow Bob Cavalcade of Whimsy," complete with readings from The Man in the Iron Mask and music from Cole Porter. But Bart senses that some of the evidence presented against Krusty just doesn't add up, and with some help from Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith), they find a way to clear Krusty's name and finger the real criminal. Krusty Gets Busted, the first of several Simpsons episodes featuring Kelsey Grammer as the devious Sideshow Bob, first aired on April 29, 1990.
Some Enchanted Evening
Marge Simpson (voice of Julie Kavner) is not especially happy with her husband Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta), whom she believes has started to take her for granted, but lackadaisical Homer doesn't realize this until he hears Marge complaining about her marriage to Dr. Marvin Monroe (voice of Harry Shearer), a psychologist who hosts a radio call-in show. Suddenly aware that his marriage is in trouble (especially after Monroe tells Marge she should leave her husband), Homer comes home with flowers and candy, and tells Marge he's taking her out for a night on the town. Needing a babysitter for Bart (voice of Nancy Cartwright) and Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith) at the last minute, Marge calls the Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper Babysitting Service, who sends over one Ms. Botz (voice of Penny Marshall), a stern woman who does not exactly hit it off with the kids. But as Homer attempts to get back in Marge's good graces with dinner and dancing, Bart and Lisa watch "America's Most Armed and Dangerous" and discover Ms. Botz is actually Lucille Botzcowski, the infamous Babysitter Bandit. "Some Enchanted Evening" was first aired on May 13, 1990.
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