The Simpsons started out as the creation of Matt Groening, who after getting a chance to provide animated interstitials for the Tracey Ullman show, created an original cartoon based around his own family. The Simpsons shorts turned out to overshadow the popularity of Ullman's program. So much so that in 1989, the Simpsons was planned for its own television show. Despite early episode production being hell and almost leading to the show dying before air (See my review of the original "Some Enchanted Evening" in the Tooncrap section). Despite that, the show powered through and finally truly premiered on December 17th, 1989 with the Christmas Special "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". The mania of the Simpsons was everywhere. Toys, apparel, video games. It was inescapable. It was a pop culture enigma from pretty much the very beginning.
So with that out of the way, let's look at the 13 episode season that is season 1 of the Simpsons. Overall, the humor of this season isn't as sharp as what would follow in the age of the Swartzwelders, the O'Briens, or the Oakley and Weinsteins. But what is here is a season that focuses more on stories and character. While not every episode is a winner, it's a season that really doesn't have too many flawed episodes, just drier ones. So let's get things started.
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#13. Bart the Genius (Episode 2. Premiered January 14th, 1990)
This isn't a bad episode, but in terms of this season, it's definitely one of the more forgettable. You do get the Kwyjibo joke, the "Principal Skinner Wiener" joke and the classic "you're damned if you do and your damned if you don't" line. I also like the bonding that Homer and Bart have, even if it's brief, as well as Bart's nightmare sequence during the test. But other than that, there really aren't too many standout moments. Bart also tends to keep up the charade of being a genius for a little too long, even though doing so costs him his friends and the things that he loves. It does feel like they try a little too hard to stretch the premise, but for one of the first episodes, it's forgiven. Giving this the lowest point in the list is a fair spot.
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#12. Homer's Night Out (Episode 10. Premiered March 25th, 1990)
"After Bart takes a photo of Homer dancing with an exotic dancer, Homer becomes the talk of the town. But his provocative dancing causes him to be kicked out by Marge."
This episode feels oddly handled, and I think it's for how the plot is done. This whole story centers around Homer dancing with exotic dancer, Princess Cashmere. But it's not even that provocative a photo. He's not groping her, or really doing anything other than being a mildly drunken goof. Hell, it doesn't even come off as a picture that would elicit such a reaction within the town. I do like the whole moral about not objectifying women, but really, the episode feels like it doesn't know how to write that concept well enough without feeling a little muddled. Other than that, there really isn't too much in the comedy department in this one either. The plot does feel like it has a reason to last as long as it does, unlike Bart the Genius, but it still feels too poorly paced for my tastes.
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#11. The Crepes of Wrath (Episode 11. Premiered April 15th, 1990)
"After blowing up Principal Skinner's mother with the ol' cherry bomb in the toilet gag, Bart gets sent to France as part of a student exchange program. He ends up with a pair of cruel vintners who are lacing their product with antifreeze. Meanwhile, the Simpson family end up with an Albanian kid named Adil who is secretly a spy."
This is an episode that feels like its humor wears out by the end of act one after Skinner and Homer celebrate being rid of Bart. Despite that, the episode still handles itself well enough in the story department. At least more for the main plot than with the Adil storyline. It also feels like a bit too much plot convenience that Bart becomes so adept in learning French so quickly, but it's probably the best way they could find in ending this episode. I'd say this one is mediocre at best with a couple decent moments.
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#10. Homer's Odyssey (Episode 3. Premiered January 21st, 1990)
"After being fired from the nuclear power plant, Homer enters a state of depression. After almost committing suicide, Homer learns his true calling is to provide safety awareness to Springfield."
This episode is perhaps the worst animated in the whole of season 1. Characters the wrong color, lots of strange, off model designs, and plenty of animation errors. But for an episode itself, it isn't too bad. Albeit a strong opening with Bart on the bus that leads to a dry middle up until Homer tries to kill himself by jumping off a bridge. And his breaking point being that he's so low that he'd smash Bart's piggy bank to buy a beer. Yeah, this one is pretty dark in terms of its story when you think of it. The last act works well with Homer finding determination in becoming a safety ambassador, just to eventually give it up when given his job back.
It's not the funniest episode, or the best drawn, but it is a first for many Simpsons standouts. It's technically the first appearances of Moe, Barney, Chief Wiggum, Mr. Burns and Smithers (albeit colored wrong). It has the appearance of Smilin' Joe Fission as well as El Barto. It's not the most memorable episode in terms of comedy, but it is a great early showing of Homer's character being more than just "Angry Walter Matthau".
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#9. There's No Disgrace Like Home (Episode 4. Premiered January 28th, 1990)
"After the family embarrasses him at the company picnic, Homer tries to find a way to make his family act normal. Going so far as to pawn the TV to get them therapy."
This one is definitely one of the funniest episodes of the season. From the mayhem caused at the power plant picnic, to the family spying on other families to see how they act. But the true humor comes from the visit to Dr. Marvin Monroe's family therapy center, where we get the bit with the foam bats and the legendary electroshock therapy segment. It also contains the first official appearance of Itchy and Scratchy outside of the Ullman show.
My only gripe is that even for an early episode, having Homer be the one trying to corral the family feels out of character. Yes, he was still more the angry dad mentality, but if this was a concept in later seasons, this would easily have been Marge being embarrassed and Homer being the one indulging i a full one wine-loving musical. Other than that, it's hard to find many gripes with this one. It's a definite classic in early Simpsons comedy.
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#8. Life on the Fast Lane (Episode 9 . Premiered March 18th, 1990)
"When Homer gets Marge a bowling ball for himself on her birthday, she spites him by taking up the sport. I doing so, she meets lane lothario Jacques and begins a tricky trail into another relationship."
This is in many ways the definitive Homer and Marge "trouble in paradise" episode. In fact, it feels like any time they do the same plot (Which is like a generous 60% of the post-classic era) it falls into many of the tropes seen here. But that aside, the story is really well done with Marge having a legitimate reason to be angry at Homer. Jacques is an interesting character. You know he's a scumbag, but he's a scumbag voiced by Albert Brooks, which almost makes it alright. A side note, you should check out the Albert Brooks outtakes from the season 1 DVD, they are hilarious.
They also play up the reactions of the rest of the family as well. Homer not being angry, but sorta stricken with depression and a loss of sight in the rest of the world, while Bart and Lisa undergo the stages of realization that their family is falling apart. It leads to some funny moments, some good character building for Marge who eventually sees the right choice in forgiving Homer, and it ends on that pitch perfect parody of An Officer and a Gentleman.
"After buying a new trailer to go camping, the Simpsons end up lost in the forest where Homer is mistaken for bigfoot."
This is definitely one of the more absurd premises of the early Simpsons episodes, but it manages to work into a very fun one. We get Albert Brooks again as Cowboy Bob, that classic season of Homer trying to snare a rabbit only to be attacked by several forest critters, the saga of Maggie and the bears and the end where Homer is mistaken for Bigfoot. Is he a brilliant beast, or just some American schlub? The world may never know. In terms of comedy, this might be the funniest of the season with a lot of the humor being very entertaining. There's no zingers from later seasons, but the settings, moments, and some fun lines still keep you entertained throughout.
"After Marge calls in to a radio therapy show about not feeling appreciated by the Homer, Homer takes her out for dinner, while unintentionally leaving the kids in the care of Ms. Botz, AKA the Babysitter Bandit."
This was originally planned to be the series premiere, but due to the original coming out horribly, it was redone and became the season 1 finale. And I'm glad it was still made as it's a very entertaining episode. Some great lines in this one ("Leave Pedro?") A plot that doesn't feel like it drags. And even though it's another Homer/Marge relationship squabble early on, it thankfully doesn't end up the prevailing storyline. The stuff we get with the babysitter bandit is definitely the high point of the episode as Bart and Lisa try to stop her, but ultimately the hero is Maggie, because Maggie is just that awesome. It's definitely a great way to end a very unique first season.
"When Bart's life is turned a living hell from the constant torture of school bully Nelson Muntz, he teams up with Grampa, crazy war vet Herman and the rest of the kids to bring out a full on assault on the bully."
Lots of great classic moments in this one. From Bart rolling in the trash can and spitting out his hat, to the blow dryer scene, to a really dark scene of Bart being dead in a coffin (removed from syndication) and a great final act with Bart being the general and leading the kids to war. The episode never feels too dull or slow, keeping the plot moving at a strong pace. It also is a good debut for Nelson, who would become a fan favorite. There really isn't too much to take away from this one, but that's not a bad thing as it simply remains a fun early episode of the series.
"In an attempt to impress a group of local bullies, Bart saws off the head of the statue of beloved town founder Jebediah Springfield."
If you want an episode that best represents Bart's character early in the series, then this is definitely the one to look at. It shows that while Bart can be a hellion he isn't always a bad kid. He's a lot like many kids who do things under peer pressure. The story is structured well, starting with Homer and Bart on the run with the head and then setting up the events throughout. We get our first appearances of many characters in this one, but most notably Jimbo, Dolph and Kearney. They build the importance of Jebediah to the town and it helps when it makes Bart's guilt grow after accomplishing his act, especially when he learns he did it all for nothing.
This one isn't so much funny (though there are some decent jokes) as it is a well written story. One that I think was really needed for Bart, who had the ire of a lot of the world for being a bad influence to kids, when it shows he's a generally good kid who is easily influenced wrongly. It's a classic episode and one that if you haven't seen it lately should give another watch.
"After Bart's hero Krusty the Clown is arrested for armed robbery, he has a hard time believing that he really did it, and tries to solve the mystery of who might have framed him."
In terms of story, this one may definitely be the most gripping of season 1. From the robbery to the arrest of Krusty to the rest of Springfield quick to lynch the clown for his crime, to Bart's determination to ultimately prove his hero innocent, there's actually a lot of great story here. And an actually well put together mystery. One where all the pieces to the puzzle are well placed and nothing feeling too out of place. The motive, the evidence, it all works. This episode also gives us Kelsey Grammer as Sideshow Bob, who would become one of the best villains in the series, and even in later seasons is still a delight to see. He's a criminal genius with a hubris even larger than his feet and this was the episode that gave the world his greatness. If you haven't seen this one in a while, it's a definite rewatch. Plenty of great moments, and as previously stated, an equally greatly paced mystery.
"Lisa becomes depressed, which causes her to fail in school. Could her outlet to positivity come from a mysterious jazz man? Meanwhile, Homer tries to defeat Bart in a video boxing game."
This episode is the episode that was needed for Lisa as a character. Really, up until this she was simply "Girl Bart", a troublemaker with at least more common sense than her brother. So to see her seemingly near suicidal levels of depression with the world around her being terrible feels like a layer that was needed to make her more of a realist. It also is a great story on how Marge doesn't know how to solve the problem, mainly with it being due to poor advice from her own mother on to how to treat the world. So, the episode becomes a lesson not just for Lisa but for Marge on how to handle the world.
"When Homer doesn't get his Christmas bonus and the family savings are spent on getting rid of Bart's tattoo, Homer tries his hardest to provide a great Christmas for his family to little success."
The first Simpsons Christmas Special is arguably still its best as it's probably one of the most relatable stories ever put to a special. A father just doing what he can to provide a good Christmas for his family despite being dead broke. From stealing a Christmas Tree to working as a mall Santa for barely any pay, to ultimately wasting that money on the dog track, only for the fates to allow them to get Santa's Little Helper in their family. It's definitely one of Homer's best moments, even if it is at one of his most pathetic. Lot's of great comedy bits from Bart's rendition of Jingle Bells, Bart getting the tattoo (and the pain after removal. "Ow! Quit it.") to Homer shopping ("Mr. Simpson, you dropped your pork chop.") to Bart's great speech about how miracles always happen to people on TV at Christmas. It's a fun episode that even over 26 years later is a must-watch during the Holidays.
And that is my ranking for season 1 of the Simpsons, a season that while not as strong in the ways of later seasons, still has a charm and feel all its own. It's still a classic watch over a quarter century later and even if every episode isn't perfect, they're all still appreciated that they helped build the franchise moving forward. As always this is a subjective listing and yours is likely different. If this is popular enough, we'll be back with season 2 with a bit more to cover and talk about for certain.
This is in many ways the definitive Homer and Marge "trouble in paradise" episode. In fact, it feels like any time they do the same plot (Which is like a generous 60% of the post-classic era) it falls into many of the tropes seen here. But that aside, the story is really well done with Marge having a legitimate reason to be angry at Homer. Jacques is an interesting character. You know he's a scumbag, but he's a scumbag voiced by Albert Brooks, which almost makes it alright. A side note, you should check out the Albert Brooks outtakes from the season 1 DVD, they are hilarious.
They also play up the reactions of the rest of the family as well. Homer not being angry, but sorta stricken with depression and a loss of sight in the rest of the world, while Bart and Lisa undergo the stages of realization that their family is falling apart. It leads to some funny moments, some good character building for Marge who eventually sees the right choice in forgiving Homer, and it ends on that pitch perfect parody of An Officer and a Gentleman.
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#7. The Call of the Simpsons (Episode 7. Premiered February 18th, 1990)
"After buying a new trailer to go camping, the Simpsons end up lost in the forest where Homer is mistaken for bigfoot."
This is definitely one of the more absurd premises of the early Simpsons episodes, but it manages to work into a very fun one. We get Albert Brooks again as Cowboy Bob, that classic season of Homer trying to snare a rabbit only to be attacked by several forest critters, the saga of Maggie and the bears and the end where Homer is mistaken for Bigfoot. Is he a brilliant beast, or just some American schlub? The world may never know. In terms of comedy, this might be the funniest of the season with a lot of the humor being very entertaining. There's no zingers from later seasons, but the settings, moments, and some fun lines still keep you entertained throughout.
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#6. Some Enchanted Evening (Episode 13. Premiered May 13th, 1990)
"After Marge calls in to a radio therapy show about not feeling appreciated by the Homer, Homer takes her out for dinner, while unintentionally leaving the kids in the care of Ms. Botz, AKA the Babysitter Bandit."
This was originally planned to be the series premiere, but due to the original coming out horribly, it was redone and became the season 1 finale. And I'm glad it was still made as it's a very entertaining episode. Some great lines in this one ("Leave Pedro?") A plot that doesn't feel like it drags. And even though it's another Homer/Marge relationship squabble early on, it thankfully doesn't end up the prevailing storyline. The stuff we get with the babysitter bandit is definitely the high point of the episode as Bart and Lisa try to stop her, but ultimately the hero is Maggie, because Maggie is just that awesome. It's definitely a great way to end a very unique first season.
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#5. Bart the General (Episode 5. Premiered February 4th, 1990)
"When Bart's life is turned a living hell from the constant torture of school bully Nelson Muntz, he teams up with Grampa, crazy war vet Herman and the rest of the kids to bring out a full on assault on the bully."
Lots of great classic moments in this one. From Bart rolling in the trash can and spitting out his hat, to the blow dryer scene, to a really dark scene of Bart being dead in a coffin (removed from syndication) and a great final act with Bart being the general and leading the kids to war. The episode never feels too dull or slow, keeping the plot moving at a strong pace. It also is a good debut for Nelson, who would become a fan favorite. There really isn't too much to take away from this one, but that's not a bad thing as it simply remains a fun early episode of the series.
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#4. The Telltale Head (Episode 8. Premiered February 25th, 1990)
"In an attempt to impress a group of local bullies, Bart saws off the head of the statue of beloved town founder Jebediah Springfield."
If you want an episode that best represents Bart's character early in the series, then this is definitely the one to look at. It shows that while Bart can be a hellion he isn't always a bad kid. He's a lot like many kids who do things under peer pressure. The story is structured well, starting with Homer and Bart on the run with the head and then setting up the events throughout. We get our first appearances of many characters in this one, but most notably Jimbo, Dolph and Kearney. They build the importance of Jebediah to the town and it helps when it makes Bart's guilt grow after accomplishing his act, especially when he learns he did it all for nothing.
This one isn't so much funny (though there are some decent jokes) as it is a well written story. One that I think was really needed for Bart, who had the ire of a lot of the world for being a bad influence to kids, when it shows he's a generally good kid who is easily influenced wrongly. It's a classic episode and one that if you haven't seen it lately should give another watch.
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#3. Krusty Gets Busted (Episode 12. Premiered April 29th, 1990)
"After Bart's hero Krusty the Clown is arrested for armed robbery, he has a hard time believing that he really did it, and tries to solve the mystery of who might have framed him."
In terms of story, this one may definitely be the most gripping of season 1. From the robbery to the arrest of Krusty to the rest of Springfield quick to lynch the clown for his crime, to Bart's determination to ultimately prove his hero innocent, there's actually a lot of great story here. And an actually well put together mystery. One where all the pieces to the puzzle are well placed and nothing feeling too out of place. The motive, the evidence, it all works. This episode also gives us Kelsey Grammer as Sideshow Bob, who would become one of the best villains in the series, and even in later seasons is still a delight to see. He's a criminal genius with a hubris even larger than his feet and this was the episode that gave the world his greatness. If you haven't seen this one in a while, it's a definite rewatch. Plenty of great moments, and as previously stated, an equally greatly paced mystery.
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#2. Moaning Lisa (Episode 6. Premiered February 11th, 1990)
"Lisa becomes depressed, which causes her to fail in school. Could her outlet to positivity come from a mysterious jazz man? Meanwhile, Homer tries to defeat Bart in a video boxing game."
This episode is the episode that was needed for Lisa as a character. Really, up until this she was simply "Girl Bart", a troublemaker with at least more common sense than her brother. So to see her seemingly near suicidal levels of depression with the world around her being terrible feels like a layer that was needed to make her more of a realist. It also is a great story on how Marge doesn't know how to solve the problem, mainly with it being due to poor advice from her own mother on to how to treat the world. So, the episode becomes a lesson not just for Lisa but for Marge on how to handle the world.
In the humor department, the episode does deliver with the great video boxing stuff with Homer and Bart. It's like if Punch-Out met Mortal Kombat in terms of gameplay. Seeing Homer so determined to win that he bribes a kid to teach him how to play is hilarious, and the crescendo of him coming so close only for the game to be unplugged on him is both heartbreaking and gut busting. It's the right kind of levity for a much more somber in ways A-plot. The cameo from Ron Taylor as Bleeding Gums Murphy is also excellent as is the scene with him and Lisa on the bridge. It's some great work all around. This is definitely the strongest Simpsons episode in terms of story. Well, that is except for...
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#1. Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (Episode 1. Premiered December 17th, 1989)
"When Homer doesn't get his Christmas bonus and the family savings are spent on getting rid of Bart's tattoo, Homer tries his hardest to provide a great Christmas for his family to little success."
The first Simpsons Christmas Special is arguably still its best as it's probably one of the most relatable stories ever put to a special. A father just doing what he can to provide a good Christmas for his family despite being dead broke. From stealing a Christmas Tree to working as a mall Santa for barely any pay, to ultimately wasting that money on the dog track, only for the fates to allow them to get Santa's Little Helper in their family. It's definitely one of Homer's best moments, even if it is at one of his most pathetic. Lot's of great comedy bits from Bart's rendition of Jingle Bells, Bart getting the tattoo (and the pain after removal. "Ow! Quit it.") to Homer shopping ("Mr. Simpson, you dropped your pork chop.") to Bart's great speech about how miracles always happen to people on TV at Christmas. It's a fun episode that even over 26 years later is a must-watch during the Holidays.
And that is my ranking for season 1 of the Simpsons, a season that while not as strong in the ways of later seasons, still has a charm and feel all its own. It's still a classic watch over a quarter century later and even if every episode isn't perfect, they're all still appreciated that they helped build the franchise moving forward. As always this is a subjective listing and yours is likely different. If this is popular enough, we'll be back with season 2 with a bit more to cover and talk about for certain.