This year, I have decided to watch an episode of the Simpsons a day until I have watched all 760 (and counting and it will be more like 800 by the time I get to 760)
I watched every single episode of The Simpsons when it was available on Sky back when it first started and on catch-up in more recent years. 35 years later, it is safe to say I never missed an episode and still hope for a 2nd movie.
I thought with me watching from the start I would note my thoughts all these years later and give my highs and lows each week and some fun facts!
A lot of the early seasons I would rewatch over and over from recordings on VHS to the official VHS seasons or collections to finally my favourite DVD collection to date! Speaking of DVDs I will probably go through some bonus extras from the DVDs as I finish each season.
I have included some specials and extras already in my listing like the recent Disney+ extras ask the way back to the who shot Mr Burns special and the movie in and amongst.
I will include a list of when I’m due to watch an episode so you can join in the fun and watch along and maybe even turn it into some kind of a discussion/podcast-type deal if enough are interested. But for now, this is just something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time (I wanted to do this when it reached 365 episodes and I could watch one a day for a year and now we are past 2 years and no signs of stopping!
Anyway, enough with the introduction. Let’s get on with my thoughts…
The Tracey Ullman Shorts
I thought I’d whizz through these as part of day one as they are only short but do roughly equate to 2 episodes in length, and I’d like to keep episode 1 to day 1 all the way through.
These are a rough bunch of shorts and allowed Matt Groening to find what worked for the Simpsons and take it to create a feature-length show. A lot of the plots were over the top and not as grounded as its successor.
There were some weird art styles and animation choices. Some made their way to the series and helped define the bible/rule book of how to draw and animate going forward.
Overall, they were pretty fun, and you can see the potential they had and how much they could accomplish with only 1 minute!
1×01 – 001 – “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”
The one that started it all and made us all fall in love with America’s most dysfunctional family!
Straight away, we can see how much Homer loves his family and would do anything for them. Despite having no money for gifts, he still brings home happiness for the family after he thought he failed them all.
Bart somehow manages to get a tattoo, which would be costly on its own anyway and somehow can get it removed before the ink is even dry. I liked this idea and the sentiment, but I wonder how many kids wanted to run out and do the same for their families!? And how did they have the technology to remove a tattoo instantly back then and have the facility to do so right there in the mall? I’m just nitpicking!
Overall, it gives us a glimpse of each character and introduces us to some of the staple side characters such as Ned, Barney and Moe
1×02 – 002 – “Bart The Genius”
Next up we find out how crafty Bart can be but in the end, he still does what is right! I love how supportive they all try to be with Bart even if not quite all the family believes it. Bart feels very out of place at his new school and does all he can to fit in. Eventually, after a failed experiment Bart suggests an undercover operation to get him back to his old school but in the end, he can’t do it and admits to cheating. The funny thing is nobody picks up on or realises that Martin is the child genius and everything goes back to how it was. There is a hint at the beginning that Maggie may also be a genius as she spells out “EMCSQU” with her blocks which is meant to translate to “E=MC2“. All in all, it shows how far Bart can go and how easily things can just go back to normal.
Fun fact Milhouse’s hair was black for one scene in this episode.
1×03 – 003 – “Homer’s Odyssey”
Homer tries to show off at work when Bart’s school visits the Nuclear Power Plant, leading him to get fired. The show then shows us how deep the show can go with Homer considering suicide (albeit with a few laughs to lighten the tone) After his family finds his note and goes to talk him out of it. This leads to a car almost running him over (The irony) giving Homer the idea of petitioning for a stop sign, which is agreed upon and added without much fuss. A montage of non-stop sign requests later Homer goes back to where it all started and campaigns for a safer plant with a crowd of people. Mr. Burns requests to see Homer and offers him a new job and raise, torn between his principles and livelihood Homer accepts the position and advises the crowd to battle alone.
A few fun facts Mr. Smithers has Orange/Brown skin for his first appearance, the conversation with Otto regarding the tattoo is before the first episode so technically Bart hasn’t had his tattoo yet. The Christmas episode was supposed to air at the end of the season but instead shown first due to delays. Blinky the 3 eyed fish is shown
1×04 – 004 – “There’s No Disgrace Like Home”
After attending a work picnic at Burn’s manor Homer realises how dysfunctional his family is and how they don’t respect each other. Looking to improve this Homer sells the family’s prized possession the TV to pay for therapy he saw in an ad. After pawning the TV the family arrive, beatings and electrocutions to one another ensue leading to the Dr. advising he is unable to help. As this was a we can help or double your money back offer the family leaves better off and closer in a different way. Homer offers to buy an even better TV bringing joy to the family and realising they don’t need to be the perfect family to be happy.
Fun fact the “Angelic Family” can be seen in the waiting room arms crossed and avoiding each other, they put on a show when in public to seem like the perfect family exactly what Homer thought!
The first appearance of “The Itchy & Scratchy Show” since the shorts.
The scene with the buzzers is reminiscent of “A Clockwork Orange”
1×05 – 005 – “Bart The General”
After Lisa bakes some cupcakes for her teacher Bart finally gets one after nagging Lisa on the bus. After arriving at school a bully snatches the cupcakes and starts nibbling on them. Bart stands up for his sister and in return gets a beating from head bully Nelson. After numerous beatings, Bart has had enough and after Homer’s advice fails he turns to Grampa Simpson who takes him to see Herman for a battle plan. Bart rallies all the kids at school and corners the bullies with an epic water balloon barrage. Nelson advises he will still beat on Bart but Herman makes him sign a “treaty”. A wacky episode that shows over-the-top things can be taken!
No Chalkboard or Couch Gag
The first appearance of Nelson Muntz & Herman Hermann
1×06 – 006 – “Moaning Lisa”
Another tough topic tackled right out of the gate with Lisa having the “Blues” or depression. Both Marge & Homer attempt to talk to Lisa about it but Homer isn’t equipped to deal and the advice Marge gives is the same as her mother gave her and to put on a fake smile. After trying that Marge could see Lisa wasn’t comfortable. Eventually, after being told off for using her sax in the house Lisa hears a sax outside and goes to investigate. She finds “Bleeding Gums” Murphy on the bridge, they have a jam together and Lisa learns to channel her depression through her music. We finish the episode with the family visiting a Jazz Club and bleeding gums performing Lisa’s song they jammed together with on the bridge.
Fun facts: First appearance of Bleeding Gums Murphy
1×07 – 007 – “The Call of the Simpsons”
The final one of week 1! Homer looks to outdo the flanders as Ned shows up with a fancy RV. Not wanting to be outdone Homer and his family go to Bob’s RV Round-Up to get the biggest and best RV on credit a few clicks on the computer and Bob advises he is unable to get anything on credit except for the worst of the worst! The family get packed up ready for an adventure and gloat in front of Ned, ever being the gentleman he compliments the junk pile! After a long journey into the middle of nowhere, Homer parks the RV at the edge of a cliff, the family manages to get out but the RV, the contents and their credit go tumbling over the cliff! After constructing a crude shelter Homer and Bart set off to find food and resources with Maggie in tow, not realising Maggie was following them her pacifier made Homer think there was a rattlesnake, leading them to run off and plummet off a cliff into a stream. Once ashore they both realise they have lost all their clothes and need to construct some crude coverings. Meanwhile, Maggie befriends some bears and Marge and Lisa construct a somewhat decent shelter. In an attempt to find food, Homer grabs some honey from a hive bees and all, stumbling into a mud pile he emerges muttering and is caught on film looking like Bigfoot. This leads to mass media coverage and Marge and Lisa being found by the park ranger. Homer and Bart find shelter in Maggie’s bear cave and eventually find their way to the ranger and their family. Homer is captured and tested and branded a “Brilliant Beast” which Marge uses as his nickname!
Well, a lot happened in that episode and had Homer and Bart going from bad to worse also what happens when you try to one-up Flanders!
Fun fact: Although Flanders only earns $27 more than Homer Flanders makes better use of his credit
That’s week one done 100+ to go! I may add a rating per episode but leaving it as is for now! Please let me know any suggestions to improve or if I’m adding too much or too little to each episode and see you next week!
Link to Week 1 Here
Link to Week 2 Here
Link to Week 3 Here
Link to Week 4 Here
Link to Week 5 Here
Link to Week 6 Here
Link to Week 7 Here
Link to Week 8 Here
Link to Week 9 Here
Link to Week 10 Here
Link to Week 11 Here
Link to Week 12 Here
Link to Week 13 Here
Link to Week 14 Here
The link to my schedule is below:
Simpsons 1-a-Day
