‘The Simpsons’ 13 Funniest Christmas Specials, Ranked
Although The Simpsons is healthier recognized for its annual Treehouse of Horror Halloween specials, the present has an extended historical past of celebrating holidays of every kind. The common collection kicked off again in 1989 with a Christmas episode, and it stays one of the memorable entries within the canon. The Simpsons has evolved a lot over time, however there isn’t any denying that the vacation season has a spot in its historical past.
Halloween episodes permit the creators behind The Simpsons to embrace the bizarre, however it is a present a few working-class household at its coronary heart. Christmas tends to pressure Homer to mirror on his egocentric actions whereas giving us an opportunity to see what his household loves about him. Commenting on the perfect and the worst elements of the vacations, these are a few of the perfect episodes of the present’s many seasons.
13 ‘’Tis the Fifteenth Season’
Season 15, Episode 7
Sure, that is the Christmas particular the place the famed California Raisins make an look. Whereas they do placed on their candy strikes, exhibiting the world they nonetheless had it, it was the episode’s message that took middle stage right here.
“‘Tis the Fiftheenth Season” sees Homer spending all of his cash on an costly Christmas present. Solely, it was not for the household, however for him. This results in the remainder of the household getting on with the household patriarch, which forces Homer to alter his egoist methods. The message on this episode was crystal clear; and whereas it is probably not among the many best possible Christmas specials, it definitely is among the many extra underrated.
12 “‘Tis the thirtieth Season’
Season 30, Episode 10
In 2018, The Simpsons hit a historic milestone. Few animated collection have ever made it to 30 seasons, however this iconic animated sitcom certain did; and what higher option to rejoice this historic milestone than an amazing Christmas particular?
“‘Tis the thirtieth Season” finds Marge on a mission to repair Christmas following a disastrous Black Friday buying spree. The tables are turned (in a great way), nonetheless, when Homer and the youngsters shock their mother with a visit to Florida for the vacations. Whereas the laughs are definitely theirs, it was the candy sentiment that hooked viewers. Marge is without doubt one of the finest and most caring mothers on the small display screen, and it was candy seeing the household do one thing good for her and make her really feel appreciated.
11 “White Christmas Blues”
Season 25, Episode 8
Who ever knew that Springfield was a vacationer city? Effectively, nobody knew, till Season 25, when a sudden spike in tourism meant that our favourite yellow household couldn’t afford Christmas. So, in an effort to make the particular time of the 12 months occur, they open up their home to new guests to Springfield; and you’ll think about how that went.
Whereas it’s one of many extra underrated Christmas specials, “White Christmas Blues” ought to be thought-about among the many finest vacation episodes of the collection. In a approach, many households can, at one cut-off date, relate to the Simposns’ plight on this episode, and root for the household as they flip potential catastrophe into alternative.
10 ‘Kill Gil, Volumes 1 & II’
Season 18, Episode 9
Marge Simpson has usually been portrayed because the long-suffering companion of the chaotic Homer, however typically the creators permit her to look at her standing as a pushover in textual content. Marge grappling together with her limitations is all the time a superb factor in a world that expects an excessive amount of of mothers. Moreover, when she lastly loses her mood, it is all the time sure to be good for a yuk.
Gil Gunderson is the present’s basic unfortunate businessman who endures fixed hardships however has an optimistic angle. When he loses his job, Marge affords to let him keep at their place for Christmas, solely to spend the following 12 months unable to attract boundaries or ask him to depart. When he lastly does, she finds her frustration and finally ends up costing him his job once more, main the 2 of them to repeat their dynamic indefinitely.
9 ‘Marge Be Not Proud’
Season 7, Episode 11
Followers of the Simpsons will know that Bart is generally an unrepentant troublemaker, however he can all the time be shamed by his mother. When he’s peer pressured into stealing a online game and caught by a chainsmoking safety guard, he finally ends up desperately working to keep away from his dad and mom discovering out.
Marge is satisfied that Bart would by no means do such a factor and is upset past phrases when she realizes that her religion has been misplaced. Homer sternly tells him that he is grounded and may’t steal the rest for 3 weeks, however Marge’s disgrace is by far the worst punishment. Bart is made to really feel like an outsider in his family when she decides to take a hands-off strategy to parenting, resulting in numerous hilarious moments by which he tries to take part with a household that’s ignoring him. When the others create snowmen, he’s compelled to make one out of soiled, leftover snow.
8 ‘Miracle on Evergreen Terrace’
Season 9, Episode 10
Most Christmas episodes contain both Homer, Bart, or each Homer and Bart making big errors that everybody else has to cope with. That is one the place Bart takes middle stage, sneaking off the bed to open presents early, solely to unintentionally mild the tree aflame, burning the presents to ash.
Whereas his household sleeps, he takes the melted plastic tree and buries it within the snow, making up an elaborate story about being robbed. Springfield comes collectively to assist the Simpsons recuperate from the tragedy, however when the tree is uncovered, they develop into public enemies, accused of exploiting the goodwill of others for revenue. The decision, in fact, is for the townspeople to rob them of every part they personal, thereby permitting everybody to forgive and overlook. Merry Christmas!
7 ‘Simpsons Roasting on an Open Hearth’
Season 31, Episode 10
That is it! The episode that took The Simpsons out of their standing as a characteristic on The Tracey Ullman Present and launched them to audiences around the globe. Although the animation has considerably improved over time and there is barely much less child-strangling now (1989 was a bizarre time, okay), these are the characters we’ve got come to know and love in all their glory.
Homer is broke and unable to offer presents for his household, and so he takes up additional work in hopes of having the ability to spring for some. When he unwisely gambles his money away as soon as extra by betting on a greyhound named Santa’s Little Helper, each Homer and the pup lose every part. Nonetheless, his heartstrings are pulled when he sees the now-homeless canine kicked into the streets, and he brings the little man house, giving the present one in all its most beloved recurring characters.
6 ‘The Combat Earlier than Christmas’
Season 22, Episode 8
Followers of the Treehouse of Horror format will discover so much to like about this episode, which is damaged down into 4 totally different dream sequences, exhibiting us what Bart, Lisa, Marge, and Maggie dream of on Christmas Eve. Bart threatens to kill Santa for not bringing him the presents he wished, solely to have a Polar Specific type dream by which he bonds with Santa and forgives him.
This episode is actually surreal, and an prolonged puppet sequence by which Katy Perry seems to guide the group in singing some Christmas jingles simply makes for a few of the strangest vacation TV ever to air. But, that is a giant a part of what makes it so enjoyable, with a WWII-themed vignette by which Marge is a soldier away at struggle and one other quick clip by which Marge asks for assist from Martha Stewart solely to find that she is not all that useful in spite of everything.
5 ‘The Nightmare Earlier than Krustmas’
Season 28, Episode 10
Krusty the Clown is without doubt one of the biggest among the many present’s prolonged solid, and that is one in all his shining moments. When he suffers a extremely sudden harm whereas ice skating together with his daughter Sophie, he’s confronted with the daunting job of spending one-on-one time together with her. Realizing they do not know one another very effectively, he’s dismayed to appreciate that she’s been raised Christian, whereas he’s Jewish.
This episode could be very a lot about Krusty discovering widespread floor together with his daughter, who has little or no curiosity in his profession in present enterprise and needs to get to know him as a father. Nonetheless, the subplot can also be nice and sees Maggie, fearful of a toy known as Gnome In Your Residence, waging an all-out struggle in opposition to the wide-eyed elf who she turns into satisfied can see her each motion.
4 ‘Grift of the Magi’
Season 9, Episode 11
Identified for its pop-culture commentary, The Simpsons even recently skewered the MCU. Proving usually that nothing is off-limits, the collection has excelled in the case of observing its complicity in crass commercialism whereas urging viewers to dig just a little deeper into the way it interacts with their very own lives.
Among the best examples of this may be present in ‘Grift of the Magi,’ by which the college system is shut down resulting from a collection of catastrophic occurrences. Although the scholars and school beg for assist from people who have the cash to present, Springfield Elementary is in the end purchased out by personal curiosity teams that use the scholars for market assessments. Hoping to construct the proper toy, they unleash the chaos of Funzo, a damaging animatronic within the type of Furby.
3 ‘I Will not Be Residence For Christmas’
Season 26, Episode 9
Homer Simpson might be a cultural icon, however the present can be nowhere with out his supporting solid. This episode reveals him swinging by for a drink with Moe, who guilt him into sticking round regardless that Homer is meant to be house on time to spend Christmas Eve together with his household.
Homer drunkenly loses observe of time and Moe toys with the bar clock to encourage him to remain later, which leads Marge to utterly unload on him when he lastly makes it house. Wandering the city and doing good deeds in hopes of cheering himself up, his household realizes that Moe was the perpetrator, they usually go looking for him. Lastly reunited with each other, they’ve a contented Christmas.
2 ‘Skinner’s Sense of Snow’
Season 12, Episode 8
On a day that ought to have been a snow day, Principal Skinner forces the youngsters to return in to endure class, which consists of exhibiting them a tedious movie. Realizing that they’re now snowed in for the night time, the youngsters take over the college. With Skinner sure and Bart in cost, the scenario quickly descends into chaos.
In the meantime, Ned Flanders and Homer determine that the answer is for them to go rescue the kids. Naturally, this plan goes awry, they usually shortly endure a automotive crash that fills the automotive with carbon monoxide fumes. Hallucinating and ineffective, they unintentionally save everybody by crashing right into a silo crammed with salt and melting the snow.
1 ‘She of Little Religion’
Season 13, Episode 6
When Homer causes harm to the native church by way of a rocket gone awry, they’re compelled to take cash from Mister Burns, who seeks to show the church right into a enterprise. Although the adults have complicated emotions round this, Lisa is infuriated and storms out after boldly studying them for filth in the course of a sermon. That is our woman!
One of many nice strengths of The Simpsons is its willingness to embrace cultures and religions from everywhere in the world. This episode is very sturdy in that sense, as Lisa finds herself disillusioned by Christianity and seeking one other religion. After a chat with Richard Gere, she decides to lean into Buddism. By no means treating her pursuits as frivolous, the present encourages her in her religion.
