When I first tuned into the Simpsons, it was as part of The Tracey Ullman Show. Their popularity grew and ’round about the time I was pregnant with my first child, they got their own show. I remember this because of a specific conversation I had with someone who didn’t know who or what The Simpsons were at the time.

That child I was pregnant would now be 34 years old.

Along the way, there have been highs and lows in the series. I always enjoyed it, and grew to see some of my own family in the show at times, although not too much of the time!

In addition to releasing season-long boxed sets of the show, Fox has also released special themed DVDs. One of those themes is Christmas. Although the true Simpsons Christmas show was that first one I watched where they acquired their dog, Santa’s Little Helper, there have been some other good episodes. Unfortunately, in an effort to capitalize on the themed DVD, this second Christmas title contains episodes whose ties to Christmas are tenuous, at best.

Homer vs. Dignity

When Homer and Marge realize they are completely broke and need to declare bankruptcy, he is told by the financial advisor that he needs to find a way to make more money. He goes to ask Mr. Burns for a raise, and ends up getting hired as his “prank monkey.”

The only thing that remotely connects it to Christmas is that Homer ends up using the money Mr. Burns pays him to purchase toys for needy tots and the department store asks him to portray Kris Kringle in the Thanksgiving Day parade. Mr. Burns wants him to ruin the Thanksgiving Day parade with a rather cruel prank, and Homer must decide what he’s going to do.

Skinner’s Sense of Snow

It’s the last day before Christmas vacation and rather than close the school and use a snow day, Principal Skinner decides to keep the school open – the only one in the area. When the teachers abandon him, Skinner has the students watch a DVD with him. When they open the shades after the DVD breaks, they learn they are trapped in the school due to a blizzard. Homer and Ned Flanders decide to rescue the children and have a rare moment of cooperation.

Dude, Where’s My Ranch

Discouraged by the amount of royalties people have to pay to those who wrote many of the Christmas carols, Homer decides to write his own. To get away from the popularity of the song, the family goes on vacation to a dude ranch. Lisa experiences love while at the ranch and Homer attracts the local wildlife in a most unwelcome way.

Tis the Fifteenth Season

Thanksgiving is over and the family is getting ready for Christmas. Homer needs money for presents, as usual. He gets some by cashing in a Joe DiMaggio baseball card. They go shopping at an upscale mall, and of course, Homer ends up spending most of the money on something he doesn’t need all for himself, leaving them with no money for a tree.

When Marge kicks him to the couch, he watches a version of The Christmas Carol which hits too close to home. Homer turns really nice, and that drives Flanders crazy with jealousy. To regain the public’s favor, Flanders buys everyone in Springfield a Christmas present. Homer then does his own version of the Grinch, thinking it will teach people not to be materialistic.

BONUS MATERIAL:

• Art & Animation – Tis the Fifteenth Season Act 1 – shows the sketch version of this episode


While this collection has some nice episodes, except for Tis the Fifteenth Season there’s really not much Christmas season content. If that’s what you are really looking for, it’s not worth it. That was my favorite episode of the four contained on the DVD and it brought out the most laughs from me. Homer vs. Dignity was pretty good as well. The other two were of lesser quality; less laughs, more predictible in their outcome.

However, the episodes contained here are funny in typical The Simpsons fashion. The laughs are pretty lowbrow, but I enjoy it regardless. All of the episodes are self-contained. Even though Homer may show signs of growing as a person, he never quite makes it and returns to being the oaf we all love by the end.

For me, it’s a show that has spanned an important period in my life and one that my kids have grown up with as well. If you are looking for a way to end up with a decent collection of episodes of The Simpsons at home without spending a fortune on boxed sets spanning what is so far nineteen seasons, then these single-themed discs are a terrific way to do so.