(S1E1) is the legendary 1989 Christmas special that launched the world's most famous animated family into a half-hour series. The Plot: A Not-So-Merry Christmas
In this debut, several characters looked different than they do today; for instance, Barney Gumble had yellow hair, and Moe Szyslak had black hair.
When Homer learns he won’t be receiving a Christmas bonus, he takes a second job as a mall Santa to cover the family's holiday expenses. This financial crunch is worsened after Marge is forced to spend the family's savings to surgically remove a "Mother" tattoo that Bart got impulsively at the Happy Sailor .
This episode was actually the eighth produced but aired first. The originally intended pilot, "Some Enchanted Evening," was delayed due to major animation errors.