The plot of Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation are very similar and I noticed they came out at the same time. Is the plot similarities a coincidence or direct reference to the movie?
So I figured I would just start this and see if takes off. We will go in order. One episode a day, for as long as people still participate.
I've been wanting to re watch in order for a while now instead of just always picking out my favorites to keep watching, and figured it could be fun to do it as a group.
We can discuss quotes, moments, story, whatever happens, happens.
Previously: Deadwood
This week marked the 25th anniversary of the best show America has ever had to offer, The Simpsons so let's go back to the pilot in another edition of [Rewatch].
>Oh please, there's only one fat guy that brings us presents and his name ain't Santa.
The show premiered on December 17, 1989, but of course the unforgettably yellow family didn't start here, they started in a series of shorts in The Tracey Ullman Show but it's still interesting that they started the show we know with a Christmas episode because in its golden age they never did Christmas episodes again until S7's "Marge Be Not Proud" as nobody in the writing staff wanted to "try on Christmas" again because of the pilot's fame (newer writers think differently).
Also, it's kind of a fluke this was the pilot since the one with the Babysitter Bandit (which is now the S1 finale) was supposed to be the series premiere but animation problems derailed it. The pilot isn't nearly as funny as some of the episodes later on but it does seem to nail the character work: Homer is a big goof, Marge is the well-meaning matriarch, Bart's a troublemaker (and the breakout character early on: remember Bartmania?), Lisa's the more reasonable intelligent child while Maggie is Maggie. And even Flanders didn't get Flanderized yet.
>Bart pays the price getting a tattoo.
Also, this episode really gets into the financial troubles of a lower-middle class family and Homer has to steal a Christmas tree and take a Santa Claus job that nets him $13 and then bets those $13 on a dog race and even that doesn't pan. Depressing as fuck, but pretty poignant. But it hits Homer eventually that family is more importa
... keep reading on reddit ➡The very first episode of The Simpsons, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" debuted the series on December 17th, 1989- roughly twenty-five years ago (I was there watching it live), launching the series and the family into the forever consciousness of pop-culture. I recently re-watched the episode and it shocked me how different the series was when it initially aired.
Watching an episode of today's Simpsons reveals an entirely different show. The Homer character, while likable and endearing, is emasculated, negligent of others, and mentally handicapped.
Upon re-watching the first episode, Homer is instead presented as a sympathetic, under appreciated father whom, despite his best efforts, finds tremendous difficulty in providing a perfect family life for his wife and children.
The running joke is that Homer tries- Homer has ideals shaped by his television predecessors like "Father Knows Best" and "Donna Reed," where Fatherhood looks effortless and family life appears perpetually blissful.
Take for example the scene where Homer tries to string Christmas lights along his roof- a ritual all Christmas celebrating suburban fathers can relate... Homer goes to great lengths to decorate his home for the holidays with pride, even falling off the roof at one point, and invites his family out for the debut of his efforts only to have the lights blow out and malfunction. The kids say "nice try, dad," and thats about it.
The joke is that Homer is trying his hardest to emulate what he thinks a good father should be and finds the ideal unobtainable despite his best efforts. That's the joke- not that he sucks, not that he's negligent, not that he's an idiot; the joke is that his effort goes unrewarded by his family- the joke is that Homer's failure renders his effort unappreciated.
The episode follows this structure throughout... Of course Homer is a drone worker at a power plant to support his family while his wife is a stay at home mother. Despite this, Marge's single post-wall sisters both despise Homer for reasons that are never quite clear. Again, the theme for the viewer is that "despite great effort a modern father is not respected nor appreciated."
In the episode Homer is relying on his company's Christmas bonus to buy gifts for his family and through no-fault of his own that bonus is canceled by his boss. In a scramble for the holidays to work out, Homer takes a side-job as a mall Santa to pay for the family's gifts. To his dismay, he is only paid $13 on Ch
... keep reading on reddit ➡
With each round and battle, you will vote as to which Stands would prevail in a battle against one another under certain conditions. These conditions are:
Location: Train Station by Forest Edge
Time: 3:45pm
Weather: Warm, Clear Sky, Sunny Day
Population: 20-30 people
Awareness: Aware of Stand and ability, not user
Each user has a chance to make one post explaining how they will win, only speaking on their perspective in the fight. They may only use the information present in their made Stands, and nothing more. Editing stands during the battle is not allowed and being caught will get you disqualified.
They may not debate the topic among each other, whether here or somewhere else. Advertising for oneself to win anywhere is also not allowed.
The readers may ask users questions about the battle and their Stands, to which they may reply, but still must answer in their perspective only. It is advised to ask them some deep and difficult questions about the stand, ability or the conditions and how they manage in them.
Note that whatever is said each round must be consistent to the one before and after. A mod will correct the user should they fail to do so.
The winner of the round will move on to the next until eventually one is left standing, crowned the winner! Best of luck to everyone!
Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire https://www.reddit.com/r/fanStands/comments/kd7nwq/12_stands_of_christmas_day_1_chestnuts_roasting/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
Reuse Repeat https://www.reddit.com/r/fanStands/comments/kl3uz4/reuse_repeat_conceptualized_a_while_ago_posting/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
