Anybody ever....

[on:]

watch the first episode of the Simpsons if any one did can you please tell me what it was like

[Reply #1 on:]

I have the Season 1 DVD and the animation looks somehow horrible. 
Also, the characters have changed a lot since then...

[Reply #2 on:]

I think the first I saw was Bart the General, not sure though as it was way back in 1991 when I was on holiday in Perth I believe. I thought it was pretty funny but didn't really like the ending, I'm not a fan of stories that have a moral to them.

[Reply #3 on:]

What I really liked about "Bart the General" were the numerous "Patton" references... 

[Reply #4 on:]

The true first episode of The Simpsons was "Some Enchanted Evening" (aka the one with the Babysitter Bandit) which came back from Korea animated and looking generally so horrible that it made the entire crew fear for the show's future. Clips of this episode are available on the Season 1 DVD, and yes, they are truly horrible. 80% of the episode was re-done, and the episode aired as the last in the season. It's really a sharp contrast when you notice which scenes were part of the original version, compared to the re-done stuff, it shows just how much the production team learned during that first short year (13 episodes).

First episode broadcast was "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" (the Christmas one where they get Santa's Little Helper), and really doesn't look that bad. Totally different in competence from even episodes from Season 2, but it has a charm to it that you can only wish the latest episodes would aspire to.

[Reply #5 on:]

The DVD has a sample of the Korean animation... It was horrible. The commnetary was the producers repeatedly apologizing, it ended when one of them (who?) walked out.

[Reply #6 on:]

James L. Brooks, I believe.

[Reply #7 on:]

'Roasting on an Open Fire', ah yes, the memories. Sure the animation wasn't up to much, and half the characters were the wrong colours, but it's still classic, and way better than most modern Simpson eps. I'll never forget when Homer puts up his Christmas lights, only to be totally outdone by Ned Flanders 

[Reply #8 on:]

I've seen the first episode. The animation was bad but I liked it. I'd sacrafice todays animation if it had yesterdays comedy.

[Reply #9 on:]

Everything I would have said has already been touched upon. It is utterly horrible, but looks good compared to the bits of the horrendous unaired pilot on the DVD. The first ep was so bad that they had to remake it and it ended up making the show first air in December rather than September, which is why the Xmas episode was first to air and the official first ep was the last to air in Season One. PS: Season Three DVD releases Region 1 August 26, wheee!

[Reply #10 on:]

The first episode I watched was the "Roasting on an Open Fire" episode in 89. I was 4 years back then.

[Reply #11 on:]

I love the Bart The General episode, but I can't stand the drawings. Half the characters look completely different, and the other half look the same but have different skin colours.

[Reply #12 on:]

Roasting on an Open Fire *sigh* I hate the whole first series now I have seen them so many times and compared them to later eps.

=It was good the first few times though=

[Reply #13 on:]

I have seen the first episode, but the first episode I watched was called "The Grapes Of Wrath", I believe, the one were Bart goes to France. It's amazing how the animation has changed since then 

[Reply #14 on:]

Even upto about season 5 the animation looks pretty bad, when I watch old eps now I cringe, futurama spoils us so

[Reply #15 on:]

 

Originally posted by Grim:
Even upto about season 5 the animation looks pretty bad, when I watch old eps now I cringe, futurama spoils us so

Thats what I'm talkin' about!

 

[Reply #16 on:]

"Roasting on an Open Fire" is the first, pretty sad fare in comparison but it has it's moments, although if you wanna get technical the first was that bedtime one they showed on that Simpson's showcase episode.

[Reply #17 on:]

 

Originally posted by MuscaDomestica:
The DVD has a sample of the Korean animation... It was horrible. The commnetary was the producers repeatedly apologizing, it ended when one of them (who?) walked out.

From the TV show "Clerks", when they go into Korean animation:

"OH NO, WHO IS DRIVING?!?! BEAR IS DRIVING!! AHH!"

[Reply #18 on:]

How can this be?

[Reply #19 on:]

Back in the days where chief wiggum had black hair.

[Reply #20 on:]

Many characters were changed during the first seasons. Just think of Smithers...

[Reply #21 on:]

The first episode we got in Australia (1989 I believe) was Bart the Genius, we didn't see the Chrissy special for ages I can't remember when but I know I saw the first airing so I didn't miss it....

It was funny and I think a classic apart from the shoddy animation but it's to be expected back in those days 

[Reply #22 on:]

i remember the 1st ep. ::sniffs:: and dont forget the 2 min. scetches!! i was'nt alive at both of these mentioned but i saw them. matt doesnt do the simpsons on tv or comics, he still draws them like the shorts. 

[Reply #23 on:]

yeah but if you've seen the 138th episode
they show clips from the orignal shorts that aired on the tracy ullman show,
now that was bad and the characters were complatley diffrent, bart was like bongo from life in hell in one clip.
then it cuts back to the host troy mclure
who laughs and say
they haven't changed a bit have they

[Reply #24 on:]

The early episodes show the real reason for why The Simpsons have lasted for 14 years: endearing characters combined with a sharp sense of humor.

[Reply #25 on:]

'Santas lil' Helper' episode was my first of The Simpsons. I didnt take any notice of it, 'till mid-series     which had the best Simpsons Episodes compared to now.

[Reply #26 on:]

 Bart the Genius was the earliest episode released in its entirety, compare the look of it with later episodes in the first season. It was episode 2, some enchanted eavning was episode 1 but 70% of the animation had to be redone. There are still a lot of scenes that look VERY different the traditional Simpsons episodes.