By looking at the first season as a whole, the chronology fits quite well together. Every thing could logically happen over a year starting in the fall and going to next summer. Through the little clues here and there, this should make an accurate chronology for the first season:
7G06 – Moaning Lisa
7G11 – Life on the Fast Lane
7G01 – Some Enchanted Evening
7G02 – Bart The Genius
7G04 – There’s No Disgrace Like Home
7G03 – Homer’s Odyssey
7G05 – Bart the General
7G07 – The Telltale Head
7G08 – Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
7G10 – Homer’s Night Out
7G12 – Krusty Gets Busted
7G13 – The Crepes of Wrath
7G09 – Call of the Simpsons
And just for fun, the top 5 episodes of Season 1 are:
5) Life on the Fast Lane
4) Bart the General
3) There's No Disgrace Like Home
2) The Telltale Head
1) Krusty Gets Busted
So, since I like these episodes, their canonity ranks higher than the other episodes. I make the rules.
Friday, January 2, 2009
7G13 - The Crepes of Wrath (April 15, 1990)
Summary: Bart goes to France as part of a student exchange program.
References to Time:
- Bart has a frog
- Bart has his lucky red hat
- Homer has a trick back
- Bart thought he had used all of his cherry bombs
- Bart meets Skinner's mother
- Bart will spend 3 months in France
- Homer says non of his kids never wanted to see him at work
- Maggie hasn't said her first word yet (at least, in the family's presence)
- Bart alerts the policeman after 2 months in France
- The FBI breaks into the Flanderses' house searching for Adil
- Bart brings gifts (his first unselfish act)
References to Previous Episodes: None
SLH Presence:
- SLH is present
Minimum Time Spanned: 3 days, 3 months (Maybe it starts on a Sunday?)
Canon: Agnes is very sweet towards Skinner and calls him Spanky. For the rest of this episode to makes sense with the episodes that follow, Bart will have to have studied abroad during 5th grade. But I sense trouble due to Agnes's non-canon presence.
Favorite Moment: When Homer falls down the stairs and winds up on his back, and the pets and Maggie just sleep around him.
Review: Eh, this episode isn't the greatest. It has a few funny moments, and we feel sorry for Bart, but I don't see it as a huge triumph. B-
References to Time:
- Bart has a frog
- Bart has his lucky red hat
- Homer has a trick back
- Bart thought he had used all of his cherry bombs
- Bart meets Skinner's mother
- Bart will spend 3 months in France
- Homer says non of his kids never wanted to see him at work
- Maggie hasn't said her first word yet (at least, in the family's presence)
- Bart alerts the policeman after 2 months in France
- The FBI breaks into the Flanderses' house searching for Adil
- Bart brings gifts (his first unselfish act)
References to Previous Episodes: None
SLH Presence:
- SLH is present
Minimum Time Spanned: 3 days, 3 months (Maybe it starts on a Sunday?)
Canon: Agnes is very sweet towards Skinner and calls him Spanky. For the rest of this episode to makes sense with the episodes that follow, Bart will have to have studied abroad during 5th grade. But I sense trouble due to Agnes's non-canon presence.
Favorite Moment: When Homer falls down the stairs and winds up on his back, and the pets and Maggie just sleep around him.
Review: Eh, this episode isn't the greatest. It has a few funny moments, and we feel sorry for Bart, but I don't see it as a huge triumph. B-
Thursday, January 1, 2009
7G12 - Krusty Gets Busted (April 29, 1990)
Summary: Krusty the Clown is accused of armed robbery, but Bart believes he is innocent.
References to Time:
- Patty and Selma visit to bring slides from their trip to the Yucatan
- Homer knows Apu
- Homer kind of knows Krusty from TV
- Krusty began as a street mime in Mississippi
- Krusty has a pacemaker after a triple bypass
- Krusty is illiterate
- Bart and Lisa sent Krusty a get well card after his heart attack
- Maggie walks
References to Other Episodes: None
SLH Presence:
- SLH is not present
- Sideshow Bob is arrested for the first time
Minimum Time Spanned: 1 afternoon/evening, 5 days (Let's say Friday - Wednesday)
Canon: Krusty says "I didn't do it," like it's his catchphrase. Homer said Krusty had big red hair. Krusty's makeup comes off. Other than that, it can all be canon.
Favorite Moments:
- "Why did the clown cross the road? To rob a Kwik-E-Mart. The news story behind that engimatic half-joke, right after this commercial message."
- Krusty's lawyer, after Krusty is found guilty: "Gah! I knew it! This happens to me every time!"
Review: Great episode. I really like Sideshow Bob, and I love his introduction as an educated scholar, rather than buffoonish sidekick. There are a lot of great lines in this episode, so it was hard picking a favorite moment. And it was a nice "Bart and Lisa team up and solve a mystery" story. I can forgive the flaws of this episode. A+
References to Time:
- Patty and Selma visit to bring slides from their trip to the Yucatan
- Homer knows Apu
- Homer kind of knows Krusty from TV
- Krusty began as a street mime in Mississippi
- Krusty has a pacemaker after a triple bypass
- Krusty is illiterate
- Bart and Lisa sent Krusty a get well card after his heart attack
- Maggie walks
References to Other Episodes: None
SLH Presence:
- SLH is not present
- Sideshow Bob is arrested for the first time
Minimum Time Spanned: 1 afternoon/evening, 5 days (Let's say Friday - Wednesday)
Canon: Krusty says "I didn't do it," like it's his catchphrase. Homer said Krusty had big red hair. Krusty's makeup comes off. Other than that, it can all be canon.
Favorite Moments:
- "Why did the clown cross the road? To rob a Kwik-E-Mart. The news story behind that engimatic half-joke, right after this commercial message."
- Krusty's lawyer, after Krusty is found guilty: "Gah! I knew it! This happens to me every time!"
Review: Great episode. I really like Sideshow Bob, and I love his introduction as an educated scholar, rather than buffoonish sidekick. There are a lot of great lines in this episode, so it was hard picking a favorite moment. And it was a nice "Bart and Lisa team up and solve a mystery" story. I can forgive the flaws of this episode. A+
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
7G11 - Life on the Fast Lane (March 18, 1990)
Summary: Homer gives Marge a bowling ball for her birthday, leading her to take up bowling lessons and consider adultery with her instructor.
References to Time:
- It's Marge's 34th birthday
- Maggie walks
- Homer thinks it's his birthday
- Previous gifts from Homer (tackle box, Connie Chung calendar)
- Homer gives the HOMER bowling ball to Marge, who has never bowled before
- There's a sign for League sign-ups at the bowling alley
- Bart notes that Wednesday is Hoagie Night
- Helen Lovejoy introduces herself to Marge
- Homer once gave Bart advice to keep his mouth shut to prevent things from getting worse
References to Other Episodes:
- Barney's Bowlarama has a sign that says "NEW." In a previous episode (Moaning Lisa?), the news mentioned that it had caught on fire.
SLH Presence:
- SLH is not present
- Homer does not appear to be safety inspector at the plant
Minimum Time Spanned: 5 days (Sunday - Thursday)
Canon: Canon, yes.
Favorite Moments:
- Marge holding the bowling ball over her head and asking "Where do I throw this?" at the alley
- Lisa wallows in stage 5 (self-pity) while Bart is in stage 3 (fear), and thus, cannot help him
- Homer talking about Marge's PBJ sandwiches
Review: Now this is a much better Homer/Marge story than the previous episode. Probably because it has Albert Brooks, and Albert Brooks is great. Homer's PBJ monologue is very touching and one of the best "I love you" moments I've ever seen out of him. A-
References to Time:
- It's Marge's 34th birthday
- Maggie walks
- Homer thinks it's his birthday
- Previous gifts from Homer (tackle box, Connie Chung calendar)
- Homer gives the HOMER bowling ball to Marge, who has never bowled before
- There's a sign for League sign-ups at the bowling alley
- Bart notes that Wednesday is Hoagie Night
- Helen Lovejoy introduces herself to Marge
- Homer once gave Bart advice to keep his mouth shut to prevent things from getting worse
References to Other Episodes:
- Barney's Bowlarama has a sign that says "NEW." In a previous episode (Moaning Lisa?), the news mentioned that it had caught on fire.
SLH Presence:
- SLH is not present
- Homer does not appear to be safety inspector at the plant
Minimum Time Spanned: 5 days (Sunday - Thursday)
Canon: Canon, yes.
Favorite Moments:
- Marge holding the bowling ball over her head and asking "Where do I throw this?" at the alley
- Lisa wallows in stage 5 (self-pity) while Bart is in stage 3 (fear), and thus, cannot help him
- Homer talking about Marge's PBJ sandwiches
Review: Now this is a much better Homer/Marge story than the previous episode. Probably because it has Albert Brooks, and Albert Brooks is great. Homer's PBJ monologue is very touching and one of the best "I love you" moments I've ever seen out of him. A-
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
7G10 - Homer's Night Out (March 25, 1990)
Summary: Homer gets photographed by Bart while dancing with a stripper at a stag party.
References to Time:
- At the beginning of the episode, Homer has an assistant named Eugene Fisk who made a fool of himself to a girl who worked in another dept at an office party
- Homer is 239 lbs at the beginning
- 6 months later, Eugene Fisk (Homer's supervisor) is marrying the girl
- Homer says the party is "this Friday"
- Every day for the last 6 months, Bart has pestered the mail carrier
References to Other Episodes:
- Bart smashes his pre-smashed piggy bank (Homer smashed it in Homer's Odyssey)
SLH Presence:
- SLH is not present
Minimum Time Spanned: 1 morning, followed by 6 months later, 2 days (Thursday-Friday), cut to 3 days later (Monday - Wednesday)
Canon: Apu doesn't know Homer, contradicting later episodes showing that they've known each other before Maggie was born. So, that part is not canon (although at the moment, it is unrefuted).
Favorite Moment: Bart: "Uh-oh, it's the fe-mailman" Lisa: "Fe-mail carrier, Bart"
Review: I don't particularly like this episode. The premise is very odd. Why do people care so much about the picture of Homer? Maybe 1990 was a different time, but it just doesn't translate well to today. The moral is okay, but the Marge/Homer rocky-relationship plot is better executed in later episodes. D
References to Time:
- At the beginning of the episode, Homer has an assistant named Eugene Fisk who made a fool of himself to a girl who worked in another dept at an office party
- Homer is 239 lbs at the beginning
- 6 months later, Eugene Fisk (Homer's supervisor) is marrying the girl
- Homer says the party is "this Friday"
- Every day for the last 6 months, Bart has pestered the mail carrier
References to Other Episodes:
- Bart smashes his pre-smashed piggy bank (Homer smashed it in Homer's Odyssey)
SLH Presence:
- SLH is not present
Minimum Time Spanned: 1 morning, followed by 6 months later, 2 days (Thursday-Friday), cut to 3 days later (Monday - Wednesday)
Canon: Apu doesn't know Homer, contradicting later episodes showing that they've known each other before Maggie was born. So, that part is not canon (although at the moment, it is unrefuted).
Favorite Moment: Bart: "Uh-oh, it's the fe-mailman" Lisa: "Fe-mail carrier, Bart"
Review: I don't particularly like this episode. The premise is very odd. Why do people care so much about the picture of Homer? Maybe 1990 was a different time, but it just doesn't translate well to today. The moral is okay, but the Marge/Homer rocky-relationship plot is better executed in later episodes. D
Monday, December 29, 2008
7G09 - Call of the Simpsons (February 18, 1990)
Summary: After destroying their new RV, the Simpsons get lost in the wilderness.
References to Time:
- The Simpsons own a manual mower, the Flanderses have a riding mower
- Flanders has a new RV
- Maggie walks
- Bart's lucky red hat floats away
- "Last week's capture of Bigfoot..."
References to Other Episodes: None
SLH Presence:
- SLH is not present
- Dr. Marvin Monroe is alive
Minimum Time Spanned: 9 days (Saturday - next Sunday, possibly during the summer)
Canon: All canon
Favorite Moments:
- In an attempt to calm a frightened Maggie, Lisa points out some vultures circling overhead. "Look, Maggie! Birdies!"
- After covering the story of a possible Bigfoot sighting, the newscaster ends with "We now return you to the president's address, already in progress."
Review: This is the first episode featuring Albert Brooks as a guest voice (Bob the RV Salesman). Brooks always makes any episode he's in better. The story is fun too, but not very many brilliant moments. It's an okay epsiode. B
References to Time:
- The Simpsons own a manual mower, the Flanderses have a riding mower
- Flanders has a new RV
- Maggie walks
- Bart's lucky red hat floats away
- "Last week's capture of Bigfoot..."
References to Other Episodes: None
SLH Presence:
- SLH is not present
- Dr. Marvin Monroe is alive
Minimum Time Spanned: 9 days (Saturday - next Sunday, possibly during the summer)
Canon: All canon
Favorite Moments:
- In an attempt to calm a frightened Maggie, Lisa points out some vultures circling overhead. "Look, Maggie! Birdies!"
- After covering the story of a possible Bigfoot sighting, the newscaster ends with "We now return you to the president's address, already in progress."
Review: This is the first episode featuring Albert Brooks as a guest voice (Bob the RV Salesman). Brooks always makes any episode he's in better. The story is fun too, but not very many brilliant moments. It's an okay epsiode. B
Sunday, December 28, 2008
7G08 - Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (December 17, 1989)
Summary: With no money for Christmas presents, Homer secretly tries to make enough money so Christmas won't be ruined.
References to Time:
- Lisa is in second grade, Bart is in fourth
- Snowball I was run over earlier in the year, so now they have Snowball II
- "Maggie is walking by herself"
- Lisa got straight A's
- Bart doesn't believe in Santa
- Lisa wants a pony, like she's asked for for the past 3 years
- Burns mentions that safety has increased at the plant
- Bart gets a tattoo
- Homer asks Patty and Selma how their trip went (probably refering to their car ride, implying they live out of town)
References to Other Episodes: None
SLH Presence:
- Homer appears to be doing something that could qualify as safety inspector work at the plant
- SLH is introduced
Minimum Time Spanned: 4 days (Dec 21st - 24th, most likely Thursday-Sunday)
Canon: Yes, except for the Patty and Selma being from "out of town"
Favorite Moments:
- Son and father at the racetrack. "Can we open our presents now, Dad?" "You know the tradition: not until the 8th race."
- Lisa's speech to Patty about trashing her father is pretty poetic, especially since Lisa had just finished enjoying a Happy Little Elves Christmas special.
- "I don't wanna leave until our dog finishes."
Review: I grew up with this episode and have seen it many times. So the effects of the episode are a bit lost on me. I know the entire dialogue by heart. However, after having not watched it for several years, I found myself enjoying the episode again. I even felt a little bit of emotion rise up at the end when Homer says that SLH is a Simpson. B+
References to Time:
- Lisa is in second grade, Bart is in fourth
- Snowball I was run over earlier in the year, so now they have Snowball II
- "Maggie is walking by herself"
- Lisa got straight A's
- Bart doesn't believe in Santa
- Lisa wants a pony, like she's asked for for the past 3 years
- Burns mentions that safety has increased at the plant
- Bart gets a tattoo
- Homer asks Patty and Selma how their trip went (probably refering to their car ride, implying they live out of town)
References to Other Episodes: None
SLH Presence:
- Homer appears to be doing something that could qualify as safety inspector work at the plant
- SLH is introduced
Minimum Time Spanned: 4 days (Dec 21st - 24th, most likely Thursday-Sunday)
Canon: Yes, except for the Patty and Selma being from "out of town"
Favorite Moments:
- Son and father at the racetrack. "Can we open our presents now, Dad?" "You know the tradition: not until the 8th race."
- Lisa's speech to Patty about trashing her father is pretty poetic, especially since Lisa had just finished enjoying a Happy Little Elves Christmas special.
- "I don't wanna leave until our dog finishes."
Review: I grew up with this episode and have seen it many times. So the effects of the episode are a bit lost on me. I know the entire dialogue by heart. However, after having not watched it for several years, I found myself enjoying the episode again. I even felt a little bit of emotion rise up at the end when Homer says that SLH is a Simpson. B+
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