The Simpsons season 1

Voice cast & characters

Main article: List of The Simpsons characters

Main cast

• Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson, Barney Gumble, additional voices
  • Grampa Simpson in "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", "Bart the General" and "The Telltale Head"
  • Krusty the Clown in "The Telltale Head" and "Krusty Gets Busted"
• Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson, additional voices
  • Patty and Selma in "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" and "Life on the Fast Lane"
• Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson, Lewis, additional voices
  • Nelson Muntz in "Bart the General"
  • Ralph Wiggum in "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"
• Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson, additional voices
• Harry Shearer as additional voices
  • Waylon Smithers in "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", "Homer's Odyssey", "There's No Disgrace Like Home", "The Telltale Head" and "Homer's Night Out"
  • Principal Skinner in "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", "Bart the Genius", "The Telltale Head" and "The Crepes of Wrath"
  • Reverend Lovejoy in "The Telltale Head", "Homer's Night Out" and "Krusty Gets Busted"
  • Mr. Burns in "There's No Disgrace Like Home" and "Homer's Night Out"
  • Lenny Leonard in "Life on the Fast Lane", "Homer's Night Out" and "The Crepes of Wrath"
  • Ned Flanders in "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" and "The Call of the Simpsons"
  • Kent Brockman in "Krusty Gets Busted"

Recurring

• Hank Azaria as Chief Wiggum, Moe Szyslak, Carl Carlson, and Apu
• Pamela Hayden as Milhouse Van Houten
• Tress MacNeille as Jimbo Jones and Agnes Skinner
• Russi Taylor as Martin Prince and Sherri and Terri
• Marcia Wallace (credited as Marsha Wallace in "Bart the Genius") as Edna Krabappel and Ms. Melon
• Maggie Roswell as Helen Lovejoy and Princess Kashmir
• Christopher Collins as Mr. Burns (3 episodes), Moe Szyslak ("Some Enchanted Evening") and TV host
• Jo Ann Harris as additional characters

Guest stars

Main article: List of The Simpsons guest stars (seasons 1–20)

• Sam McMurray as SNPP Employee, Duff Commercial VO ("Homer's Odyssey") and Gulliver Dark ("Homer's Night Out")
• Ron Taylor as "Bleeding Gums" Murphy ("Moaning Lisa")
• Susan Blu as Howie and Boy #2 ("Moaning Lisa")
• Miriam Flynn as Miss Barr ("Moaning Lisa")
• Albert Brooks (credited as A. Brooks) as Cowboy Bob ("The Call of the Simpsons") and Jacques ("Life on the Fast Lane")
• Pat Buttram as Hillbilly John ("The Call of the Simpsons")
• Christian Coffinet as Gendarme Officer ("The Crepes of Wrath")
• Kelsey Grammer as Sideshow Bob ("Krusty Gets Busted")
• Penny Marshall as Ms. Botz ("Some Enchanted Evening")
• June Foray as the Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers Babysitting Service Receptionist and Doofy the Elf ("Some Enchanted Evening")
• Paul Willson as a Florist ("Some Enchanted Evening")

Reception

Ratings

The Simpsons first season was Fox's first TV series to rank among a season's top 30 highest-rated shows.

Critical response

The first season of The Simpsons received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a 100% approval rating based on 18 critical reviews with an average rating of 8.5/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "*The Simpsons''' first season proves a quickly addictive introduction to America's animated first family with a run of entertaining episodes that set the stage for a groundbreaking series." On Metacritic, a site which uses a weighted average, the season has a score of 79 out of 100 based on six critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". However, the show was controversial from its beginning. The rebellious lead character at the time, Bart, frequently received no punishment for his misbehavior, which led some parents to characterize him as a poor role model for children. Several American public schools even banned The Simpsons merchandise and t-shirts, such as one featuring Bart and the caption "Underachiever ('And proud of it, man!')". Despite the ban, *The Simpsons'' merchandise sold well and generated US$2 billion in revenue during the first 14 months of sales.

Awards and nominations

The season won an Emmy and received four additional nominations. Although television shows are limited to one episode per category, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" was considered a separate special and nominated alongside fellow episode "Life on the Fast Lane" for Outstanding Animated Program; "Life on the Fast Lane" won. "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" was also nominated for "Outstanding Editing in a Miniseries or Special", while "The Call of the Simpsons" was nominated for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special". The main theme song, composed by Danny Elfman, was nominated for "Outstanding Achievement in Main Title Theme Music".

At the 6th annual Television Critics Association Awards, the first season of the show won 'Outstanding Achievement in Comedy', beating the likes of Designing Women, Murphy Brown, Newhart and The Wonder Years. Additionally, it was nominated for 'Program of the Year' but lost to Twin Peaks.

Episodes

Home media

The DVD boxset for season one was released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment in Region 1 (the United States and Canada) on September 25, 2001, eleven years after it had completed broadcast on television. As well as every episode from the season, the DVD release features bonus material including deleted scenes, animatics, and commentaries for every episode. The boxset had been released a day earlier in Region 4 (Australia) by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment South Pacific. It was also released on September 24, 2001 in Region 2 (the United Kingdom). The commentaries for the first season started being recorded in late 2000. When the first season DVD was released in 2001, it quickly became the best-selling television DVD in history. It was later overtaken by the 2004 release of Chappelle's Show Season 1. As of October 19, 2004, the DVD boxset sold 1.9 million units.

References

;Bibliography

References

1. (2001). "The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "Some Enchanted Evening"". 20th Century Fox.
2. (2001). "The Simpsons season 1 DVD commentary for the episode "Some Enchanted Evening"". 20th Century Fox.
3. [http://www.emmys.org/awards/awardsearch.php Emmy Awards official site] {{webarchive. link. (February 15, 2009 "The Simpsons" "1989–1990" ''emmys.org''. Retrieved on July 3, 2007)
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11. (February 7, 1990). "NIELSENS; 'Amen,' wedded to ratings win". [[USA Today]].
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14. (February 28, 1990). "NIELSENS; 'Videos' is a repeat winner". [[USA Today]].
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21. [https://www.simpsonsarchive.com/other/interviews/groening00c.html The Simpsons Archive: Matt Groening Interview (October 2000)]
22. Lambert, David. (September 19, 2004). "Chappelle's Show—S1 DVD Passes ''The Simpsons'' As #1 All-Time TV-DVD; Celebrates by Announcing Season 2!". TVshowsonDVD.com.
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