Trivia
This special went on to be the series premiere. It is now listed as episode 7G08, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire".
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This special was not originally intended to be The Simpsons pilot. Production problems, particularly with the first produced episode, The Simpsons: Some Enchanted Evening, saw the show delayed from its planned October debut until late December, thus dictating that this Christmas-themed episode, the eighth one produced, was the first to be broadcast. ("One Enchanted Evening" was eventually broadcast as the last episode in the first season).
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DVD commentary revealed that the creators got letters of praise for heightening the awareness of the abandonment of racing dogs even though they didn't know it was a real problem when they created the episode.
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This episode is on the "Christmas with the Simpsons" DVD as well as on the Season 1 DVD set.
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First appearances (not including The Tracey Ullman Show) of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Principal Skinner, Waylon Smithers (just voice), Mr. Burns, Grandpa, Patty, Selma, Snowball II, Ned Flanders, Todd Flanders, Moe, Barney, Lewis, Milhouse, and Santa's Little Helper.
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This episode was the eighth to be made for the series, as shown by the production code, but because the series was beginning broadcast just before Christmas 1989, logic dictated that should be the first one shown in the run.
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Other dogs in Santa's Little Helper's race include: Whirlwind, Quadruped, Dog O' War, Fido and Chew My Shoe.
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There is no Blackboard or Couch gag in this episode's opening titles, owing to the holiday theme of the episode making the title sequence different.
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The Springfield Shopper gives the Christmas pageant 3 and a half stars; as seen on a sign outside of Springfield Elementary for the annual Christmas pageant.
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The 'slightly irregular' trees seen just before Homer chops down the regular tree are drawn to resemble the trees in Dr. Seuss books.
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Episode aired first but was written eighth. This is why Santa's Little Helper doesn't make an appearance in the episodes that follow immediately.
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The title is based on "The Christmas Song" or "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" written in 1944 by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells. The most famous version was record by Nat 'King' Cole.
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The odds of Santa's Little Helper are ninety-nine to one. If the dog had won the race Homer and Bart would have won $1,287 dollars. Barney, on the other hand won only $130 after betting on the dog named Whirlwind whose odds were ten to one.
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