Miracle on Evergreen Terrace (21 Dec. 1997)

On Christmas Eve, Marge admonishes the family not to open presents until 7 a.m. the next morning. Bart finds a way around the directive and opens his gifts at 5 a.m. However, his prized gift - a remote-controlled fire truck - overheats and causes a fire that engulfs the tree and presents. The family investigates and Bart tells them that a burglar has struck. As a result of Kent Brockman's human ... See full summary »

Director:

Bob Anderson

Writers:

Matt Groening (creator), James L. Brooks (developer),

Stars:

Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Dan Castellaneta	...	Homer Simpson / Grampa / Barney / Krusty / Sideshow Mel (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson (voice)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson / Ralph (voice)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (voice)
Hank Azaria	...	Chief Wiggum / Lou / Moe / Apu / Kliff / Store Clerk / Carl / Jeopardy Judge / Comic Book Guy / The Sea Captain (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Jasper / Dr. Hibbert / Kent Brockman / Sea Captain / Mr. Burns / Ned Flanders / Principal Skinner (voice)
Tress MacNeille	...	Poor Violet (voice)
Pamela Hayden	...	Milhouse Van Houten / Patches (voice)
Maggie Roswell	...	Miss Hoover (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alex Trebek	...	Himself (voice)
Marcia Wallace	...	Mrs. Krabappel (voice)

Storyline

On Christmas Eve, Marge admonishes the family not to open presents until 7 a.m. the next morning. Bart finds a way around the directive and opens his gifts at 5 a.m. However, his prized gift - a remote-controlled fire truck - overheats and causes a fire that engulfs the tree and presents. The family investigates and Bart tells them that a burglar has struck. As a result of Kent Brockman's human interest story, the entire town donates gifts and cash to the Simpsons for their "misfortune." Eventually, Bart admits the truth, angering his clueless family but angering the town even more (when Brockman finds out the truth). The family is made into outcasts, and Marge's attempt to win the needed funds on "Jeopardy!" (to pay everybody back) fails miserably. Eventually, the townspeople loot the Simpsons' home ... save for a dust rag.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | christmas special | 2d animation | bleeped dialogue

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 1997 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television, Gracie Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The story for this episode was pitched as "'It's a Wonderful Life' in reverse"

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Goofs

Although in real life, anyone with $0 or less at the end of the Double Jeopardy round is eliminated, when Marge is on Jeopardy!, she is seen on Final Jeopardy with a deficit of $5,200. This is obviously used as a joke, along with Alex Trebek's guest appearance as a pushy, sinister version of himself, rather than reflecting the real rules of the game show.

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Quotes

Homer Simpson: Well, there's no easy way to say it, kids. God hates us.

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Connections

References Jeopardy! (1984)

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Soundtracks

"Santa Is On His Way"
By Bob Wills

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