Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire

After attending the Springfield Elementary School Christmas pageant, the Simpsons prepare for the holiday season. Marge asks Bart and Lisa for their letters to Santa. Lisa requests a pony, and Bart requests a tattoo. The latter enrages Homer and Marge and they forbid Bart from getting one. The next day, Marge takes the kids to the mall to go Christmas shopping. Bart slips away to the tattoo parlor and attempts to get a tattoo that reads "Mother". With the tattoo partially completed, Marge bursts in and drags Bart two doors down to the dermatologist to have it removed. Counting on Homer's Christmas bonus, Marge spends all of the family's holiday money on the procedure. Meanwhile, at the power plant Homer's very mean-spirited boss, Mr. Burns, announces that there will be no Christmas bonus this year.

Homer, discovering there is no money for Christmas presents and not wanting to worry the family, takes a job as a shopping mall Santa Claus at the suggestion of his friend Barney Gumble. On Christmas Eve, Bart goes to the mall and harasses Santa, exposing Homer's secret. Bart is apologetic for the prank and actually supportive of Homer's moonlighting, remarking "You must really love us to sink so low". After Homer is paid less than expected for his Department Store Santa work, he and Bart receive a dog racing tip from Barney.

At Springfield Downs, Homer, inspired by an announcement about a last-minute entry named Santa's Little Helper, bets all his money on the 99-1 long shot. The greyhound finishes last. As Homer and Bart leave the track, they watch the dog's owner angrily disowning him for losing the race. Bart pleads with Homer to keep the dog as a pet, and he reluctantly agrees. When Bart and Homer return home, Homer finally comes clean to the family that he did not get his bonus, however the family assumes Santa's Little Helper is their present and are overjoyed by Homer's gesture. The Simpsons family then celebrate by singing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".

The Last Temptation of Homer

After Homer and his coworkers barely escape from a gas leak at the nuclear power plant, Homer's coworker is fired when he asks Mr. Burns to put in a real emergency exit. After breaking numerous labor laws in hiring a replacement, such as hiring illegal aliens and ducks, the United States Department of Labor demands that Burns make changes in the power plant's policies, including hiring at least one female worker. A beautiful woman named Mindy Simmons is brought in and Homer finds he is falling in love with her. Barney advises Homer to talk to Mindy because they will most likely have nothing in common. Homer does so, and to his horror, he finds they have exactly the same personality and interests. Meanwhile, Marge is sick with a bad cold, which makes her very unattractive to Homer.

Meanwhile, Bart is sent to an eye specialist after it is discovered he has poor vision. The optometrist decides he has lazy eye and fits him with special, thick glasses he has to wear for two weeks. Bart also finds out he has a dry scalp that can only be treated by matting his hair down with a medicated salve, therefore parting his hair to both sides. He also receives a pair of oversized shoes to help his posture, and a spray in his throat to cure the redness, which temporarily gives him a squeaky voice. These adjustments give Bart the appearance of, and gradually turn him into, a nerd. He is picked on and beaten up regularly by bullies for the duration of the two weeks. Eventually, Bart comes back to school in his normal appearance, explaining he is no longer a nerd, but the bullies still decide to beat him up anyway.

Homer does his best to avoid Mindy, who is falling in love with Homer, but despite his best efforts, they keep ending up together. Eventually, Homer decides to talk to Mindy, and say that due to their attraction, they should completely avoid each other. However, things get worse when Homer and Mindy are sent to represent the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant at the National Energy Convention in Capital City. After a romantic dinner as an award for winning the Convention, Homer and Mindy go back to their hotel room, and Homer expresses his worries. Mindy tells Homer how she feels about him, but assures him that nothing has to happen between them, and that it is up to him to decide how far their relationship will go. Even though he is very tempted by her, Homer declares his faithfulness to Marge. Mindy accepts his decision and leaves after they share a kiss. Later, Marge shows up with Homer to share a romantic evening together.

Jesus, this is a tough one. But I think Last Temptation has held up better over the years.

I voted for Life on the Fast lane in another match, and the Last Temptation of Homer is a very nice companion piece to it. Homer's struggle seems real in this, while later episodes where their marriage is in trouble it just feels like a plot point.

i always think of marge when i see a floor buffer