Study Guides for the The Simpsons Exam!

America's first family of dysfunction, the Simpsons, appear in all their depraved glory in this wonderful DVD compilation of their show's premiere season. Fans accustomed to the slick appearance of the later episodes will be delighted by the rougher nature of these earlier episodes, when the characters weren't as well defined (Homer isn't quite as dumb as he is in later seasons) and the animation was still evolving. This only adds to the charm of these 13 episodes, which begin with "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire," the December 1989 Christmas special in which a down-and-out Simpson family adopt Santa's Little Helper. Throughout the season, familiar faces are introduced, as we catch first glimpses of Smithers, Mr. Burns, the Flanderses, and Patty and Selma. Highlights of the season include "The Crepes of Wrath," in which Bart is sent to France as an exchange student ("Don't mess up France the way you messed up your room"); "Bart the Genius," in which Bart ends up in a school for the gifted; and "Krusty Gets Busted," in which Bart's lifelong animosity with Sideshow Bob begins.

Anyone can become a megamillionaire just like Mr. Burns with this collector's edition of Monopoly based on The Simpsons, the beloved, sometimes-controversial animated TV series. The rules of the game remain the same, but the old Monopoly properties are now all Springfield landmarks, with a new monorail running across the game board. Players use tiny pewter game tokens of Bart, Homer, and other Springfield characters as they purchase stores, restaurants, and homes. Who wouldn't want to buy Krustylu Studios or the Kwik-E-Mart? Instead of acquiring houses and hotels, players try to accumulate monorail stops and stations on their properties. Customized Chance and Community Chest cards offer additional sly references and cartoon drawings of the characters.

When champions of The Simpsons contend that the animated TV show is the best-written show on the small screen, they're referring as much to the songs that pop up in most episodes as the dialogue. Well, here's a springboard to the Springfield Sound that Simpsons supporters will find irresistible.