Homer does save Christmas, however, bringing home an abandoned racing dog from the track. The family is thrilled with Homers gift to the family and Homer becomes the hero of Christmas. This show dealt with many issues ranging from gambling, money matters, and the importance of family. .
One factor placing The Simpsons above other television shows is because it's a cartoon. If The Simpsons consisted of live actors and actresses, many of the issues would be too personal to address, and much of the humor would be lost. The writers of the show can make a character appear anyway they want him to. It's a little hard to do that with live actors and actresses. There is no way the writers could find a perfect candidate to play the roles of Mr. Burns, the very rich boss of Homer, or Homer's always drunk friend Barney. The qualities of each character are very stereotypical of the people today. Sure you can tell a live actor to act drunk all the time, but a cartoon allows you to make the character exactly how you want. In real family sitcoms people grow up and it is hard to come up with new issues and keep the same age group of viewers year after year. Bart, Lisa, and Maggie have been the same age for as long as the show has been running. The family can continue to face issues we deal with but still remain the same people. .
Bart or Lisa will never go to college, or even high school. Home Improvement was a very successful series, but the characters grew up and the storylines changed. In Home Improvement all the children go off to college and the parents grow older. The fact that the Simpsons never age is what has made the show successful over the years.
One down fall to the television series is that a lot of people think that The Simpsons are a bad influence and is not intended for all viewers. They might be a bad influence, but they do tell the truths of society. To keep kids completely away from The Simpsons would be impossible.
