Desperate for a miracle, Homer and Bart head to the dog track on Christmas Eve to bet Homer's meager $13 earnings on a dog named . Although the dog finishes dead last, he is abandoned by his owner and subsequently adopted by the Simpsons, becoming "the best gift of all". Fascinating Trivia

(S1E1) is the legendary 1989 Christmas special that launched the world's most famous animated family into a half-hour series. The Plot: A Not-So-Merry Christmas

Eric Stefani, brother of singer Gwen Stefani, worked as a layout artist for this episode.