Ep 1. Treehouse of Horror

In the premiere episode of The Simpsons' annual Halloween special, Treehouse of Horror, the family gathers in their treehouse to tell spooky stories. Marge warns that the stories may be too scary for young viewers, but Homer dismisses her concerns and insists they continue.

The first story, titled "Bad Dream House," sees the Simpsons moving into a large mansion that they bought for a suspiciously low price. Soon, strange things begin to happen, such as walls bleeding and mysterious voices taunting them. Despite the house's malevolent intentions, Homer insists they stick it out and stay in the house.

Next up is "Hungry are the Damned," in which the Simpsons are abducted by aliens who believe they are offering the family a luxurious feast. However, Lisa becomes suspicious of the aliens' true intentions and tries to warn her family. But her warnings fall on deaf ears, with Homer and Bart gorging themselves while Marge and Lisa hold back.

Lastly, in "The Raven," a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's classic poem, Homer plays the role of the protagonist who is haunted by a talking raven (voiced by James Earl Jones). The raven's repetitive refrain of "nevermore" drives Homer to the brink of insanity.

Throughout each story, the Simpsons find themselves in increasingly bizarre and terrifying situations. But despite the scares, they manage to find humor in the absurdity of it all.

Overall, this first episode of Treehouse of Horror sets the precedent for the annual Halloween specials that would become a beloved tradition for fans of The Simpsons. The episode balances horror with comedy, offering a unique and entertaining take on some classic tales.