episode "Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife", first broadcast on the Fox network on March 26, 2006. The live-action opening had also become an Internet hit before it was aired in front of "Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife", and it was Groening's decision to use it. Al Jean commented in a press statement that he was "just amazed there are people who want to be known for looking like the Simpsons." Christmas A Christmas-themed version of the opening sequence was animated for the season 18 episode "Kill Gil, Volumes I & II", which aired on December 17, 2006, and later re-aired with the season 20 episode "The Burns and the Bees", which aired on December 7, 2008. It begins with two lines of instrumental "Jingle Bells" ("Kill Gil, Volumes I & II") and "O Christmas Tree" ("The Burns and the Bees") and then the normal theme music begins. This version is similar to the normal version, except for several key differences: Everything outside is covered with snow Bart's skateboard has been replaced with a snowboard Everyone is wearing winter attire Mr. Burns and Smithers have been replaced by a Scrooge-esque Burns and Ghost of Marley-esque Smithers, and there are several Christmas banners in the plant Lisa's saxophone solo is a jazz version of "Deck the Halls" Bleeding Gums Murphy, who is now deceased, has been replaced with Jasper in a Santa costume. Maude Flanders and Marvin Monroe, however, remain in the pan across Springfield Marge and Maggie's supermarket and car sequences have been cut In the end, the couch gag is that the family sits on the couch and the camera then pulls out to reveal that the family was reflected in a Christmas ornament, which rests on a Christmas tree. High-definition versions A Christmas version of the sequence in High-definition appeared in the season 25 episode "White Christmas Blues", which aired on December 15, 2013. The entire sequence is similar to the 2009 opening, but is a retelling of The Night Before Christmas with a Christmas-arranged opening theme. Key differences include: Jimbo and Kearney saw off the star of the Christmas tree instead of the head of Jebediah Springfield and the star falls on Ralph who is licking a frozen pole When Bart snowboards out the school doors, he plows into a pile of snow shoveled by Groundskeeper Willie, exposing Grandpa underneath as he holds a sign that