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Itchy & Scratchy & Marge

Itchy & Scratchy & Marge

Rating: 3.6 (220 votes)

Plot

After Maggie watches a violent Itchy and Scratchy cartoon, she attacks Homer with a mallet. Realizing that Maggie was influenced by TV, Marge campaigns to eradicate violence in cartoons. Marge stages protests and appears on TV. Eventually the producers give in and ask Marge's help in making the cartoon less violent. The show becomes very lame and ratings plummet. However, when Michelangelo's nude David statue is brought to Springfield, the other parents ask Marge to lead their campaign against it, but Marge likes the statue. She realizes that it is hypocritical to be against one form of free speech and support another.


Memorable quotes

Homer: (on the phone) You heard me, I won't be in for the rest of the week... I told you, my baby beat me up... oh it is not the worst excuse I ever thought up.

Roger Meyers: We've got to stop her, but how?
Writer 1: Drop an anvil on her?
Writer 2: Hit her on the head with a piano?
Writer 3: Stuff her full of TNT, then throw a match down her throat and run?

Homer: You know, some of these stories are pretty good. I never knew mice lived such interesting lives.

Kent Brockman: Are cartoons too violent for children? Most people would say "no, of course not, what kind of stupid question is that?" But one woman says "yes" ... Marge Simpson.

Roger Meyers: In preparing for this debate, I did a little research, and I discovered something astonishing. There was violence in the past, long before cartoons were invented.

Roger Meyers: (reading hate mail) "I will never watch your show, buy any of your products or brake if I see you crossing the street." That's cold. "Dear sleaze merchant." Give me a break. Ladies and gentlemen, the screwballs have spoken.

Roger Meyers: (describing a new episode) Itchy just stole Scratchy's ice cream.
Animator: Make it a pie. Pies are easier to draw.

Itchy: This really hits the spot.
Scratchy: Doesn't it though?
Itchy: You make really good lemonade Scratchy.
Scratchy: Why thank you Itchy.

Homer: I always knew you'd change the world... for the better.

Notes

  • Homer's mallet still has the price tag attached.
  • Marge's stationary reads: ''From the Mind of Marge.''
  • The David statue wears jeans when appearing on TV.

References

  • The scene where Maggie hits Homer over the head is a direct parody of the movie ''Psycho'': the music; Homer pulling the tablecloth (shower curtain in Psycho); the close up on Homer's eye; and the paint running down the drain.
  • When the kids go to play outside, music from Beethoven's 6th Symphony plays a la Disney's ''Fantasia.''
  • In the same scene, some kids whitewash a fence a la Tom Sawyer.

Extras