Yeardley Smith: Lisa Simpson

The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show

Lisa Simpson

Focus Group Guy: [after showing the kids some Itchy & Scratchy cartoons] Okay, how many of the kids would like Itchy & Scratchy to deal with real life problems like the ones you face every day?
[the kids cheer]
Focus Group Guy: And who would like to see them do just the opposite, getting into far-out situations involving robots and magic powers.
[the kid kids cheer again]
Focus Group Guy: So you want a realistic down-to-earth show that's completely off the wall and swarming with magic robots?
[the kids all chat at once about it being a great idea]
Milhouse Van Houten: And, also, you should win things by watching.
Focus Group Guy: [sighs]
Roger Myers Jr.: [turns off the mirror disguise in the window] You kids don't know what you want. That's why you're still kids, 'cause you're stupid. Just tell me what's wrong with the freakin' show!
[turns the mirror back on]
Ralph Wiggum: [starts crying] Mommy!
Lisa Simpson: Um, excuse me, sir. The thing is, there's not really anything wrong with the Itchy & Scratchy Show. It's as good as ever. But after so many years, the characters just can't have the same impact they once had.
Roger Myers Jr.: [turns the mirror off again] That's it. That's it, little girl. You've saved Itchy & Scratchy!
Blue-haired Lawyer: [holding out a piece of paper to Lisa] Please sign these papers indicating that you did not save Itchy & Scratchy.

Scratchy: [the family are watching the latest episode of the Itchy, Scratchy & Poochie Show. During an ice sculpture contest, Itchy is cutting into Scratchy whose body is frozen in a block of ice when Poochie walks up] Well, look who's here.
Itchy: Hi, Poochie. You look like you've got something to say. Do you?
Poochie: Yes, I certainly do.
[just as he's about to speak again the picture freezes and Roger Myers voice replaces Homer's]
Poochie: I have to go now. My planet needs me.
[Poochie's animation cell is lifted and a cue card written in crayon informs the audience "Poochie died on the way back to his home planet"]
Bart Simpson: Wow, Poochie came from another planet?
Lisa Simpson: [in disbelief] I guess.
Homer: Hey, that wasn't supposed to happen! Those finks double-crossed me!
Krusty: Poochie's dead!
[the kids in the audience are delighted]
Krusty: Now kids, we all know that sometimes when cartoon characters die, they're back again the very next week. That's why I'm presenting this sworn affidavit that Poochie will never, ever, ever return.
Blue-haired Lawyer: [the Blue-haired Lawyer walks onto the set and examines it] This document conforms to all applicable laws and statutes.
[that gets another round of applause from the kids in the audience]

Focus Group Guy: All right, thanks for participating in our focus group, kids. Today, we're gonna show you some Itchy & Scratchy cartoons.
[the kids cheer]
Nelson Muntz: Cool!
Focus Group Guy: We want you to tell us what you think. And be honest because no one from the show is spying on you.
[a man behind the mirror sneezes making the mirror shake]
Lisa Simpson: Why is that mirror sneezing?
Focus Group Guy: Look, it's just an old creaky mirror, you know. Sometimes it sounds a little like it's sneezing or coughing or talking softly.
Lisa Simpson: [suspiciously] Hmm.
Focus Group Guy: [holds his thumb up to the mirror] Now, you each have a knob in front of you. When you like what you see, turn the knob to the right. When you don't like what you see, turn it left.
Ralph Wiggum: [with his knob in his mouth] My knob tastes funny.
Focus Group Guy: [taking the knob out of Ralph's mouth] Please refrain from tasting the knob.