| Episode Summary |
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Maggie attacks Homer in the basement with a mallet. Wondering where Maggie is getting such ideas, Marge joins her children as they watch their favorite TV cat-and-mouse cartoon, "The Itchy & Scratchy." Marge is stunned by the show's violence and writes a letter to its creators.
When her letter has no effect, Marge protests in front of the studio where the show is produced. Soon, her protest turns into a nationwide boycott. Marge appears on TV and asks parents to write letters to the producer. A flood of negative mail pours into the show's offices. As ratings plummet, the producer asks Marge to come up with acceptable story ideas.
Itchy & Scratchy soon turns into a tame cat-and-mouse team, and the show's ratings hit rock bottom. Subsequently, Michelangelo's nude "David" is exhibited at a museum, and other crusaders ask Marge to rally to their cause. But Marge finds nothing objectionable about the statue. Caught in a dilemma, she realizes that she was wrong for protesting against one form of free speech while supporting another. |
| Chalkboard Gag |
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I WILL NOT PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO BART. |
| Couch Gag |
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| Notes |
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- Marge seasons pork chops with Nice Spice, MM-MMM and the extra ingredient "care"
- Homer has The Complete Handy Man Collection of How To books featuring Vol I Spice Racks, Vol II Knick Knack Shelves and Vol III Trojan Horse
- Santa's Little Helper eats out of an opened bag of Krispy Chips Homer left on the ground
- Marge's list of Itchy and Scratchy violent gags includes Cats Blown Up, Mice Launched, Dogs Tricked, Golfphers Buried Alive, Eyes Knocked Out, Disembowelings and Brains Slammed in Car Door
- Marge's stationary reads From the Mind of Marge
- Roger Myers Jr.'s office contains awards and merchandise including posters of Itchy and Scratchy on Ice and Duff Itchy and Scratchy
- Marge's protest sign reads I'm Protesting Because Itchy & Scratchy are Indirectly Responsible for My Husband Being Hit on the Head with a Mallet
- Maggie's protest sign readsStop Me Before I Kill My Father Again, Lisa's reads Ban Itchy & Scratchy and Bart's reads Don't Ban Itchy & Scratchy
- Homer's protest sign reads Please Ban Violent Cartoons-- Next Time I Might Not Be So Lucky
- A sign reads Join S.N.U.H Now! which stands for Springfieldians for Nonviolence, Understanding and Helping
- Other signs read For Heavens Sake -- Make Them Stop Fighting, Erase Itchy & Scratchy, Save the Cartoon Animals, Destroy the Violent People, Kancel Krusty!, Don't Make Me Laugh and Bring Back "Wagon Train"
- Bart and Lisa work together on soapbox racers
- The Springfield Shopper reads Art Treasure to Visit Springfield Michelangelo's David in 1958
- Art protest signs read Down with David, No Nudes is Good Nudes, David Get Off Your Pedestal, Kancel David, Stop Renaissance Art Now! and David Go Home
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| Notable Characters in This Episode |
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