Marge tries to rehabilitate a convict with remarkable artistic talent. Meanwhile, Homer uses a trash can to fix people's spines.
WAR
39.2
Wins Above Replacement
“Pokey Mom” ranks #495 of 552 The Simpsons episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 71.9 — Solid. The episode packs 89 scored jokes at 4.1 per minute, averaging 6.7 on craft and 6.2 on impact, with Homer landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Marge: Well, you know, lots of people shoot Apu. It's just a hundred-dollar fine now.
Marge Dark/Subversive Escalation ★ Rewatch Homer: Well, there's a dull ache certainly. And overlaid on that is a club sandwich of pain. Only instead of bacon there's agony.
Marge · Bart: Bart, Sideshow Bob says he'll be seeing you real soon. [Chuckles] That Bob!
Homer: Not trash can, Son- Dr. Homer's Miracle Spine-O-Cylinder! Patent pending.
Homer · Patient: Now go limp. I'm limp. One, two, better not sue.
All Jokes — 89 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Homer Character Comedy Absurdist Marge: They're unveiling a combination apron-smock. It's called a 'smapron.'
Marge Wordplay/Pun Absurdist Homer · Marge: Did you say 'smockron'? No, smapron.
Homer: Man, that was a good Apron Expo! I'm gonna wear my apron on the Fourth of July.
Homer Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Homer: And this lead apron will keep me safe downstairs. [Chuckles] 'Grill Power.'
Homer Absurdist Character Comedy Homer: I'm a little disappointed. There were too many aprons.
Homer Absurdist Irony/Sarcasm Homer: But all I want to do right now is hit the adjustable sack with a good juice box.
Homer Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Callback Homer: Because when all is said and done- 'Prison rodeo... today'!
Homer Misdirection Physical/Slapstick PA Announcer: The contestants you'll see today are actual prisoners... on a break from their telemarketing duties.
PA Announcer · Crowd: Well, don't feel too bad for him, folks. He's in here for erecting a nativity scene on city property. [All Boo]
Marge: There's so much evil in the world.
Marge Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Warden: Bob Dylan wrote a song to keep him in prison.
Homer: Go, bull! Toss his salad!
Homer: And it looks like old Tornado wants to caramelize his crème brûlée!
Homer Wordplay/Pun Escalation Clown: Is my lipstick even? Go like this. [Popping]
Clown Visual Gag Character Comedy Homer: That's not gonna do it, Marge. You need something red.
Homer Observational Setup/Punchline Homer: Now for a little calming blue.
Marge · Homer: Hey, where's your blue shirt? I don't have a blue shirt.
Homer: Maybe it's the tear gas. [Sniffles] Or maybe this was the best damn prison rodeo ever.
Homer Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Homer · Marge: I can't complain. Nah, that's for the prisoners. You can complain all you want.
Homer: Oh, God, my back! It hurts so much! And my job is so unfulfilling!
Homer Escalation Character Comedy Homer: And his fondness for the guitar.
Homer Deadpan/Understatement Observational Jack: They won't give us art supplies... so I had to paint it with pudding.
Jack Dark/Subversive Absurdist Comic Book Guy: He painted a unicorn in outer space. I'm asking you. What's it breathing?
Homer · Comic Book Guy · Homer: Air. Ain't no air in space. There's an air and space museum.
Homer: Let's get out of this gosh-forsaken heck-hole.
Homer Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Bart: They are coming back for us, aren't they?
Bart Reaction Beat Visual Gag Homer: Well, there's a dull ache certainly. And overlaid on that is a club sandwich of pain. Only instead of bacon there's agony.
Homer: Marge, can I have a B.L.T?
Homer Callback Absurdist Callback Marge · Homer: How would you feel if I did some volunteer work at the prison? First, I'd feel like having a B.L.T. - then proud of you.
Guard: Ooh, art class. La-di-da.
Guard Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Guard · Ike: This is Ike Pross. He's going to solitary. Ooh, solitary. La-di-da.
Marge: Welcome to 'Freeing the Artist Within.' Not literally, of course. [Giggling]
Marge Dark/Subversive Wordplay/Pun Marge · Inmates: But the prison cafeteria would only give me sauerkraut. [Inmates Groaning] That's depressing.
Marge · Inmates: Let's let a little sunshine in. [Inmates Groaning]
Prisoner · Inmates · Jack: Can I smell your dress? [All Laugh] Hey, you show some respect. This one here's not for smellin'.
Dr. Steve: Hey, can I smell your clothes?
Dr. Steve: Your spine is more twisted than Sinbad's take on marriage.
Dr. Steve: Oh, I'd love to. But to be honest... modern medicine has a lousy record of treating the back. We spend too much time on the front.
Homer: Yeah, there's some neat stuff on the front.
Dr. Steve: Well, that is our official stance. But between you, me and my golf clubs, they're miracle workers.
Marge · Sardonicus: There. See how much better that feels? Yes. Much better.
Jack: Well, if you really gotta know, I shot a guy named Apu.
Jack Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Marge: Well, you know, lots of people shoot Apu. It's just a hundred-dollar fine now.
Marge Dark/Subversive Escalation ★ Rewatch Jack · Marge: 'A Time to Kill.' Titles are hard.
Homer: Huh? Less yakkin', more crackin'!
Homer Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Dr. Steve: Now, Homer, we don't actually crack backs. It's merely an adjustment. Okay, you're gonna hear a loud cracking sound.
Dr. Steve: Now, I'll need to see you three times a week for, uh, many years.
Marge · Bart: Bart, Sideshow Bob says he'll be seeing you real soon. [Chuckles] That Bob!
Marge: I might grease the wheels of justice with some cookies.
Marge Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Marge · Homer: Not till you finish your sundae. Ohh! [Gulps, Gasps] Is that enough? Two more bites!
Someone: But I've seen this warden turn down brownies- honest to goodness brownies!
Marge: someone with his talent... belongs on a boardwalk doing caricatures, not behind bars.
Jack: Actually he was. He waited with me till the ambulance came then ran like a deer.
Jack Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Jack · Marge: Now, which way is Mecca? 'Cause I gotta do a little prayin'. Uh, Mecca? Well, let- Nah! [Laughing] I'm just yanking your chain! [Laughing] I'm Jewish.
Homer: Not trash can, Son- Dr. Homer's Miracle Spine-O-Cylinder! Patent pending.
Homer: perfectly match the contours of the human 'vertebrains.'
Homer Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Homer: You brought a convict to live here near my unpatented idea?
Homer Character Comedy Callback Jack: I seen your idea, and I don't want it. All I need is three squares and a job.
Patient · Homer: So, Homer, you think you can fix my sciatica? Hmm. I don't know what that is, so I'm gonna say yes.
Homer · Patient: Now go limp. I'm limp. One, two, better not sue.
Patient: My searing leg pain is now a gentle numbness.
Homer: Boy, talk about irony. The A.M.A. Tries to drive you guys out of business. Now you're doing the same to me! Think about the irony.
Homer Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Homer: Not unless you think about the irony!
Homer Running Gag Escalation Callback Marge: It's a small liberal arts college. Very law-abiding. No convicts at all.
Skinner: Ew! How could anyone consider that making love?
Jack: Actually, Marge, it's the third if you count that farm couple.
Jack Dark/Subversive Escalation Bart: That is awesome. Finally, art that doesn't suck.
Bart Character Comedy Visual Gag Jack · Skinner: Yeah. You see, I didn't want to go so cutesy-wootsy. Because- Because it's not my style.
Skinner: Don't forget I can send you back where you came from, college boy.
Skinner Irony/Sarcasm Callback Callback Jack: Listen, if you're done with that washing machine, can I make some booze in it?
Moe: Now I can focus on my crippling emotional pain. Oh, Daddy, Daddy, why? Why won't you hug me? You hugged the mailman!
Homer: Ah, you saw our bus ad.
Homer Character Comedy Observational Moe: Forget it, Homer. It's Chiro-town.
Moe Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Skinner: I almost thought he said a school Muriel. [Laughs] Muriel's his sister.
Skinner Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Someone: Oh, thank you, Bruce Vilanch. Whoopi would've made it work.
Chalmers: No napkin could wipe the crumbs of failure from your mouth!
Marge: But years from now, people will point to these cuddly little creatures and say... 'That's a Jack Crowley.'
Chalmers: That's what you said about the stuffed peppers, and you lost the young males!
Skinner: Dear Lord, I've peed in front of him!
Skinner Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Wiggum: were it not stuffed with asbestos.
Wiggum Dark/Subversive Observational Jack: And you can't believe the foul language in that place.
Lou · Wiggum: We don't have time for guessing games! Nah, let's try it. It might be fun.
Skinner: Catch the fever, Skinner! [Cackling]
Skinner Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Jack: Marge, this is the God's truth. I burned the mural. But I did not burn Skinner's car.
Jack Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Cop · Jack: Uh, i-is prison really like that? Wouldn't know. We only get basic cable.
Cop: Yeah, I also like that Sex in the City. Huh! None of those girls look like my wife. [Laughing]
Jack: A lot of guys in prison say they're gay, but I don't know. They look strong to me.
Jack Observational Character Comedy Top Episodes — The Simpsons