Maggie attacks Homer with a mallet after seeing it on Itchy & Scratchy. Marge begins a protest outside the production offices, demanding the show be retooled to prevent further violence.
Marge's moral crusade drives 48 jokes in 22 minutes, anchoring a mid-tier episode.
Directed by Jim Reardon · Written by John Swartzwelder
WAR
16.6
Wins Above Replacement
“Itchy Amp Scratchy Amp Marge” ranks #216 of 226 The Simpsons episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 70.9 — Solid. The episode packs 48 scored jokes at 3.4 per minute, averaging 6.5 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
One person can make a difference but probably shouldn't.
Marge Observational Character Comedy Drop an anvil? / Hit her with a piano? / Stuff her with TNT, throw a match and run?
What kind of warped human being would find that funny?
Marge Irony/Sarcasm Meta/Self-Referential Itchy and Scratchy have lost their edge. / It's a nice message of sharing. / I think it sucks.
But if you take them away, we'll grow up without humor and be robots. / Really? What kind of robots?
All Jokes — 48 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ They're nothing special. The extra ingredient is care.
A sprinkle of chervil, half a teaspoon of turmeric and a whisper of MSG.
Marge Wordplay/Pun Observational Not as easy as I thought it was.
Homer Character Comedy Reaction Beat Dad, can you move your head? / I can't. It's broken.
Bart Homer Physical/Slapstick Deadpan/Understatement Where would a child get the idea to attack her father with a mallet?
Marge Irony/Sarcasm Setup/Punchline But if you take them away, we'll grow up without humor and be robots. / Really? What kind of robots?
Hey, that's just crazy enough to work.
Bart Setup/Punchline Character Comedy I told you. My baby beat me up.
Homer Absurdist Cringe/Discomfort It is not the worst excuse I ever thought up. Wise guy.
Because why? / I said so. / You said so why? / I'm trying to work. / What are you doing? / Cataloguing the violence.
I don't think adults have ever sat down and watched them before.
Marge Observational Meta/Self-Referential What kind of warped human being would find that funny?
Marge Irony/Sarcasm Meta/Self-Referential What kind of warped human being would find that funny?
As to your comments, research shows one person can't make a difference... no matter how screwy she is.
I'll show them what one screwball can do!
Marge Escalation Character Comedy Callback How long are we gonna do this? / I've never changed the world. I don't know how long it takes.
What is 'S-N-U-H'? / Snuh. It's 'Springfieldians for Nonviolence, Understanding and Helping.'
I didn't know they made TV dinners this bad.
Homer Observational Cringe/Discomfort There's peas in my cobbler. / They're everywhere.
Twenty million women, and I had to marry Jane Fonda.
Homer Observational Character Comedy Hey! Settle down, boys and girls. Or Krusty will bring out his friend Corporal Punishment again.
Krusty Wordplay/Pun Dark/Subversive Drop an anvil? / Hit her with a piano? / Stuff her with TNT, throw a match and run?
All your degrees and that's the best you can do? You make me sick.
Some of these are good. I never knew mice lived such lives.
Homer Character Comedy Absurdist Are cartoons too violent? Most people say, 'No! What a stupid question!'
There was the crusades. Tremendous violence! Many killed!
It went on for 30 years. / This was before cartoons?
I'm referring to women who love too much, fear of winning, sex-aholism.
One of my guilty little pleasures is to turn on Itchy & Scratchy... and laugh myself silly.
I won't watch your show, buy your products... or brake if I see you crossing the street.
Make it a pie. Easier to draw.
Writer Meta/Self-Referential Observational Couldn't Itchy share his pie with Scratchy? Then they'd both have pie.
Marge Character Comedy Absurdist It's different, I'll give you that.
Itchy and Scratchy have lost their edge. / It's a nice message of sharing. / I think it sucks.
We went fishing. Almost caught a catfish this big. / I went bird watching and saw a grackle.
Bart Lisa Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Wow! What great kids. This is the golden age, Marge!
Homer Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Filth. It portrays parts of the body which, though practical, are evil.
I like that statue. / I knew she was soft on nudity.
A masterpiece? Or just a guy with his pants down?
We want your big Italian butt out of here!
Aren't you Marge Simpson, the wacko?
One person can make a difference but probably shouldn't.
Marge Observational Character Comedy Tomorrow our topic will be 'Religion: Which Is the One True Faith?'
There he is, Michelangelo's Dave. / David.
Really? Why? / They're forcing them!
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