The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show/References

References/Trivia

Cultural references

The episode is a commentary on "jumping the shark" — doing outlandish things to a show, like adding a new character, in order to boost ratings and save the show from cancellation.
June Bellamy, voiced by Simpsons regular Tress MacNeille, is a referenc to veteran voice actress June Foray.
The scene where Homer hides in a closet and hears that Poochie will be killed-off is a reference to Jay Leno supposedly hiding in a closet and hearing that he would replace Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.
Roy is largely based on Fonzie, calling Homer and Marge Mr. and Mrs. S, similar to how Fonzie refers to Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham.
Roy saying he will move in with "two sexy ladies" is a reference to the sitcom Three's Company.

Many of the Itchy and Scratchy staff members are caricatures of the actual Simpsons staff.
The episode features the first appearance of Comic Book Guy's catchphrase "Worst. Episode. Ever".
June, the voice of Itchy and Scratchy, claims she did the voice of the Road Runner, but only was able to do one meep as the studio doubled it up.