Final Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie cartoon
"Final Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie cartoon"
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The Itchy & Scratchy Show Episode Information
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The final Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie cartoon was an episode of The Itchy & Scratchy Show, and the last to feature the much despised character Poochie.
Contents
Background
The producers of The Itchy & Scratchy Show introduced Poochie to appeal to a newer audience. However, the move backfired and many viewers despised Poochie. As a result, the producers decided to kill off the character. Homer, the voice of Poochie, objected to the move. In the original script, Itchy was supposed to cut off Poochie's head with a rusty chainsaw. However, Homer refused to co-operate and asked to read his own script. June Bellamy, the voice of both Itchy and Scratchy, told producer Roger Meyers Jr. to allow Homer to try his lines. Meyers relented, and Homer read his own script:
- "Hi, Poochie. You look like you've got something to say. Do you?"
- ―Itchy
- "Yes, I certainly do! Hello there, Itchy. I know there's a lot of people who don't like me and wish I would go away. I think we got off on the wrong foot. I know I can come off a little proactive, and for that I'm sorry. But if everyone could find a place in their hearts for the little dog that nobody wanted, I know we can make them laugh and cry until we grow old together."
- ―Poochie
All of the producers, including Meyers, appeared to approve of Homer's changes. However, once the cartoon aired, it became obvious that Meyers still decided to make some changes.
Plot
Scratchy is part of an ice sculpture. Itchy starts sawing him with a chainsaw when Poochie appears. Itchy says that Poochie looks like he's got something to say, and Poochie replies (in Homer's voice) that he does. Poochie's mouth is then motionless while he says (in Roger Meyers' voice) "I have to go now. My planet needs me." The animation cel containing Poochie is crudely lifted up, making Poochie rise out of the picture. At the end of the episode, scrawled handwriting on the last frame says "Note: Poochie died on the way back to his home planet."
Aftermath
The audience at The Krusty the Clown Show cheers the ending. Krusty happily declares "Poochie's dead!" and has the Blue-Haired Lawyer read a sworn affidavit that declares that Poochie will never return. Homer is at first outraged that they changed the episode, but soon gets over it.
