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{{Short description|Fictional animated series on The Simpsons}}
: ''For the ]n ] act, see ].''
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Itchy and Scratchy
| series = ]
| multiple = yes
| image = File:Itchy & Scratchy Show titlecard.png
| caption = ] for ''The Itchy & Scratchy Show'' featuring Itchy (left) and Scratchy (right)
| first = ] ({{Start date and age|1988|11|20}})
| creator = ]
| voice = '''Itchy''': ]<br>'''Scratchy''': ]
| species = '''Itchy''': ]<br>'''Scratchy''': ]
}}
'''''The Itchy & Scratchy Show''''' (often shortened as '''''Itchy & Scratchy''''') is a ] featured on '']''. The cartoon depicts a ] ] named Itchy who repeatedly ] or ] a ] named Scratchy. It is typically presented as 15- to 60-second ] that are a part of ''The ] Show''. ''Itchy & Scratchy'' is filled with graphic violence, ], that almost invariably prompts laughter from ''The Simpsons'' characters, especially ] and ].


The Itchy and Scratchy characters are extremely violent and bloody parodies of ] cartoons such as ''],'' '']'', ''Kit 'n' Kaboodle'', and '']''. The Italian comic strip '']'' is also considered to be an inspiration for the characters.<ref name="Sergio Algozzino 112–113">{{cite book |last=Sergio Algozzino |title=Tutt'a un tratto. Una storia della linea nel fumetto |publisher=Tunué, 2005 |isbn=978-8889613061 |pages=112–113 |year=2005}}</ref><ref name="Comics Journal Incorporated 2007, p.27">'']'', Issues 280-283, Comics Journal Incorporated, 2007, p.27.</ref><ref name="Giuseppe Pollicelli 2011">Giuseppe Pollicelli (28 August 2011), "Massimo Mattioli: il Disney del porno-horror", '']''.</ref><ref name="Costanza Ognibeni">{{cite news |title=Incontro con Massimo Mattioli |author=Costanza Ognibeni |newspaper=CinemArt Magazine |date=8 October 2010 |url=http://www.cinemartmagazine.it/2010/10/08/incontro-con-massimo-mattioli/ |access-date=23 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220175352/http://www.cinemartmagazine.it/2010/10/08/incontro-con-massimo-mattioli/ |archive-date=20 December 2013}}</ref>
]


The cartoon first appeared in '']'' ] "The Bart Simpson Show", which aired in 1988. The cartoon's first appearance in ''The Simpsons'' was in the 1990 episode "]". The cartoons became popular among the show's writers and animators, and they are often added when an episode needs expanding. Several full episodes were centered on the fictional production of ''Itchy & Scratchy'', such as "]".
'''''The Itchy & Scratchy Show''''' is a ] (or more accurately a show-within-a-show-within-a-show) of '']'' which appears as a segment of the fictional '']'' ], watched regularly by ] and ] and other characters on the ]. Itself an ], ''The Itchy & Scratchy Show'' depicts a ], Itchy, and a ], Scratchy, the former of whom mutilates the latter with deadly ]s. The Itchy and Scratchy show is a parody of shows like ], that actually have a lot of violence depicted between otherwise cute cartoon animals. It points out that these shows actually do not send a very good message, being that they are targeted at a young audience.


==Role in ''The Simpsons''==
Itchy and Scratchy often play out an exaggerated form of the conflict in the surrounding episode. An ] in which the Simpson children are taken into foster care, for example, contains an Itchy and Scratchy cartoon with a similar theme. Another ] in which Homer is recruited by ] has an Itchy and Scratchy cartoon which directly (and gruesomely) parodies the films '']'' and '']''.
''The Itchy & Scratchy Show'' is a ] that appears occasionally in episodes of ''The Simpsons''. They appear in the form of 15- to 60-second-long cartoons that are filled with graphic violence, almost always initiated by Itchy the mouse against Scratchy the cat, with the former almost always being the victor.{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=33-34}} ''Itchy & Scratchy'' airs as a segment on ''The ] Show'', and also aired on its brief replacements, '']'s Cavalcade of Whimsy'', and '']''.<ref name="KGK">{{cite episode |title=Krusty Gets Kancelled |episode-link=Krusty Gets Kancelled |series=The Simpsons |credits=Swartzwelder, John; Silverman, David |network=Fox |airdate=1993-05-13 |season=04 |number=22}}</ref> ''Itchy & Scratchy'' mostly airs as a standalone show rather than being a segment in some episodes, such as "]" (], 1997).


''Itchy & Scratchy'' is usually a parody of traditional cartoons or takeoffs on famous films, but the plot and content are always violent and bloody, with Itchy performing unprovoked acts of graphic violence and homicide unlike most classic cartoons. The most direct and obvious example is '']'', an animated series which was also about a constant battle between a cat and a mouse, with the mouse usually victorious, though in ''Itchy & Scratchy'', the mouse acts as the antagonist. ''Itchy & Scratchy'' also includes shorts such as ''Scratchtasia'', a parody of '']'', and ''Pinitchio'', a parody of '']''.<ref name="Groening2">{{cite AV media |people=Groening, Matt |date=2004 |title=The Simpsons season 4 DVD commentary for the episode "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Animation-related jokes are prevalent in the show, such as the ''Manhattan Madness'' cartoon in "]", which is based on very early animated cartoons such as '']''.<ref name="TDTVD"/> The cartoons also occasionally serve to play out an exaggerated form of the conflict in the surrounding episode. For example, in "]" (], 1994), Homer is recruited by ], and later watches an ''Itchy & Scratchy'' cartoon which directly (and gruesomely) parodies the films '']'' and '']''.<ref>{{cite video |people=Mirkin, David |date=2004 |title=The Simpsons season 5 commentary for the episode "Deep Space Homer" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>
Itchy and Scratchy have occasionally been used to parody the work of famous directors specifically. ] is supposedly guest-directed by ] and mocks Tarantino's films '']'' and '']''. In it, Itchy douses a bound Scratchy with gasoline while the melody of '']'' plays. The camera moves away while Itchy slices off Scratchy's ear. Tarantino then enters and explains his motivation behind the violence in the episode before being brutally attacked by the duo, who then begin ] to ]'s ''].'' Another cartoon was "guest directed" by ] and shows Itchy shooting Scratchy in a manner similar to ]'s murder of ], in reference to Stone's film '']''.


===Fictional production history===
==Background==
Several full episodes of ''The Simpsons'' were centered on the fictional production history of ''The Itchy & Scratchy Show''. It begins with Chester J. Lampwick creating Itchy the mouse for the now-] ] cartoon ''Manhattan Madness'', in which Itchy brutally attacks and kills an ] and ], in 1919 (the year of the first '']'' cartoon). However, the character was later stolen by Roger Meyers.<ref name="Violence">{{cite episode |title=The Day the Violence Died |episode-link=The Day the Violence Died |series=The Simpsons |credits=Swartzwelder, John; Archer, Wes |network=Fox |airdate=1996-03-17 |season=07 |number=18}}</ref> Scratchy starred in his first cartoon in 1928 titled ''That Happy Cat''. The film, a 13-second-long animation showing the cat whistling and tipping his hat, was a commercial failure. Later that year, Itchy and Scratchy starred in their first cartoon together called ''Steamboat Itchy'', a violent parody of ]'s '']''.<ref name="The Movie">{{cite episode |title=Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie |episode-link=Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie |series=The Simpsons |credits=Swartzwelder, John; Moore, Rich |network=Fox |airdate=1992-11-03 |season=04 |number=06}}</ref> Along with the cartoon shorts, Itchy and Scratchy were featured in a ]–era radio series,<ref>{{cite episode |title=The Old Man and the Key |episode-link=The Old Man and the Key |series=The Simpsons |credits=Vitti, Jon; Kramer, Lance |network=Fox |airdate=2002-03-10 |season=13 |number=13}}</ref> at least two films (''Pinitchio'' and ''Scratchtasia,'' which are parodies of '']'' and '']'', respectively),<ref name="Land">{{cite episode |title=Itchy & Scratchy Land |episode-link=Itchy & Scratchy Land |series=The Simpsons |credits=Swartzwelder, John; Archer, Wes |network=Fox |airdate=1994-10-02 |season=06 |number=04}}</ref> and television commercials for Laramie Cigarettes.<ref>{{cite episode |title=HOMR |episode-link=HOMR |series=The Simpsons |credits=Jean, Al; ] |network=Fox |airdate=2001-01-07 |season=12 |number=09}}</ref>
''The Itchy & Scratchy Show'' is a ] of violent animated cartoons. ] states that the show is based upon a mix of older cartoons, mostly '']'' and '']'', although there are other opinions . While not usually as openly graphic or bloody as ''Itchy and Scratchy'', these works depicted physical abuse between their characters with no long-term consequences; ''Itchy and Scratchy'' take this violence to its logical extreme.


Itchy & Scratchy Studios is run by Roger Meyers Jr., the son of Roger Meyers, the cartoon's supposed creator. The studio was ] after it was sued by Lampwick for $800 million when he was represented by ], but was saved after receiving a large cash settlement from the government over its use of ].<ref name="Violence"/> The show underwent a brief, non-violent retooling following a protest campaign led by ], but it returned to its original violent format after Marge was later discredited after defending the display of ]'s '']'' in Springfield in the face of public objection.<ref name="And Marge">{{cite episode |title=Itchy & Scratchy & Marge |episode-link=Itchy & Scratchy & Marge |series=The Simpsons |credits=Swartzwelder, John; Reardon, Jim |network=Fox |airdate=1990-12-20 |season=02 |number=09}}</ref> ''Itchy & Scratchy'' has spawned an ] ]–winning film adaptation,<ref name="The Movie"/> amusement parks,<ref name="Land"/> and a musical;<ref>{{cite episode |title=Girls Just Want to Have Sums |episode-link=Girls Just Want to Have Sums |series=The Simpsons |credits=Selman, Matt; Kruse, Nancy |network=Fox |airdate=2006-04-30 |season=17 |number=19}}</ref> and, like Krusty's show, localized versions are produced for other countries, such as Jamaica's ''The Itchem and Scratchem Blow''.<ref name="YS">{{cite episode |title=Yellow Subterfuge |episode-link=Yellow Subterfuge |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=Cohen, Joel H; Anderson, Bob |network=Fox |airdate=2013-12-08 |season=25 |number=07}}</ref>
The fictional series has supposedly been in continuous production since the early ], first for theater release and then for ] and ]. Older ''Itchy & Scratchy'' cartoons are occasionally shown which satirize other aspects of early animation; for example, a cartoon called ''Steamboat Itchy'' resembles the early ] cartoon '']''. However, in Steamboat Itchy, Itchy shoots out Scratchy's knees, then kicks his head into the steamboat's firebox. ] once mentioned the tasteless and ] ''Itchy & ]'' cartoons of the ]. Itchy and Scratchy, in one ''Simpsons'' episode, star in a feature movie entitled '']'', which went on to win nine ].


==Characters==
The characters of Itchy and Scratchy are voiced (within the reality of ''The Simpsons'') by a woman named June Bellamy (whose physical appearance is said to be based on ], a famous ]) who also claims to be the voice of ]. (Apparently, she recorded a lone "meep," and they doubled it so as not to have to pay her for two "meeps.") In reality, Itchy is voiced by ] and Scratchy is voiced by ], while June Bellamy's normal speaking voice is provided by ].
===Featured in ''Itchy & Scratchy''===
* '''Itchy''' (voiced by ]) is a ] ] and the show's ] protagonist; he almost always succeeds in his relentless attempts in mutilating or ] Scratchy and any other cats around. Itchy is rarely given any motivation for these attacks outside of the thrill of killing, often ] whilst murdering other characters.


* '''Scratchy''' (voiced by ]), the protagonist, is a threadbare, dim-witted ] and the perpetual victim of Itchy's violent acts; as opposed to ] of ''Tom and Jerry'', Scratchy seldom antagonizes the mouse to provoke him in any way and is almost always an ordinary ] going about an ] until Itchy kills him.
''Itchy and Scratchy'' themselves were once replaced by a show called '']'', a parody of ] government-made cartoons. Because of licensing restrictions, Krusty could not run Itchy and Scratchy, so he had to show "Eastern Europe's favourite cat-and-mouse team" from the ]. The resulting cartoon showed a poorly drawn cat and a poorly drawn mouse jumping around inexplicably while experimental music played. This may be a reference to the surreal and poor quality short run of Czech-produced '']'' cartoons.


* '''Poochie''' (voiced by ] when voiced by Homer Simpson, ] when voiced by Roger Meyers, Jr.), is an orange dog that appeared in "]" (], 1997). In the episode, the producers of ''The Itchy & Scratchy Show'' believed the cartoons were getting stale, and needed a new character to reinvigorate the show. ] gets the job of voicing Poochie, who is introduced in the cartoon, "The Beagle Has Landed". A product of marketing department thinking, Poochie was near-universally despised due to interfering with the graphic violence, and was permanently killed off in his second appearance, despite Homer's objections. The episode was both a reference to TV shows which added new characters purportedly to reinvigorate the show, and a commentary on the growing complaints of fans of ''The Simpsons''. The original idea for the episode was that Poochie would be obnoxious because he was so rich, rather than because he was so cool.<ref name="TISPS"/> Poochie would later make brief speaking cameo appearances in "]", "]", and "]".<ref name="TISPS"/><ref>{{cite episode |title=Little Big Mom |episode-link=Little Big Mom |series=The Simpsons |credits=Omine, Carolyn; Kirkland, Mark |network=Fox |airdate=2000-01-14 |season=09 |number=10}}</ref>
In the ''Simpsons'' episode "]," ]'s threat of detonating a nuclear bomb caused all TV to be cancelled. However, Krusty went to a small broadcasting shack in the desert to stay on air. His heavily improvised show contained '']'', starring a found ] and battery. (The shows theme song was also improvised by Krusty "They bite, and light, and bite and light...")


===Production staff===
== History within ''The Simpsons'' ==
* '''Roger Meyers Jr.''' (voiced by ] in 1990, 1996–1997, ] in 1993–1994) is the Chairman of the Board of Itchy & Scratchy Studios and son of Roger Meyers.<ref name="And Marge"/> He first appeared in "]" (], 1990). He distributes the cartoon and is a jaded and selfish businessman who has nothing but contempt for his audience.<ref name="Poochie">{{cite episode |title=The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show |episode-link=The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show |series=The Simpsons |credits=Cohen, David S.; Moore, Steven Dean |network=Fox |airdate=1997-02-09 |season=08 |number=14}}</ref> He has an extremely callous personality; he only cares about people who can help him. This is displayed in his contempt for the writers of ''The Itchy & Scratchy Show''.<ref name="Front"/> Alex Rocco also voiced Meyers in "The Day the Violence Died" and "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show". He said that he liked voicing Meyers because "I get to be a big-shot."<ref name="Rocco">Rocco, Alex (2006). Commentary for "]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Eighth Season'' . 20th Century Fox.</ref> He professed being nervous when voicing the character for the first time in "]" because he said that he had never done a ] before. At first he tried doing a special voice, but was told to "just be yourself."<ref name="Rocco"/> Rocco was one of Bill Oakley's and Josh Weinstein's favorite guest stars, and they liked including him in their episodes so they could "have a little fun with him."<ref name="TDTVD"/> On occasions when Rocco was unavailable to do a voice over, Meyers was voiced by ] in "]" (], 1993), "]" (], 1994) and "]" (], 1994).<ref name="TF"/> The spelling of Meyers' name has been inconsistent in the show. His last name was spelled both Myers and Meyers in "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge", and Myers the later episode "The Day the Violence Died".<ref name="Violence"/><ref name="And Marge"/> His name is spelled Meyers in "The Front", as well as in the book '']''.<ref name="Front">{{cite episode |title=The Front |episode-link=The Front (The Simpsons) |series=The Simpsons |credits=Lapidus, Adam I.; Moore, Rich |network=Fox |airdate=1993-04-15 |season=04 |number=19}}</ref>{{sfn|Richmond & Coffman|1997 |p=43}}
Within the ''Simpsons'' universe, the characters were created by ], who built the legacy of Itchy and Scratchy and established Itchy and Scratchy Studios in ]. It was revealed in the episode "]" that ] actually invented Itchy in ] and owns the rights to that character. It is unknown who created Scratchy, or if Roger Meyers Sr. plagiarized him the same way he did Itchy. Originally Itchy was called "Itchy the Lucky Mouse" (a parody of ]).


* '''Roger Meyers Sr.''' first appeared in video footage in "Itchy & Scratchy Land" and has never had a speaking role. He was created because the writers felt it would have been "tortured logic" to have the Roger Meyers Jr. be the creator.<ref name="TDTVD"/> Roger Meyers Sr. has similarities to ].<ref name="ISL"/> For example, Disney's alleged ] is spoofed when it is revealed that Meyers made a cartoon called ''Nazi Supermen are Our Superiors''.<ref name=EW>{{cite magazine |title=The Family Dynamic |magazine=] |date=2003-01-29 |access-date=2008-12-12 |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,417748_2,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070510032159/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C417748_2%2C00.html |archive-date=2007-05-10}}</ref>
Scratchy starred in his first cartoon in ], entitled '']''. The film, which is ten seconds of animation showing the cat whistling and tipping his hat, did very poorly. Later that year, Itchy and Scratchy starred in their first cartoon together entitled "Steamboat Itchy" a parody of ]'s ] featuring ]. In the ], there were a series of tasteless ''Itchy & ]'' cartoons.


* '''June Bellamy''' (voiced by ] in her normal voice, Dan Castellaneta in her Itchy voice, Harry Shearer in her Scratchy voice, ] in her Disapproving Squirrel voice) is the actress who portrays both Itchy and Scratchy. Her only appearance was in "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show". She is presumably a reference to veteran voice actress ], who also voiced several male characters, notably ]. In actuality, Itchy and Scratchy are voiced by two different men rather than one woman.<ref name="TISPS"/>
During ], cartoon shorts were created teaming the pair together, supporting the United States against Germany. Despite creator Myers, Sr. being labeled as a ] sympathizer (he was criticized for his 1938 cartoon "Nazi Supermen Are Our Superiors"), one film showed ] being repeatedly injured and eventually beheaded by the cat and mouse team.


* '''Chester J. Lampwick''' (voiced by ]) is the creator of Itchy and only appeared in "The Day the Violence Died". The producers' first choice for the character, ], declined.<ref name="TDTVD"/> Douglas's recording session was fraught with interruptions because he refused to wear the supplied earphones and said the maximum he would do was two takes.<ref>{{cite book |title=My Life as a 10-Year-Old Boy |last=Cartwright |first=Nancy |author-link=Nancy Cartwright |chapter=Spartacus! |pages= |year=2000 |publisher=] |location=New York City |isbn=978-0-7868-8600-5 |chapter-url-access=registration |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/mylifeastenyearo00nanc/page/222}}</ref>
In the ], the duo appeared in television commercials for Laramie Cigarettes; this was a spoof of television stars pitching cigarettes in 1950s- and 1960s-era television ] (most notably ]).


* In several episodes revolving around the production of ''Itchy & Scratchy'', caricatures of ''The Simpsons''<nowiki/>' staff are used as the '''writing staff''' of ''Itchy & Scratchy''. This first occurred in "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge" where caricatures of animators ], ], and ] can be seen.<ref name="ISM">Groening, Matt; Jean, Al; Lapidus, Reardon, Jim; Reiss, Mike. (2002) Commentary for "]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season'' . 20th Century Fox.</ref> In "The Front" many of the show's writers were used, this in-joke was purely an idea of the animators. ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] all appeared in the episode.<ref name="TF">Groening, Matt; Jean, Al; Lapidus, Adam I.; Reiss, Mike; Moore, Rich. (2004) Commentary for "]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Fourth Season'' . 20th Century Fox.</ref> This joke returned in "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show". Almost all of the writers shown are caricatures of the actual staff of ''The Simpsons''. At the production table, ], ], and ] are shown, while Meyer speaks out and gets fired. The animator shown designing Poochie is Silverman. Others who appear include ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="TISPS"/>
In the 1970s there were a series of Itchy and Scratchy cartoons featuring sex and adult situations.


==Background==
Itchy and Scratchy Studios is currently run by ], the son of the cartoon's creator. It is animated in ], just like the Simpsons cartoon itself.
===Origins===

]
Revealed in the episode "]" are characters from the short-lived ''Itchy & Scratchy and Friends Hour'': Uncle Ant, Disgruntled Goat, Flatulent Fox, Ku Klux Klam, and Rich Uncle Skeleton. These characters lampooned the addition of superfluous, two-dimensional characters to TV shows in an effort to draw viewer interest.
''The Itchy & Scratchy Show'' first appeared in '']'' ] "The Bart Simpson Show", which originally aired on November 20, 1988. They were the first major recurring characters outside of the Simpson family to appear.{{sfn|Richmond & Coffman|1997 |pp=14-15}} As a child, series creator ] and his friends would fantasize about an ultra-violent cartoon and how much fun it would be to work on a show like that.<ref name="tvguide">{{cite magazine |title=Flash! 24 Simpsons Stars Reveal Themselves |date=2000-10-21 |magazine=] |first=Joe |last=Rhodes}}</ref><ref name="Groening1">{{cite AV media |people=Groening, Matt |date=2002 |title=The Simpsons season 2 DVD commentary for the episode "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The names "Itchy" and "Scratchy" were inspired by Pixie and Dixie, which was a segment on the cartoon show '']''.<ref name="Groening1"/> The comic strip '']'' is also considered an apparent inspiration for the characters.<ref name="Sergio Algozzino 112–113"/><ref name="Comics Journal Incorporated 2007, p.27"/><ref name="Giuseppe Pollicelli 2011"/><ref name="Costanza Ognibeni"/> As a child, Groening really liked the 1961 Disney film '']'', and it was one of the reasons to why he got into cartooning.<ref name="Greyhound"/> In the film, the puppies watch television, and the idea of having a cartoon within a cartoon thrilled Groening. From that idea he got the inspiration for ''Itchy & Scratchy''.<ref name="Greyhound">{{cite AV media |people=Groening, Matt |date=2005 |title=The Simpsons The Complete Sixth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Two Dozen and One Greyhounds" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>


David Silverman states that Itchy and Scratchy cartoons are "an ironic commentary on cartoon mayhem in the sense that it's taken to a more realistic level. The kids on ''The Simpsons'' are laughing at it, and we're laughing too, but part of what you're laughing at is the over-the-top excessiveness of the violence."<ref name="silverman">{{cite web |title=The David Silverman Interview |publisher=] |author=Heintjes, Tom |year=2004 |url=http://cagle.msnbc.com/hogan/interviews/silverman.asp |access-date=2008-12-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023004901/http://cagle.msnbc.com/hogan/interviews/silverman.asp |archive-date=2008-10-23}}</ref>
In ], ''The Itchy and Scratchy Show'' underwent a non-violent retooling following a protest campaign led by ]. Marge was later discredited and the cartoon returned to its original violent format.


===Development===
In ], '']'' was released. It received nine ].
{{Quote box
| width = 30em
| bgcolor = transparent
| align = right
| quote = "Over the years, we have gotten fan mail from people asking for Itchy & Scratchy to get their own spinoff, and you know, more Itchy & Scratchy, so we put together a montage of Itchy & Scratchy moments, that is several minutes long, and I've shown it to audiences and they get stunned after a minute and a half."
| salign = right
| source = —]<ref name="ISM"/>
}}
The ''Itchy and Scratchy show'' first appeared in '']'' ] "The Bart Simpson Show", which aired on November 20, 1988; the performance style at the time was like ''Tom and Jerry'' and, unusually, featured Scratchy much like his ], attacking Itchy. Their first appearance in ''The Simpsons'' was "]".<ref name="tvguide"/> In the series, it was quickly established early on that Scratchy was a ] character that was persecuted by his friend, the ] mouse, Itchy.


''Itchy & Scratchy'' cartoons are often added when a show needs expanding or when there is an issue that the writers wish to satirize.<ref name="Scully1">{{cite AV media |people=Scully, Mike |date=2006 |title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "Girly Edition" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref><ref name="Jean1">{{cite AV media |people=Jean, Al |date=2002 |title=The Simpsons season 2 DVD commentary for the episode "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> In some cases, notably in "]", the writers use Itchy & Scratchy as a way to comment on ''The Simpsons''.<ref name="TISPS">Cohen, David X.; Groening, Matt; Moore, Steven Dean; Rocco, Alex; Smith, Yeardley; Weinstein, Josh. (2005) Commentary for "]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season'' . 20th Century Fox.</ref> The shorts are often difficult for the writers, and take much time to develop and devise a title, and in the end they fill little time.<ref name="Reiss1"/> Writing the Itchy & Scratchy cartoons is quite often a group effort, with it being pitched out one gag after another.<ref name="Groening3">{{cite AV media |people=Groening, Matt |date=2006 |title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "Girly Edition" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Itchy & Scratchy are a favorite of ], who has written many of the episodes that center on them and quite often pitches the ideas for the shorts.<ref name="Reiss1">{{cite AV media |people=Reiss, Mike |date=2002 |title=The Simpsons season 2 DVD commentary for the episode "]" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> In the early seasons, fans wanted more Itchy & Scratchy, so the writers decided to do "]", an episode that dealt with censorship issues which would allow them to show several cartoons.<ref name="ISM" /> Swartzwelder and ] collaborated to create the "nice" version of Itchy and Scratchy in that episode.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sacks |first=Mike |date=2021-05-02 |title=John Swartzwelder, Sage of “The Simpsons” |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/john-swartzwelder-sage-of-the-simpsons |access-date=2024-10-13 |work=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}</ref> The cartoons are often kept short, because according to David Silverman, "it doesn't really work as a long cartoon."<ref name="silverman"/>
In ], when Itchy and Scratchy briefly defected to ''The Gabbo Show'', Krusty the Clown found a cheap replacement in '']'', a 1959 cartoon featuring Itchy and Scratchy's Eastern Bloc counterparts. The Soviet-era cartoon is incomprehensible, and Krusty responds with, "...What the hell was that?!"


During David Mirkin's tenure as showrunner (] and ]), he was asked by the ] not to do any more Itchy & Scratchy cartoons due to the amount of violence in them. In response, the show produced "]". The network asked them not to do the episode, and threatened that if the episode was produced, they would cut the Itchy & Scratchy parts out themselves, but relented when Mirkin threatened to tell the media. The writers nevertheless promised to try not to overdo the violence and in some scenes the violence was cut.<ref name="ISL">Mirkin, David. (2005) Commentary for "]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season'' . 20th Century Fox.</ref>
In ], ] opened, although it was temporarily shut down because of malfunctioning robots (a la '']'' or the movie '']''). Unfortunately, Euro-Itchy and Scratchy Land apparently failed to match the success of its domestic counterpart, with no visitors upon its opening (in a parody of the early failure of ] theme park).


During their tenure as executive producers, ] and ] tried to fit in one episode relating to ''Itchy & Scratchy'' every season. They note that as the seasons progressed, it became increasingly difficult for them to create new Itchy & Scratchy episode ideas.<ref name="TDTVD">Oakley, Bill; Weinstein, Josh. (2005) Commentary for "]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season'' . 20th Century Fox.</ref> Although the episode was difficult to animate, "Itchy & Scratchy Land" was "a dream come true" for the animators, as they enjoyed animating scenes filled with violence.<ref>Archer, Wes. (2005) Commentary for "]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season'' . 20th Century Fox.</ref>
In ], the show began declining in ratings and a third character, Poochie the dog, was added (''see below'').


==Other appearances==
Forty years from "now," '']'' will be the first-billed film at a "Classics of Animation" screening at the Aztec Theater in Springfield ('']'' gets second billing).
Itchy and Scratchy have appeared in various products and other media relating to ''The Simpsons''.


'']'' was released for ] and ], a version for the ] was also developed but was never commercially released.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Itchy and Scratchy Game |url=http://gameboy.ign.com/objects/010/010551.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017010308/http://gameboy.ign.com/objects/010/010551.html |archive-date=2007-10-17 |access-date=2007-09-22 |website=]}}</ref> '']'', was released for ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Itchy and Scratchy in Miniature Golf Madness |url=http://gameboy.ign.com/objects/010/010414.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017010303/http://gameboy.ign.com/objects/010/010414.html |archive-date=2007-10-17 |access-date=2007-09-22 |website=]}}</ref> Itchy, Scratchy and Poochie play roles in the "Grand Theft Scratchy" section in '']''.<ref>{{cite web |author=Saltzman, Mark |title='Simpsons' game delivers big laughs for devoted fans |work=] |date=2007-10-25 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/marcsaltzman/2007-10-25-simpsons-game_N.htm |access-date=2008-12-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423081726/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/marcsaltzman/2007-10-25-simpsons-game_N.htm |archive-date=2009-04-23}}</ref>
== Poochie ==
]
Poochie was a dog character added to the ''Itchy & Scratchy'' lineup in '']''.
According to the show's plot, the producers believed the cartoons were getting stale, and needed a new character to reinvigorate the show, despite the objections of one of the show's writers, who 'at the risk of sounding pretentious', felt that Itchy and Scratchy comprised 'a dramaturgical dyad'. ] gets the job of voicing Poochie, who is introduced in the ''Itchy & Scratchy'' cartoon "The Beagle Has Landed." A product of marketing department thinking, Poochie was near-universally despised, and was killed off in his second appearance, despite Homer's objections.


Itchy and Scratchy have also appeared in commercials for various products, including a 1999 ] advert where Bart watches a short called "]".<ref>(2007) Commercials–Butterfinger, in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Tenth Season'' . 20th Century Fox.</ref>
Both plots were a reference to TV shows which added new characters purportedly to reinvigorate the show (often in the show's waning years and/or to replace stars who had either departed or grown up, if they were child actors). Famous examples include ] (when his nephew, ], was suddenly added); '']'', who suddenly found themselves co-starring with ]; '']'', when ] came to live with the Bradys; and '']'' when they added Corporal Capeman to the cast. Quite often, these additions of superfluous characters are seen as ] moments; such changes are regarded by fans to be the defining events in the decline of a TV show. This is itself satirized in the episode, with the mysterious addition of a new character, "Roy," to the Simpson family; Roy leaves the show at the end of the episode.


They appear in the first scene of '']''. The writers of the film knew from the beginning that they were going to start with an Itchy & Scratchy short and the segment was the first scene that was storyboarded by the animators.<ref>Brooks, James L.; Groening, Matt; Jean, Al; Scully, Mike; Silverman, David; Castellaneta, Dan; Smith, Yeardley. (2007). Commentary for '']'' . 20th Century Fox.</ref>
Many fans of the show also saw Poochie's creation, depiction, and demise as a response to various criticisms of ''The Simpsons'' by its viewers. The focus group's desire for a show where its characters solve real-life problems, and simultaneous desire for a show with its characters "getting into far-out situations involving robots and magic powers" reflects the division between fans of earlier episodes of the series, which tended to focus on the family's relationships with each other, and fans of the later episodes, which tended to rely more heavily on sight gags, cameo appearances, and non-sequiturs. Other aspects of the episode also play up this argument, including Bart's declaration that the creators of Itchy and Scratchy are "giving you thousands of hours of entertainment for free" and Lisa's closing lines about how ''Itchy and Scratchy''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s viewers "should thank our lucky stars that they're still putting on a program of this caliber after so many years."


The duo also appear in the pre-show video for ]. They host a video called "Safety First" that shows riders what can happen to them if they do not follow ride requirements.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Simpsons Ride gives Universal Studios patrons a taste of Springfield |last=Bevil |first=DeWayne |newspaper=] |date=2008-04-29 |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzsimpson0429sbapr29,0,340596.story |access-date=2008-04-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327025718/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzsimpson0429sbapr29%2C0%2C340596.story |archive-date=2010-03-27}}</ref>
Despite being created for a single-episode appearance (and despite a legal document from Krusty stating that he would never reappear), Poochie has appeared in later episodes of ''The Simpsons'', such as the 11th Halloween show, an Itchy & Scratchy episode ("Tears of a Clone"), and was on a Krusty-Brand show T-Shirt (as well as "Itchy-Poochie").


Outside of ''The Simpsons'', Itchy & Scratchy also appear in one of the last scenes of '']''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Hip-Hop Bushido Code of "Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai" |url=https://thespool.net/features/fotm/ghost-dog-way-of-the-samurai-review-jim-jarmusch/ |website=The Spool |access-date=20 September 2021 |date=18 January 2020}}</ref>
According to The Simpsons comic system, many spin-offs featuring Poochie were made before his debut on the show. Many of these spin-offs were simply badly-disguised rip-offs of other popular comics. A Poochie comic was called Astro-Poochie (a rip-off of ]) which shows Poochie resembling the anime character. Some small print on the top reads "here is another idea we had...".


==Reception==
== Other ''Itchy & Scratchy'' characters ==
===Critical response===
There was also a vulture modeled after ] &mdash; in a cartoon he himself scripted and directed ("]") &mdash; who touted the virtues of nuclear power.
In his 2004 book '']'', author ] describes ''Itchy & Scratchy'' as "by far the most gleeful visual ] on ''The Simpsons'' each snippet of "Itchy & Scratchy" packs as much frenetically paced action, sight-gaggery, and physical humor into its half-minute of screen time as a half-dozen ] cartoons and a dozen '']s''."{{sfn|Turner|2004|pp=33-34}}


In 2007, '']'' named "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show" the sixth-best episode in the show's history, describing it as "a classic satire of network influence, obsessed TV fans, and programs that survive long after ], the episode is a meta-celebration, a tongue-in-cheek rebuttal to everyone who claimed that the quality of ''The Simpsons'' had declined over the years."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Springfield's Best |last=Orvted |first=John |magazine=] |date=2007-09-22 |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/08/top10simpsons200708 |access-date=2007-07-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530090021/http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/08/top10simpsons200708 |archive-date=2009-05-30}}</ref>
When ] protested the cartoon's violence, a cartoonist modeled a squirrel with tall, blue hair after her. The squirrel interrupted a baseball bat fight between the title characters shouting "Don't do that! Hey! Don't do that!" to which Itchy whacked her head off.


Todd Gilchrist of ''IGN'' called ''Itchy & Scratchy'' a masterpiece, stating it "could easily be packaged and sold by ."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/725/725343p1.html |title=The Simpsons&nbsp;— The Complete Eighth Season |access-date=2007-07-31 |author=Gilchrist, Todd |date=2006-09-22 |website=IGN.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017014324/http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/725/725343p1.html |archive-date=2007-10-17 |url-status=live}}</ref> Robert Canning of ''IGN'' wrote that "it's always fun to see an 'Itchy and Scratchy' cartoon" but believes that the shorter and simpler cartoons are better than the longer more complex ones.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/934/934359p1.html |title=The Simpsons: "Mypods and Boomsticks" Review |date=2008-12-01 |author=Canning, Robert |access-date=2008-12-12 |website=] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205025728/http://tv.ign.com/articles/934/934359p1.html |archive-date=2008-12-05}}</ref>
] also appears in a cartoon, shooting Scratchy when he gets his head stuck in Elvis' television set &mdash; a reference to Presley's fascination with firearms and habit of shooting televisions.


===Popularity===
In the Episodes ''Itchy and Scratchy Land'' and ''The Day the Violence Died'' several other characters in the Itchy and Scratchy world created by Meyers included Disgruntled Goat, Uncle Ant, Brown-nose Bear, Flatulent Fox, Rich Uncle Skeleton, Ku Klux Klam and Dinner Dog. It is revealed in ''The Day the Violence Died'' that all these characters were ] due to the fact Meyers only thought up stick-figures called Sarcastic Horse and Manic Mailman. Since they stank he stole other people's characters (but little did Meyers Jr. know that the ] plagiarized Manic Mailman). Meyers claimed Flatulent Fox was based on a true story. Ku Klux Klam is a ] member because of his name and clothing.
In 2003, '']'' named "Itchy & Scratchy Land" and "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show" the 7th-best and 23rd-best episodes of ''The Simpsons'', respectively.<ref name=EW/>


In a 2006 article, '']'' ranked Itchy & Scratchy in tenth position on their list of the "Top 25 Simpsons Peripheral Characters", citing that "the Itchy & Scratchy Show shines a nice mirror on cartoons, showing just how funny cartoon violence really is."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/730/730957p3.html |title=Top 25 Simpsons Peripheral Characters |access-date=2007-06-08 |date=2006-09-06 |author=Eric Goldman, Dan Iverson, Brian ZoghrhwerhhjR5Jromski |website=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819175356/http://tv.ign.com/articles/730/730957p3.html |archive-date=2007-08-19 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In ], Homer/] watches a version of Itchy and Scratchy. It is performed by hand puppets and consists of them beating each other with clubs after accusing each other.


In a 2014 Vulture article, ''The Simpsons'' writers ranked their nine favorite ''Itchy & Scratchy'' cartoons. Their choices included season 4's "Steamboat Itchy", season 14's "Bleeder of the Pack", the opening scene of '']'' and the safety video "Safety First" that plays before ] at Universal Studios.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Simpsons' Writers Pick Their Favorite 'Itchy & Scratchy' Cartoons |publisher=Vulture |author=Adalian, Josef |date=March 27, 2014 |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/03/simpsons-writers-favorite-itchy-and-scratchy-cartoons.html |access-date=March 28, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327211029/http://www.vulture.com/2014/03/simpsons-writers-favorite-itchy-and-scratchy-cartoons.html |archive-date=March 27, 2014}}</ref>
The show has recently gained several derivative characters, based on other famous people and characters such as ] Itchy, ] and ].


== Video games == ==See also==
{{Portal|The Simpsons|Animation|Television|Comedy}}
A video game named ] was released for ], ], ] and ]. Another game Itchy and Scratchy in Miniature Golf was released for ].
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''
* '']''
{{Clear}}


== See also == ==References==
{{Reflist|40em}}
*]
;Bibliography
*]
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last=Groening |first=Matt |author-link=Matt Groening |editor1-first=Ray |editor1-last=Richmond |editor1-link=Ray Richmond |editor2-first=Antonia |editor2-last=Coffman |title=The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family |edition=1st |year=1997 |location=New York |publisher=] |lccn=98141857 |ol=433519M |oclc=37796735 |isbn=978-0-06-095252-5 |ref={{harvid |Richmond & Coffman |1997}}|title-link=The Simpsons episode guides#The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family}}
*{{cite book |last=Turner |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Turner (author) |title=Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation |others=Foreword by ]. |edition=1st |year=2004 |location=Toronto |publisher=] |oclc=55682258 |isbn=978-0-679-31318-2 |title-link=Planet Simpson}}
{{Refend}}


== External links == ==External links==
{{Wiktionary|Appendix:The Simpsons/The Itchy & Scratchy Show}}
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{{Simpsons characters}} {{The Simpsons}}


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Latest revision as of 14:32, 14 December 2024

Fictional animated series on The Simpsons

Fictional character
Itchy and Scratchy
The Simpsons characters
Title card for The Itchy & Scratchy Show featuring Itchy (left) and Scratchy (right)
First appearanceThe Bart Simpson Show (November 20, 1988; 36 years ago (1988-11-20))
Created byMatt Groening
Voiced byItchy: Dan Castellaneta
Scratchy: Harry Shearer
In-universe information
SpeciesItchy: House mouse
Scratchy: Tuxedo cat

The Itchy & Scratchy Show (often shortened as Itchy & Scratchy) is a fictional animated series featured on The Simpsons. The cartoon depicts a sadistic mouse named Itchy who repeatedly maims or murders a black cat named Scratchy. It is typically presented as 15- to 60-second sketches that are a part of The Krusty the Clown Show. Itchy & Scratchy is filled with graphic violence, unsuitable for children, that almost invariably prompts laughter from The Simpsons characters, especially Bart and Lisa.

The Itchy and Scratchy characters are extremely violent and bloody parodies of cat-and-mouse cartoons such as Tom and Jerry, Herman and Katnip, Kit 'n' Kaboodle, and Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks. The Italian comic strip Squeak the Mouse is also considered to be an inspiration for the characters.

The cartoon first appeared in The Tracey Ullman Show short "The Bart Simpson Show", which aired in 1988. The cartoon's first appearance in The Simpsons was in the 1990 episode "There's No Disgrace Like Home". The cartoons became popular among the show's writers and animators, and they are often added when an episode needs expanding. Several full episodes were centered on the fictional production of Itchy & Scratchy, such as "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge".

Role in The Simpsons

The Itchy & Scratchy Show is a show within a show that appears occasionally in episodes of The Simpsons. They appear in the form of 15- to 60-second-long cartoons that are filled with graphic violence, almost always initiated by Itchy the mouse against Scratchy the cat, with the former almost always being the victor. Itchy & Scratchy airs as a segment on The Krusty the Clown Show, and also aired on its brief replacements, Sideshow Bob's Cavalcade of Whimsy, and Gabbo. Itchy & Scratchy mostly airs as a standalone show rather than being a segment in some episodes, such as "In Marge We Trust" (season 8, 1997).

Itchy & Scratchy is usually a parody of traditional cartoons or takeoffs on famous films, but the plot and content are always violent and bloody, with Itchy performing unprovoked acts of graphic violence and homicide unlike most classic cartoons. The most direct and obvious example is Tom and Jerry, an animated series which was also about a constant battle between a cat and a mouse, with the mouse usually victorious, though in Itchy & Scratchy, the mouse acts as the antagonist. Itchy & Scratchy also includes shorts such as Scratchtasia, a parody of Fantasia, and Pinitchio, a parody of Pinocchio. Animation-related jokes are prevalent in the show, such as the Manhattan Madness cartoon in "The Day the Violence Died", which is based on very early animated cartoons such as Gertie the Dinosaur. The cartoons also occasionally serve to play out an exaggerated form of the conflict in the surrounding episode. For example, in "Deep Space Homer" (season five, 1994), Homer is recruited by NASA, and later watches an Itchy & Scratchy cartoon which directly (and gruesomely) parodies the films 2001: A Space Odyssey and Alien.

Fictional production history

Several full episodes of The Simpsons were centered on the fictional production history of The Itchy & Scratchy Show. It begins with Chester J. Lampwick creating Itchy the mouse for the now-lost silent cartoon Manhattan Madness, in which Itchy brutally attacks and kills an Irishman and Theodore Roosevelt, in 1919 (the year of the first Felix the Cat cartoon). However, the character was later stolen by Roger Meyers. Scratchy starred in his first cartoon in 1928 titled That Happy Cat. The film, a 13-second-long animation showing the cat whistling and tipping his hat, was a commercial failure. Later that year, Itchy and Scratchy starred in their first cartoon together called Steamboat Itchy, a violent parody of Disney's Steamboat Willie. Along with the cartoon shorts, Itchy and Scratchy were featured in a World War II–era radio series, at least two films (Pinitchio and Scratchtasia, which are parodies of Pinocchio and Fantasia, respectively), and television commercials for Laramie Cigarettes.

Itchy & Scratchy Studios is run by Roger Meyers Jr., the son of Roger Meyers, the cartoon's supposed creator. The studio was bankrupted after it was sued by Lampwick for $800 million when he was represented by Lionel Hutz, but was saved after receiving a large cash settlement from the government over its use of Mr. ZIP. The show underwent a brief, non-violent retooling following a protest campaign led by Marge Simpson, but it returned to its original violent format after Marge was later discredited after defending the display of Michelangelo's David in Springfield in the face of public objection. Itchy & Scratchy has spawned an in-universe Academy Award–winning film adaptation, amusement parks, and a musical; and, like Krusty's show, localized versions are produced for other countries, such as Jamaica's The Itchem and Scratchem Blow.

Characters

Featured in Itchy & Scratchy

  • Itchy (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) is a blue mouse and the show's villainous protagonist; he almost always succeeds in his relentless attempts in mutilating or killing Scratchy and any other cats around. Itchy is rarely given any motivation for these attacks outside of the thrill of killing, often laughing in an evil fashion whilst murdering other characters.
  • Scratchy (voiced by Harry Shearer), the protagonist, is a threadbare, dim-witted black cat and the perpetual victim of Itchy's violent acts; as opposed to Tom of Tom and Jerry, Scratchy seldom antagonizes the mouse to provoke him in any way and is almost always an ordinary civilian going about an everyday life until Itchy kills him.
  • Poochie (voiced by Dan Castellaneta when voiced by Homer Simpson, Alex Rocco when voiced by Roger Meyers, Jr.), is an orange dog that appeared in "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show" (season eight, 1997). In the episode, the producers of The Itchy & Scratchy Show believed the cartoons were getting stale, and needed a new character to reinvigorate the show. Homer Simpson gets the job of voicing Poochie, who is introduced in the cartoon, "The Beagle Has Landed". A product of marketing department thinking, Poochie was near-universally despised due to interfering with the graphic violence, and was permanently killed off in his second appearance, despite Homer's objections. The episode was both a reference to TV shows which added new characters purportedly to reinvigorate the show, and a commentary on the growing complaints of fans of The Simpsons. The original idea for the episode was that Poochie would be obnoxious because he was so rich, rather than because he was so cool. Poochie would later make brief speaking cameo appearances in "Treehouse of Horror IX", "Little Big Mom", and "The Nightmare After Krustmas".

Production staff

  • Roger Meyers Jr. (voiced by Alex Rocco in 1990, 1996–1997, Hank Azaria in 1993–1994) is the Chairman of the Board of Itchy & Scratchy Studios and son of Roger Meyers. He first appeared in "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge" (season two, 1990). He distributes the cartoon and is a jaded and selfish businessman who has nothing but contempt for his audience. He has an extremely callous personality; he only cares about people who can help him. This is displayed in his contempt for the writers of The Itchy & Scratchy Show. Alex Rocco also voiced Meyers in "The Day the Violence Died" and "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show". He said that he liked voicing Meyers because "I get to be a big-shot." He professed being nervous when voicing the character for the first time in "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge" because he said that he had never done a voice-over before. At first he tried doing a special voice, but was told to "just be yourself." Rocco was one of Bill Oakley's and Josh Weinstein's favorite guest stars, and they liked including him in their episodes so they could "have a little fun with him." On occasions when Rocco was unavailable to do a voice over, Meyers was voiced by Hank Azaria in "The Front" (season four, 1993), "Lady Bouvier's Lover" (season five, 1994) and "Itchy & Scratchy Land" (season six, 1994). The spelling of Meyers' name has been inconsistent in the show. His last name was spelled both Myers and Meyers in "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge", and Myers the later episode "The Day the Violence Died". His name is spelled Meyers in "The Front", as well as in the book The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family.
  • Roger Meyers Sr. first appeared in video footage in "Itchy & Scratchy Land" and has never had a speaking role. He was created because the writers felt it would have been "tortured logic" to have the Roger Meyers Jr. be the creator. Roger Meyers Sr. has similarities to Walt Disney. For example, Disney's alleged antisemitism is spoofed when it is revealed that Meyers made a cartoon called Nazi Supermen are Our Superiors.
  • June Bellamy (voiced by Tress MacNeille in her normal voice, Dan Castellaneta in her Itchy voice, Harry Shearer in her Scratchy voice, Julie Kavner in her Disapproving Squirrel voice) is the actress who portrays both Itchy and Scratchy. Her only appearance was in "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show". She is presumably a reference to veteran voice actress June Foray, who also voiced several male characters, notably Rocky the Flying Squirrel. In actuality, Itchy and Scratchy are voiced by two different men rather than one woman.
  • Chester J. Lampwick (voiced by Kirk Douglas) is the creator of Itchy and only appeared in "The Day the Violence Died". The producers' first choice for the character, William Hickey, declined. Douglas's recording session was fraught with interruptions because he refused to wear the supplied earphones and said the maximum he would do was two takes.

Background

Origins

Itchy and Scratchy in their first appearance in "The Bart Simpson Show"

The Itchy & Scratchy Show first appeared in The Tracey Ullman Show short "The Bart Simpson Show", which originally aired on November 20, 1988. They were the first major recurring characters outside of the Simpson family to appear. As a child, series creator Matt Groening and his friends would fantasize about an ultra-violent cartoon and how much fun it would be to work on a show like that. The names "Itchy" and "Scratchy" were inspired by Pixie and Dixie, which was a segment on the cartoon show The Huckleberry Hound Show. The comic strip Squeak the Mouse is also considered an apparent inspiration for the characters. As a child, Groening really liked the 1961 Disney film One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and it was one of the reasons to why he got into cartooning. In the film, the puppies watch television, and the idea of having a cartoon within a cartoon thrilled Groening. From that idea he got the inspiration for Itchy & Scratchy.

David Silverman states that Itchy and Scratchy cartoons are "an ironic commentary on cartoon mayhem in the sense that it's taken to a more realistic level. The kids on The Simpsons are laughing at it, and we're laughing too, but part of what you're laughing at is the over-the-top excessiveness of the violence."

Development

"Over the years, we have gotten fan mail from people asking for Itchy & Scratchy to get their own spinoff, and you know, more Itchy & Scratchy, so we put together a montage of Itchy & Scratchy moments, that is several minutes long, and I've shown it to audiences and they get stunned after a minute and a half."

—Matt Groening

The Itchy and Scratchy show first appeared in The Tracey Ullman Show short "The Bart Simpson Show", which aired on November 20, 1988; the performance style at the time was like Tom and Jerry and, unusually, featured Scratchy much like his Tom and Jerry counterpart, attacking Itchy. Their first appearance in The Simpsons was "There's No Disgrace Like Home". In the series, it was quickly established early on that Scratchy was a peaceful character that was persecuted by his friend, the Psychopathic mouse, Itchy.

Itchy & Scratchy cartoons are often added when a show needs expanding or when there is an issue that the writers wish to satirize. In some cases, notably in "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show", the writers use Itchy & Scratchy as a way to comment on The Simpsons. The shorts are often difficult for the writers, and take much time to develop and devise a title, and in the end they fill little time. Writing the Itchy & Scratchy cartoons is quite often a group effort, with it being pitched out one gag after another. Itchy & Scratchy are a favorite of John Swartzwelder, who has written many of the episodes that center on them and quite often pitches the ideas for the shorts. In the early seasons, fans wanted more Itchy & Scratchy, so the writers decided to do "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge", an episode that dealt with censorship issues which would allow them to show several cartoons. Swartzwelder and Sam Simon collaborated to create the "nice" version of Itchy and Scratchy in that episode. The cartoons are often kept short, because according to David Silverman, "it doesn't really work as a long cartoon."

During David Mirkin's tenure as showrunner (season five and six), he was asked by the Fox network not to do any more Itchy & Scratchy cartoons due to the amount of violence in them. In response, the show produced "Itchy & Scratchy Land". The network asked them not to do the episode, and threatened that if the episode was produced, they would cut the Itchy & Scratchy parts out themselves, but relented when Mirkin threatened to tell the media. The writers nevertheless promised to try not to overdo the violence and in some scenes the violence was cut.

During their tenure as executive producers, Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein tried to fit in one episode relating to Itchy & Scratchy every season. They note that as the seasons progressed, it became increasingly difficult for them to create new Itchy & Scratchy episode ideas. Although the episode was difficult to animate, "Itchy & Scratchy Land" was "a dream come true" for the animators, as they enjoyed animating scenes filled with violence.

Other appearances

Itchy and Scratchy have appeared in various products and other media relating to The Simpsons.

The Itchy & Scratchy Game was released for Game Gear and Super NES, a version for the Sega Genesis was also developed but was never commercially released. Itchy & Scratchy in Miniature Golf Madness, was released for Game Boy. Itchy, Scratchy and Poochie play roles in the "Grand Theft Scratchy" section in The Simpsons Game.

Itchy and Scratchy have also appeared in commercials for various products, including a 1999 Butterfinger advert where Bart watches a short called "500 Easy Pieces".

They appear in the first scene of The Simpsons Movie. The writers of the film knew from the beginning that they were going to start with an Itchy & Scratchy short and the segment was the first scene that was storyboarded by the animators.

The duo also appear in the pre-show video for The Simpsons Ride. They host a video called "Safety First" that shows riders what can happen to them if they do not follow ride requirements.

Outside of The Simpsons, Itchy & Scratchy also appear in one of the last scenes of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.

Reception

Critical response

In his 2004 book Planet Simpson, author Chris Turner describes Itchy & Scratchy as "by far the most gleeful visual riffing on The Simpsons each snippet of "Itchy & Scratchy" packs as much frenetically paced action, sight-gaggery, and physical humor into its half-minute of screen time as a half-dozen Road Runner cartoons and a dozen Tom & Jerrys."

In 2007, Vanity Fair named "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show" the sixth-best episode in the show's history, describing it as "a classic satire of network influence, obsessed TV fans, and programs that survive long after the shark has been jumped, the episode is a meta-celebration, a tongue-in-cheek rebuttal to everyone who claimed that the quality of The Simpsons had declined over the years."

Todd Gilchrist of IGN called Itchy & Scratchy a masterpiece, stating it "could easily be packaged and sold by ." Robert Canning of IGN wrote that "it's always fun to see an 'Itchy and Scratchy' cartoon" but believes that the shorter and simpler cartoons are better than the longer more complex ones.

Popularity

In 2003, Entertainment Weekly named "Itchy & Scratchy Land" and "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show" the 7th-best and 23rd-best episodes of The Simpsons, respectively.

In a 2006 article, IGN ranked Itchy & Scratchy in tenth position on their list of the "Top 25 Simpsons Peripheral Characters", citing that "the Itchy & Scratchy Show shines a nice mirror on cartoons, showing just how funny cartoon violence really is."

In a 2014 Vulture article, The Simpsons writers ranked their nine favorite Itchy & Scratchy cartoons. Their choices included season 4's "Steamboat Itchy", season 14's "Bleeder of the Pack", the opening scene of The Simpsons Movie and the safety video "Safety First" that plays before The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios.

See also

References

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