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| {{tooshort|date=October 2009}} | {{tooshort|date=October 2009}} | ||
| {{Infobox Simpsons episode | {{Infobox Simpsons episode | ||
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|episode_name=Pokey Mom | ||
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|episode_no=258 | ||
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|prod_code=CABF05 | ||
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|airdate=January 14, 2001 | ||
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|show runner=] | ||
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|writer=] | ||
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|director=] | ||
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|blackboard="I will not ']'" | ||
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|couch_gag=The Simpsons sit on the couch and the wall spins around like in the season four episode ], but this time, a cackling mad scientist who looks like ] and a scared Ned Flanders who is shackled upside-down and moaning are on the other side of the wall. | ||
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|guest_star=] as Jack Crowley<br>] as The Warden<br>] as himself<br>] as Prisoner | ||
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|commentary=Mike Scully<br>]<br>Tom Martin<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>Bob Anderson<br>] | ||
| | season = 12 | | season = 12 | ||
| }} | }} | ||
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| ==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
| When the family attends a prison rodeo, ] meets Jack Crowley, a convict whom she believes to have some artistic potential. She sees his work and likes it. Marge later teaches a class on being an artist to the prisoners. Jack is up for ] and, with Marge's help, is granted parole. When Jack is looking for a job, Marge finds a mural-painting job at ]. Jack paints an epic mural symbolizing school spirit in which the whole school likes (including the teachers), but Principal Skinner (who hates it) demands that he tone it down. After reluctantly giving into Skinner's wishes, he is criticized for doing a terrible job. He goes crazy and commits ]. Inevitably, Marge does not like Jack for lying to her as he returns to jail. |
When the family attends a prison rodeo, ] meets Jack Crowley, a convict whom she believes to have some artistic potential. She sees his work and likes it. Marge later teaches a class on being an artist to the prisoners. Jack is up for ] and, with Marge's help, is granted parole. When Jack is looking for a job, Marge finds a mural-painting job at ]. Jack paints an epic mural symbolizing school spirit in which the whole school likes (including the teachers), but Principal Skinner (who hates it) demands that he tone it down. After reluctantly giving into Skinner's wishes, he is criticized for doing a terrible job. He goes crazy and commits ]. Inevitably, Marge does not like Jack for lying to her as he returns to jail. After visiting the ] Expo, the family attends a prison rodeo. ] meets Jack Crowley, a convict whom she believes to have great artistic potential after becoming impressed with his work. Marge later teaches a class on being an artist to the prisoners. Jack is up for ] and, with Marge's help, is granted parole under her custody. When Jack is looking for a job, Marge finds a mural-painting job at Springfield Elementary School. Jack paints a powerful, epic mural symbolizing school spirit with a puma, which the whole school likes (including the teachers), but Principal Skinner (who hates it) demands that he tone it down using his childish idea of bunnies in a fantasy land. After reluctantly giving into Skinner's wishes, Jack is criticized for doing a terrible job. He goes crazy and commits ] on the mural and later Skinner's car. Inevitably, Marge resents Jack for lying to her that he did not set the mural on fire, and he returns to jail. | ||
| Meanwhile, Homer suffers from a back injury at the rodeo, and he sees a ]. He reveals that he can solve his back problems with the garbage can; therefore, he names it "Dr. Homer's Miracle Spine-o-Cylinder", and makes a business out of it. It turns out be successful until the other chiropractors denounce it and destroy it. | Meanwhile, Homer suffers from a back injury at the rodeo, and he sees a ]. He reveals that he can solve his back problems with the garbage can; therefore, he names it "Dr. Homer's Miracle Spine-o-Cylinder", and makes a business out of it. It turns out be successful until the other chiropractors denounce it and destroy it. | ||
| == |
==Cultural references== | ||
| *The name "Pokey Mom" is a double play on words. Firstly a tribute to the popular Japanese franchise '']'', which is occasionally (intentionally or unintentionally) pronounced "Pokeymon" and sometimes misspelled as Poké'''mom'''<ref>This can be readily confirmed by or the web in general.</ref>, it also references the colloquialism "pokey" used to refer to prisons. | *The name "Pokey Mom" is a double play on words. Firstly a tribute to the popular Japanese franchise '']'', which is occasionally (intentionally or unintentionally) pronounced "Pokeymon" and sometimes misspelled as Poké'''mom'''<ref>This can be readily confirmed by or the web in general.</ref>, it also references the colloquialism "pokey" used to refer to prisons. | ||
| *]'s song "]", about boxer and convict ], is obliquely referenced when the announcer at a ] ] says of Crowley that he is so vile "Bob Dylan wrote a song to keep him ''in'' prison!". Ironically, this statement also recalls Dylan's take on ], as musically chronicled in "]" back in ]'s '']''. | *]'s song "]", about boxer and convict ], is obliquely referenced when the announcer at a ] ] says of Crowley that he is so vile "Bob Dylan wrote a song to keep him ''in'' prison!". Ironically, this statement also recalls Dylan's take on ], as musically chronicled in "]" back in ]'s '']''. | ||
| *The crazy prisoner painting the picture of a judge being murdered was named Sardonicus. This could be a reference to the film ''Mr. Sardonicus'', where the title character's face was frozen in a ghastly smile, much like the one the prisoner had on his face throughout his entire scene. | *The crazy prisoner painting the picture of a judge being murdered was named Sardonicus. This could be a reference to the film ''Mr. Sardonicus'', where the title character's face was frozen in a ghastly smile, much like the one the prisoner had on his face throughout his entire scene. | ||
| *Jack's painting of a man with wings flying away, which he names "A Time to Kill," is likely a reference to the ] character ], whose father, ], fashioned him a pair of ] and feather wings to aid his escape of King ]' prison. Marge comments on the painting, stating that she sees a man yearning for freedom. | *Jack's painting of a man with wings flying away, which he names "A Time to Kill," is likely a reference to the character ], whose father, ], fashioned him a pair of ] and feather wings to aid his escape of King ]' prison. Marge comments on the painting, stating that she sees a man yearning for freedom. | ||
| *Michael Keaton's vocal performance as Jack Crowley is similar to his portrayal of ] convict Peter McCabe in the ] film '']''. | *Michael Keaton's vocal performance as Jack Crowley is similar to his portrayal of ] convict Peter McCabe in the ] film '']''. | ||
| *Moe echoes the famous line from '']'' as "Forget it Homer, it's Chirotown". | *Moe echoes the famous line from '']'' as "Forget it Homer, it's Chirotown". | ||
| *The prison rodeo at the beginning of the episode is a parody of the Huntsville Prison Rodeo, that took place in Huntsville, Texas from the years of 1931-1986. Inmates would participate in typical rodeo fare such as bareback and saddle bronco riding and bull riding. The rodeo drew huge crowds and was a boost to the local business economy. It was finally shut due to lack of funds for repairs. | *The prison rodeo at the beginning of the episode is a parody of the Huntsville Prison Rodeo, that took place in Huntsville, Texas from the years of 1931-1986. Inmates would participate in typical rodeo fare such as bareback and saddle bronco riding and bull riding. The rodeo drew huge crowds and was a boost to the local business economy. It was finally shut due to lack of funds for repairs. | ||
| *The cell block Marge enters is a lookalike as the same cell block that features in australian cult soap ]. | *The cell block Marge enters is a lookalike as the same cell block that features in australian cult soap ]. | ||
| === |
===Self-references=== | ||
| ⚫ | *When Homer is dangling Lisa in front of the bull, he looks for a blue object to calm it down. Looking to Bart he asks, "Hey, where's your blue shirt?". This is a reference to the official Simpsons line of action figures and other Simpsons merchandise, where Bart often sports a blue shirt. | ||
| ⚫ | *Marge looks out of the kitchen window to view a building twice in the episode; once for the prison and once for ], both in the same place. This is a joke on the fact that in cartoons, several places, buildings and such move around to a different place frequently, and in the show, the features do move around from episode. An example is ] being down the road from the Simpson's home in "]", while in some episodes it is several streets away. | ||
| ⚫ | *] is shown in the prison infirmary wearing a headcast from the neck up. Later on in the episode Marge tells Bart that Sideshow Bob said he would be seeing him very soon and Bart just laughs it off and says "Oh, that Bob." He would in fact encounter him again in ]. | ||
| ⚫ | * |
||
| ⚫ | * |
||
| ⚫ | * |
||
| ==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
Revision as of 01:31, 19 October 2009
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| "Pokey Mom" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 12 |
| Directed by | Bob Anderson |
| Written by | Tom Martin |
| Original air date | January 14, 2001 |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "I will not 'let the dogs out'" |
| Couch gag | The Simpsons sit on the couch and the wall spins around like in the season four episode Homer the Heretic, but this time, a cackling mad scientist who looks like Vincent Price and a scared Ned Flanders who is shackled upside-down and moaning are on the other side of the wall. |
| Commentary | Mike Scully Ian Maxtone-Graham Tom Martin John Frink Donald M. Payne Matt Selman Dan Castellaneta Joe Mantegna Bob Anderson Joel H. Cohen |
| Episode chronology | |
| The Simpsons season 12 | |
| List of episodes | |
"Pokey Mom" is the tenth episode of The Simpsons' twelfth season, aired on January 14, 2001.
Plot
When the family attends a prison rodeo, Marge meets Jack Crowley, a convict whom she believes to have some artistic potential. She sees his work and likes it. Marge later teaches a class on being an artist to the prisoners. Jack is up for parole and, with Marge's help, is granted parole. When Jack is looking for a job, Marge finds a mural-painting job at Springfield Elementary School. Jack paints an epic mural symbolizing school spirit in which the whole school likes (including the teachers), but Principal Skinner (who hates it) demands that he tone it down. After reluctantly giving into Skinner's wishes, he is criticized for doing a terrible job. He goes crazy and commits arson. Inevitably, Marge does not like Jack for lying to her as he returns to jail. After visiting the Apron Expo, the family attends a prison rodeo. Marge meets Jack Crowley, a convict whom she believes to have great artistic potential after becoming impressed with his work. Marge later teaches a class on being an artist to the prisoners. Jack is up for parole and, with Marge's help, is granted parole under her custody. When Jack is looking for a job, Marge finds a mural-painting job at Springfield Elementary School. Jack paints a powerful, epic mural symbolizing school spirit with a puma, which the whole school likes (including the teachers), but Principal Skinner (who hates it) demands that he tone it down using his childish idea of bunnies in a fantasy land. After reluctantly giving into Skinner's wishes, Jack is criticized for doing a terrible job. He goes crazy and commits arson on the mural and later Skinner's car. Inevitably, Marge resents Jack for lying to her that he did not set the mural on fire, and he returns to jail.
Meanwhile, Homer suffers from a back injury at the rodeo, and he sees a chiropractor. He reveals that he can solve his back problems with the garbage can; therefore, he names it "Dr. Homer's Miracle Spine-o-Cylinder", and makes a business out of it. It turns out be successful until the other chiropractors denounce it and destroy it.
Cultural references
- The name "Pokey Mom" is a double play on words. Firstly a tribute to the popular Japanese franchise Pokémon, which is occasionally (intentionally or unintentionally) pronounced "Pokeymon" and sometimes misspelled as Pokémom, it also references the colloquialism "pokey" used to refer to prisons.
- Bob Dylan's song "Hurricane", about boxer and convict Rubin Carter, is obliquely referenced when the announcer at a prison rodeo says of Crowley that he is so vile "Bob Dylan wrote a song to keep him in prison!". Ironically, this statement also recalls Dylan's take on William Zantzinger, as musically chronicled in "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" back in 1964's The Times They Are a-Changin'.
- The crazy prisoner painting the picture of a judge being murdered was named Sardonicus. This could be a reference to the film Mr. Sardonicus, where the title character's face was frozen in a ghastly smile, much like the one the prisoner had on his face throughout his entire scene.
- Jack's painting of a man with wings flying away, which he names "A Time to Kill," is likely a reference to the character Icarus, whose father, Daedalus, fashioned him a pair of wax and feather wings to aid his escape of King Minos' prison. Marge comments on the painting, stating that she sees a man yearning for freedom.
- Michael Keaton's vocal performance as Jack Crowley is similar to his portrayal of sociopathic convict Peter McCabe in the 1998 film Desperate Measures.
- Moe echoes the famous line from Chinatown as "Forget it Homer, it's Chirotown".
- The prison rodeo at the beginning of the episode is a parody of the Huntsville Prison Rodeo, that took place in Huntsville, Texas from the years of 1931-1986. Inmates would participate in typical rodeo fare such as bareback and saddle bronco riding and bull riding. The rodeo drew huge crowds and was a boost to the local business economy. It was finally shut due to lack of funds for repairs.
- The cell block Marge enters is a lookalike as the same cell block that features in australian cult soap Prisoner Cell Block H.
Self-references
- When Homer is dangling Lisa in front of the bull, he looks for a blue object to calm it down. Looking to Bart he asks, "Hey, where's your blue shirt?". This is a reference to the official Simpsons line of action figures and other Simpsons merchandise, where Bart often sports a blue shirt.
- Marge looks out of the kitchen window to view a building twice in the episode; once for the prison and once for Springfield Elementary School, both in the same place. This is a joke on the fact that in cartoons, several places, buildings and such move around to a different place frequently, and in the show, the features do move around from episode. An example is Moe's Tavern being down the road from the Simpson's home in "Brake My Wife, Please", while in some episodes it is several streets away.
- Sideshow Bob is shown in the prison infirmary wearing a headcast from the neck up. Later on in the episode Marge tells Bart that Sideshow Bob said he would be seeing him very soon and Bart just laughs it off and says "Oh, that Bob." He would in fact encounter him again in Day of the Jackanapes.
Reception
This episode was criticized in the Canadian Chiropractor newsletter for promoting "amateur joint adjustment" and negative stereotypes of chiropractors.
References
- This can be readily confirmed by searching eBay or the web in general.
- Passmore, DC, MS, Steven R. "The Message in the Media: Part 2". Canadian Chiropractor. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
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