Pokey Mom

Plot

The Simpson family attends a prison rodeo where Marge meets Jack Crowley, a convict whose artwork impresses her. She later teaches an art class to prisoners and befriends Jack, helping him gain parole under her custody. Marge finds him a job painting a mural at Springfield Elementary School. Jack creates a powerful mural of a warrior woman riding a puma, but Principal Skinner demands a tamer version with a cartoonish puma and children under a rainbow.

Jack reluctantly complies, but the new mural is panned by everyone. Skinner blames Jack and fires him. The mural is later set on fire by a mystery arsonist, and everyone sees the original before it burns. The school assumes Jack did it, but Marge finds him hiding in the playground.

He swears he did not start the fire, and Marge distracts Skinner and Chief Wiggum so he can escape. Instead, Jack sets fire to Skinner's car and dances maniacally, revealing his true nature. He is arrested, and Marge demands he be returned to prison. Meanwhile, Homer suffers a back injury from a bull at the rodeo and sees a chiropractor, but does not follow instructions.

He later falls backward onto a malformed garbage can and discovers it cures his back pain. He starts a successful business healing others with the can, causing chiropractic business to decline. Two chiropractors disguised as investors trick Homer and destroy the garbage can.

Production and cultural references

The episode was written by Tom Martin and directed by Bob Anderson. Its first draft on February 4, 2000, was titled "Marge Knows Why the Jailbird Paints." Showrunner Mike Scully said the staff wanted an episode about Marge that did not involve her getting a new job, as that had been done often. They chose to explore her interest in art, seen in earlier episodes.

Martin conceived the subplot about Homer visiting a chiropractor, noting the heart of the story was chiropractors opposing Homer's healing method after losing business, referencing real-life tensions between chiropractors and the American Medical Association. Martin noted that many chiropractors are great healers, but some are crooked. Guest stars include Michael Keaton as Jack Crowley, Robert Schimmel as a prisoner wanting to smell Marge's clothes, Charles Napier as the prison warden, and Bruce Vilanch as himself.

At the mural unveiling, Principal Skinner makes a joke about Superintendent Chalmers' sister Muriel, which gets no laughs; Skinner sarcastically thanks Vilanch, who replies "Whoopi would've made it work," referencing Vilanch writing material for Whoopi Goldberg. Moe's line "forget it Homer, it's chirotown" after the garbage can is destroyed references the film Chinatown.

Release

The episode first aired on Fox on January 14, 2001, reaching about 8.79 million homes. It scored an 8.6 Nielsen rating, tying with a 60 Minutes installment for 38th place during the week of January 8–14, 2001. That week, it ranked as Fox’s third most-watched program, trailing only Temptation Island and Boston Public. The episode later appeared on DVD as part of The Simpsons – The Complete Twelfth Season, released August 18, 2009.

That box set included deleted scenes and an audio commentary featuring staff members Tom Martin, Bob Anderson, Mike Scully, Ian Maxtone-Graham, John Frink, Don Payne, Matt Selman, and Joel H. Cohen, plus cast members Dan Castellaneta and Joe Mantegna. Critical reception was largely unfavorable. Nancy Basile of About.com stated she “loathed” it. Colin Jacobson of DVD Movie Guide called it watchable but unremarkable, while Den of Geek’s Matt Haigh found it tired and drawn out, with little story.

Did You Know?

• The episode received complaints from chiropractors after it aired.
• Bruce Vilanch's line "Whoopi would've made it work" refers to his work writing for Whoopi Goldberg.