[s8e14] The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show Online

: Through soulless corporate focus groups, they develop Poochie , a "wisecracking hip-hop surfer dog" with "attitude".

: After Homer’s failed attempt to "save" the character by rewriting his lines, the studio kills off Poochie off-screen with a clumsy, hand-drawn slide stating: "Poochie died on the way back to his home planet" . Historical Significance & Meta Commentary [S8E14] The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show

: As a direct meta-joke, a character named Roy —a random teenager with no explanation—temporarily moves into the Simpsons' house. He was created to mock a real network executive's suggestion that the writers should add a new character to "liven up" the show. : Through soulless corporate focus groups, they develop

: Poochie’s debut episode, "The Beagle Has Landed," is universally hated for being over-marketed and lacking the mindless violence fans love. He was created to mock a real network

: The episode mocks the TV cliché of adding new, "cool" characters to aging shows to boost ratings.

This episode was specifically timed to celebrate The Simpsons surpassing The Flintstones as the longest-running American animated series.

: This episode features the first time Comic Book Guy utters his iconic catchphrase, " Worst episode ever ," satirizing the hyper-critical nature of online fans. The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show - IMDb