Pokey Mom
Encyclopedia
"Pokey Mom" is the tenth episode of the twelfth season
of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons
. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 14, 2001. In the episode, Marge tries to rehabilitate a convict with remarkable artistic talent. Meanwhile, Homer
uses a trash can to fix people's spines. "Pokey Mom" was written by Tom Martin
and directed by Bob Anderson
, and features guest appearances from, Michael Keaton
, Charles Napier
, Bruce Vilanch
, and Robert Schimmel
. Critics have given the episode generally negative reviews, and the staff members of the series received several complaints from chiropractors after it aired.
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. Marge finds a mural-painting job at Springfield Elementary School for him. Jack paints a powerful, epic mural symbolizing school spirit with a warrior woman riding a puma, which the whole school likes, but Principal Skinner (who hates it) demands that he tone it down using Skinner's own childish idea of kittens in a fantasy land. Jack reluctantly gives into Skinner's wishes; however, upon its unveiling, the new mural is panned by everyone in town. Skinner blames Jack and fires him.
Sometime later, the mural is set on fire by a mystery arsonist; everyone immediately assumes that Jack did it to get back at Skinner. While the police are out searching for Jack, Marge stumbles upon him hiding in the playground. He swears to her that he did not start the fire, and Marge decides to believe him. She then offers to distract Skinner and Chief Wiggum while he escapes; however, instead, he immediately sets fire to Skinner's car, and dances around it laughing maniacally. Jack is arrested, and Marge is furious that he lied to her. When Jack attempts to lie to her again—claiming this time that although he did burn the mural, he did not burn Skinner's car (despite the fact that she had just seen him do it)—she washes her hands of him forever, and Chief Wiggum drives him back to jail.
Meanwhile, Homer suffers from a back injury at the rodeo, and goes to see a chiropractor
. However, he fails to follow the instructions given to him by the chiropractor. Later, Homer accidentally falls backwards onto a garbage can at home and discovers that it solved his back problems. He names the garbage can "Dr. Homer's Miracle Spine-o-Cylinder", and makes a business out of his discovery. It turns out be successful method of solving problems with pain, until the other chiropractors denounce it and destroy the garbage can.
and directed by Bob Anderson
as part of the twelfth season of The Simpsons (2000–2001). The idea for the sub-plot was conceived by Martin during a visit to a chiropractor
. In one of the first scripts of the episode, Homer fell on a table and not a garbage can. At one point early on in the writing process, the sub-plot was going to be about Homer getting a job as a prison rodeo clown. American stand-up comedian Robert Schimmel
guest starred in the episode as a prisoner in Marge's class that wants to smell Marge's clothes. In addition, the episode features guest appearances from Michael Keaton
as Jack Crowley, Charles Napier
as The Warden, and Bruce Vilanch
as himself.
for the episode. Deleted scenes from the episode were also included on the box set.
Critics have given "Pokey Mom" generally negative reviews. Nancy Basile of About.com
said she "loathed" it. DVD Movie Guide's Colin Jacobson commented that "Other than a nice guest turn from Michael Keaton, 'Mom' doesn’t do much to stand out from the crowd. Oh, like much of Season 12, it keeps us interested, but that’s not exactly a strong endorsement. 'Mom' provides a watchable show but nothing more." Den of Geek critic Matt Haigh wrote that the episode "starts well, but begins to feel tired and drawn out, and there just doesn't seem to be much of a story there."
Following the original broadcast of the episode, the staff members of the series received several complaints from chiropractors—the biggest amount of complaints since the season ten episode "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday
" (1999) that was criticized by many Catholics for featuring a racy commercial for the Catholic Church. In an article of the magazine Canadian Chiropractor, Steven R. Passmore (D.C., M.S.
) and Lorraine Kochanowski-Sutter (D.C.) analyzed the portrayal of chiropractors in the media. They gave "Pokey Mom" as an example of how "chiropractors on sitcoms pok[e] fun at themselves as they prescribe the duration of a course of care. [...] Dr. Steve on The Simpsons corroborates this stereotype when telling Homer that he will need to see him 'three times a week for many years.'" Passmore and Kochanowski-Sutter also noted that in the episode "we see a dreamcatcher
on the wall behind Dr. Steve as he treats Homer. This strategically placed decoration could suggest that the chiropractor is in touch with native and/or natural healing, or it could be a jab at the field’s more esoteric practitioners."
The Simpsons (season 12)
The Simpsons 12th season began on Wednesday, November 1, 2000 with "Treehouse of Horror XI".The season contains four hold over episodes from the season 11 production line. The show runner for the twelfth production was Mike Scully. The season features three episodes that were produced for the...
of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 14, 2001. In the episode, Marge tries to rehabilitate a convict with remarkable artistic talent. Meanwhile, Homer
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
uses a trash can to fix people's spines. "Pokey Mom" was written by Tom Martin
Tom Martin (writer)
Tom Martin is an American television writer. He grew up in Southern California and attended Rolling Hills High School and Indio High School. He graduated from University of California, Irvine in 1987 with degrees in Economics and Political Science. While at UC Irvine he ran on the Track and Cross...
and directed by Bob Anderson
Bob Anderson (director)
Bob Anderson is an animation director on The Simpsons. He also contributed additional sequence direction on The Simpsons Movie....
, and features guest appearances from, Michael Keaton
Michael Keaton
Michael John Douglas , better known by the stage name Michael Keaton, is an American actor known for his early comedic roles, most notably his performance as the title character of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice . Keaton is also famous for his dramatic portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton's...
, Charles Napier
Charles Napier (actor)
Charles L. Napier was an American actor, known for his portrayals of square-jawed tough guys and military types.-Early life:...
, Bruce Vilanch
Bruce Vilanch
Bruce Vilanch is an American comedy writer, songwriter and actor. He is a six-time Emmy Award-winner Vilanch is best known to the public for his four-year stint on Hollywood Squares, as a celebrity participant; in the entertainment industry he is best known as head writer for the show...
, and Robert Schimmel
Robert Schimmel
Robert George "Bob" Schimmel was an American stand-up comedian whose material was often X-rated and controversial. He was perhaps best known for his comedy albums and his appearances on HBO and The Howard Stern Show...
. Critics have given the episode generally negative reviews, and the staff members of the series received several complaints from chiropractors after it aired.
Plot
The family attends a prison rodeo. MargeMarge Simpson
Marjorie "Marge" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the eponymous family. She is voiced by actress Julie Kavner and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
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
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
and, with Marge's help, is granted parole under her custody. Marge finds a mural-painting job at Springfield Elementary School for him. Jack paints a powerful, epic mural symbolizing school spirit with a warrior woman riding a puma, which the whole school likes, but Principal Skinner (who hates it) demands that he tone it down using Skinner's own childish idea of kittens in a fantasy land. Jack reluctantly gives into Skinner's wishes; however, upon its unveiling, the new mural is panned by everyone in town. Skinner blames Jack and fires him.
Sometime later, the mural is set on fire by a mystery arsonist; everyone immediately assumes that Jack did it to get back at Skinner. While the police are out searching for Jack, Marge stumbles upon him hiding in the playground. He swears to her that he did not start the fire, and Marge decides to believe him. She then offers to distract Skinner and Chief Wiggum while he escapes; however, instead, he immediately sets fire to Skinner's car, and dances around it laughing maniacally. Jack is arrested, and Marge is furious that he lied to her. When Jack attempts to lie to her again—claiming this time that although he did burn the mural, he did not burn Skinner's car (despite the fact that she had just seen him do it)—she washes her hands of him forever, and Chief Wiggum drives him back to jail.
Meanwhile, Homer suffers from a back injury at the rodeo, and goes to see a chiropractor
Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. It is generally categorized as complementary and alternative medicine...
. However, he fails to follow the instructions given to him by the chiropractor. Later, Homer accidentally falls backwards onto a garbage can at home and discovers that it solved his back problems. He names the garbage can "Dr. Homer's Miracle Spine-o-Cylinder", and makes a business out of his discovery. It turns out be successful method of solving problems with pain, until the other chiropractors denounce it and destroy the garbage can.
Production
"Pokey Mom" was written by Tom MartinTom Martin (writer)
Tom Martin is an American television writer. He grew up in Southern California and attended Rolling Hills High School and Indio High School. He graduated from University of California, Irvine in 1987 with degrees in Economics and Political Science. While at UC Irvine he ran on the Track and Cross...
and directed by Bob Anderson
Bob Anderson (director)
Bob Anderson is an animation director on The Simpsons. He also contributed additional sequence direction on The Simpsons Movie....
as part of the twelfth season of The Simpsons (2000–2001). The idea for the sub-plot was conceived by Martin during a visit to a chiropractor
Chiropractor
A Chiropractor, according to the Association of Chiropractic Colleges , "focuses on the relationship between the body's main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient's health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to...
. In one of the first scripts of the episode, Homer fell on a table and not a garbage can. At one point early on in the writing process, the sub-plot was going to be about Homer getting a job as a prison rodeo clown. American stand-up comedian Robert Schimmel
Robert Schimmel
Robert George "Bob" Schimmel was an American stand-up comedian whose material was often X-rated and controversial. He was perhaps best known for his comedy albums and his appearances on HBO and The Howard Stern Show...
guest starred in the episode as a prisoner in Marge's class that wants to smell Marge's clothes. In addition, the episode features guest appearances from Michael Keaton
Michael Keaton
Michael John Douglas , better known by the stage name Michael Keaton, is an American actor known for his early comedic roles, most notably his performance as the title character of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice . Keaton is also famous for his dramatic portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton's...
as Jack Crowley, Charles Napier
Charles Napier (actor)
Charles L. Napier was an American actor, known for his portrayals of square-jawed tough guys and military types.-Early life:...
as The Warden, and Bruce Vilanch
Bruce Vilanch
Bruce Vilanch is an American comedy writer, songwriter and actor. He is a six-time Emmy Award-winner Vilanch is best known to the public for his four-year stint on Hollywood Squares, as a celebrity participant; in the entertainment industry he is best known as head writer for the show...
as himself.
Release
The episode originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 14, 2001. On August 18, 2009, it was released on DVD as part of the box set The Simpsons – The Complete Twelfth Season. Staff members Mike Scully, Ian Maxtone-Graham, Tom Martin, John Frink, Don Payne, Matt Selman, Bob Anderson, and Joel H. Cohen, as well as cast members Dan Castellaneta and Joe Mantegna, participated in the DVD audio commentaryAudio commentary
On disc-based video formats, an audio commentary is an additional audio track consisting of a lecture or comments by one or more speakers, that plays in real time with video...
for the episode. Deleted scenes from the episode were also included on the box set.
Critics have given "Pokey Mom" generally negative reviews. Nancy Basile of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
said she "loathed" it. DVD Movie Guide's Colin Jacobson commented that "Other than a nice guest turn from Michael Keaton, 'Mom' doesn’t do much to stand out from the crowd. Oh, like much of Season 12, it keeps us interested, but that’s not exactly a strong endorsement. 'Mom' provides a watchable show but nothing more." Den of Geek critic Matt Haigh wrote that the episode "starts well, but begins to feel tired and drawn out, and there just doesn't seem to be much of a story there."
Following the original broadcast of the episode, the staff members of the series received several complaints from chiropractors—the biggest amount of complaints since the season ten episode "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday
Sunday, Cruddy Sunday
"Sunday, Cruddy Sunday" is the twelfth episode of The Simpsons tenth season. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 31, 1999, just after Super Bowl XXXIII. In the episode, while buying new tires for his car, Homer meets a travel agent called Wally Kogen...
" (1999) that was criticized by many Catholics for featuring a racy commercial for the Catholic Church. In an article of the magazine Canadian Chiropractor, Steven R. Passmore (D.C., M.S.
Master of Surgery
The Master of Surgery is an advanced qualification in surgery. It is most commonly abbreviated Ch.M. or M.S., as well as M.Ch. and M.Chir. from its Latin name, Magister Chirurgiae or the English form of Master of Surgery....
) and Lorraine Kochanowski-Sutter (D.C.) analyzed the portrayal of chiropractors in the media. They gave "Pokey Mom" as an example of how "chiropractors on sitcoms pok[e] fun at themselves as they prescribe the duration of a course of care. [...] Dr. Steve on The Simpsons corroborates this stereotype when telling Homer that he will need to see him 'three times a week for many years.'" Passmore and Kochanowski-Sutter also noted that in the episode "we see a dreamcatcher
Dreamcatcher
Dreamcatcher is a Native American cultural object.Dreamcatcher may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Dreamcatcher , a 2001 novel by Stephen King** Dreamcatcher , based on the Stephen King novel...
on the wall behind Dr. Steve as he treats Homer. This strategically placed decoration could suggest that the chiropractor is in touch with native and/or natural healing, or it could be a jab at the field’s more esoteric practitioners."