When ratings for The Itchy & Scratchy Show begin to drop, Krusty the Clown and network executives decide the show needs a "new, hip" character to regain younger viewers.
This episode was specifically timed to celebrate The Simpsons surpassing The Flintstones as the longest-running American animated series. [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. When ratings for The Itchy & Scratchy Show
: Through soulless corporate focus groups, they develop Poochie , a "wisecracking hip-hop surfer dog" with "attitude". 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.