Maggie attacks Homer in the basement with a mallet. Wondering where Maggie is getting such ideas, Marge joins her children as they watch their favorite TV cat-and-mouse cartoon, "The Itchy & Scratchy Show." Marge is stunned by the show's violence and writes a letter to its creators.
When her letter has no effect, Marge protests in front of the studio where the show is produced. Soon, her protest turns into a nationwide baycott. Marge appears on TV and asks parents to write letters to the producer. A flood of negative mail pours into the show's offices. As the ratings plummet, the producer asks Marge to come up with acceptable story ideas.
Itchy & Scratchy soon turns into a tame cat-and-mouse team, and the show's ratings hit rock bottom. Subsequently, Michelangelo's nude "David" is exhibited at a museum, and other crusaders ask Marge to rally to their cause. But Marge finds nothing objectionable about the statue. Caught in a dilemma, she realizes that she was wrong for protesting against one form of free speech while supporting another.