| "The Strong Arms of the Ma" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 14 Episode 9 |
| Directed by | Pete Michels |
| Written by | Carolyn Omine |
| Production code | EABF04 |
| Original air date | February 2, 2003 |
| Guest appearance | |
| Pamela Reed as Ruth Powers | |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "The school does not need a 'regime change'" |
| Couch gag | The couch is a novelty cardboard cut-out with holes in it. The family members go behind the standup and stick their faces through the holes: Lisa becomes the face for Homer, Homer becomes Marge, Maggie becomes Lisa, Bart becomes Maggie and Marge becomes Bart. Instead of the TV, a photographer is standing in front of the Simpsons and takes their picture. |
| Commentary | Al Jean Carolyn Omine Matt Selman Kevin Curran Michael Price Matt Warburton Pete Michels |
"The Strong Arms of the Ma" is the ninth episode of the fourteenth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 2, 2003. It is the 300th episode to be broadcast; though "Barting Over" is indicated on-screen to be the 300th episode, it is actually the 302nd. In the episode, Marge develops agoraphobia in response to a traumatic mugging and overcomes the fear through exercise and bodybuilding, which leads to her taking anabolic steroids and experiencing a change in personality.
Carolyn Omine wrote the episode, and Pete Michels directed. Pamela Reed guest starred as recurring character Ruth Powers.