According to the DVD episode commentary, Shelby's father, an analogue of Homer, was voiced by Hank Azaria, who based his performance on Walter Matthau. The voice of Homer, Dan Castellaneta, originally based his performance of Homer on Matthau as well. (Lemon of Troy)
Each member of the family enters with a mismatched head and limbs. (Treehouse of Horror V)
Everyone chases the couch as it and the back wall move backward down a long perspective tunnel. (Two Dozen and One Greyhounds)
According to the DVD episode commentary, Shelby's father, an analogue of Homer, was voiced by Hank Azaria, who based his performance on Walter Matthau. The voice of Homer, Dan Castellaneta, originally based his performance of Homer on Matthau as well.
When Bart finds the piece of paper telling him about door 7, it is on a wall. But when he picks it up, it is on door VIII (8).
Note, the bot needs improvement if we're going to use this alphabetical section since it's sorting the sub-list on one of the pages alphabetically - but it probably doesn't make sense to sort the trivia anyway.
Alphabetical
At the end of the DVD version of this episode there is a short audio dedication to Anne Bancroft who passed away shortly after the commentaries for this season's DVDs were recorded. The dedication is read by David Mirkin who cites Anne Bancroft as a particular comedic inspiration to him and states that the film 'The Graduate' (which Bancroft starred in) as the reason he got into comedy. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
It is revealed Bart has made films called "Homer in the shower" and "Homer on the toilet" before making "The Eternal Struggle". (A Star is Burns)
Springfield Shopper headlines during this episode: "Boy Discovers Comet", "Rocket to Kick Comet's Tail" and "Mayor visits city". (Bart's Comet)
Four Funerals and a Wedding (An Itchy and Scratchy short): Itchy replaces Scratchy's bride with a dummy bride made of bombs. Scratchy manages to have bomb-children and live to old age before the dummy explodes. (A Star is Burns)
Moe Better Booze (Directed by Moe Szyslak): Moe does a musical number, dancing on top of his bar. (A Star is Burns)
Pukahontas (Directed by Barney Gumble): A dramatic black and white film about Barney and his alcoholism. Contains a cameo by Lisa Simpson in a scene where Barney mistakes a girl scout meeting for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. (A Star is Burns)
According to Marge, one memory of Homer involved him showing up with a tree branch in his mouth, and back in real life having him with another branch in his mouth. It was cut because, according to David, the branch joke made little sense. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
After Homer was kicked out of Moe's Tavern, it was originally planned for a cat to come to Homer, and then have it enter the bar. The result is the barflies loving the cat with Moe even loving it when the cat spills sugar all over, and depressing Homer even more. According to David Silverman, the fact that it looked depressing was the reason why it was deleted, and replaced with a more humorous approach with him chasing a poodle. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
Homer made fun of Marge's phobia on the plane. The reason it was cut, according to Silverman, was that it looked like it would make Marge more annoyed than panicky. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
One of the things Marge had done while channeling her fear into bizarre actions was vacuuming in the middle of the night, but with the vacuum cleaner unplugged. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
The explanation why there was a spare pilot uniform was that the pilot who had it was on the roof, in his underwear, drunk beyond reasonability, and attempts to fly. The obvious reaction was that he fell off the roof to the ground. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
When Homer tries to make a call on the videophone, it's busy, and he says "Maggie! won't that girl EVER shut up?!" (Lisa's Wedding)
While both "Lisa's Wedding" and "Future-Drama" were nominated for an Emmy, Entertainment Weekly named "Bart to the Future" the worst episode ever. (Lisa's Wedding)
A sign on the side of the rocket sent to blow up the comet reads, "Caution! Aim Away from Face". (Bart's Comet)
About 50 seconds of the episode feature an excessive amount of laughing: when Marge joins the force, when she quits the force, and when Homer pranks Flanders. (The Springfield Connection)
According to the Stonecutters the proper phone number for emergency services is 9-1-2, not 9-1-1. 9-1-2 was also used in the season three episode, "Dog of Death" where Wiggum watches the lottery and hangs up on someone calling 911 by saying that the number they called was 9-1-2. (Homer the Great)
Although Allison is seen very often after this episode, she never has a distinct speaking role again. She does, however, have a minute role in "Lard of the Dance". (Lisa's Rival)
Although Marge tells Lisa that in England a mile is called a kilometer, the vast majority of the English population still use the word mile. Almost all road signs and car speedometers in England use miles as their measurement. (Lisa's Wedding)
Although all the other "Superfriends" are seen in later episodes, Database becomes more prominent. (Bart's Comet)
At one point while looking through his telescope Bart sees Jimmy Stewart, who also has his leg broken and watching people from his window, while wearing the same pyjamas he wore through almost the entirety of Rear Window. He even calls out to "Grace", an obvious reference to Stewart's leading lady Grace Kelly. (Bart of Darkness)
At the end of the credits, on the Gracie Films logo, you can hear Carl saying “shhh… shut up!” instead of the usual “shhh!” (Homer the Great)
Because of Moe's ridicule of Homer for using the word "garage", fans jokingly refer to a garage, or garage-like structure as a "car hole", as Moe does.[citation needed] (The Springfield Connection)
Despite the fact that Homer says that striking is not the answer to the teacher's problems he, and the rest of the Power Plant, went on strike in the previous episode "Last Exit to Springfield". (The PTA Disbands!)
Despite the title of the episode, at no point does the PTA actually disband. The title was suggested by David Mirkin and was intended to poke fun at the episode writer, Jennifer Crittenden, who thought the most exciting part of the teachers going on strike would be that the PTA might disband[3]. In addition to this, Mirkin added a character to the episode who, on thinking the PTA has disbanded, jumps panicking out of a window. He returns the same way he went out when Ned tells him the PTA has not disbanded. (The PTA Disbands!)
During Bart's penalty shot, the clock counts down which is not supposed to happen (the clock should remain stopped). (Lisa on Ice)
During the part where Captain MacCallister (the Sea Captain) watches a boat crash, his lawyer says that he should have the lighthouse pointed out to sea instead of where the church is. The lights in lighthouses actually rotate; they don't point one way or the other. (Bart's Girlfriend)
During the scene in the bomb shelter, Waldo from Where's Waldo? initially appears near the top-left of frame during a group shot, imitating the style of the Where's Waldo? books. After a cut to a close-up, subsequent group shots in the shelter show that Waldo is gone. (Bart's Comet)
Homer states that "what's left of the comet will be no bigger than a chihuahua's head". When the remnants of the comet bounces towards Bart and he picks it up, he is standing next to a chihuahua. This chihuahua was later seen in "22 Short Films About Springfield" as Bumblebee Man's pet. (Bart's Comet)
Homer's Quote to the co-pilot; "As a change of pace, I'm... going to let you do most of the work here." is funnier to actual pilots because, in general, the First Officer would already do most of the work, while it would be generally accepted that the Captain (Homer) does less work. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
Homer’s license plate reads R8DAT, and a car close to it reads ANIM8R. (Homer the Great)
In "The Way We Weren't", Homer recounts various stupid things he has done in previous episodes, including "ruining Lisa's wedding in the future". (Lisa's Wedding)
In the Stonecutters’ meeting place, there are Masonic symbols visible, such as the “rulers and G.” (Homer the Great)
It is actually possible to tell Homer and Krusty apart when Homer is in costume. Krusty has a third tuft of hair on his head, while Homer has his normal two strands of hair. Krusty also has an actual clown nose, while Homer's nose is just painted red. They are also different shapes, with Krusty's nose being more of an oval shape and Homer's nose being long and protruding, like a breadstick. Also, of course their voices sound different & Homer's skin is yellow whilst Krusty's skin is white. (Homie the Clown)
It is also revealed that Fat Tony apparently works for "Don Vittorio DiMaggio", who admits to being an Italian stereotype. Don Vittorio appears in non-speaking roles in later episodes. (Homie the Clown)
It is important to note that all the future depictions' canon relevancy should be treated lightly, as they are events that have yet to happen. "Future-Drama" depicts Bart and Lisa in their final year of high school, but this supposedly takes place three years after 2010. By this, one may speculate that Future-Drama takes place before this episode. Milhouse's job at the nuclear plant otherwise wouldn't make sense. (Lisa's Wedding)
It is rather ironic that Mr. Burns belongs to a Masonic association such as the Stonecutters, since Mr. Burns has previously shown his disgust for the Freemasons in “$pringfield,” when the “germs” on Smithers’s face said “Freemasons run the country!” (Homer the Great)
It is revealed that the Simpson house is right next to the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant’s parking lot. Likely to be a one-off gag, as all later episodes do not show it. (Homer the Great)
Lenny says that the Stonecutters don’t call each other by name, yet in the episode, Lenny calls Homer by name, and Number One calls Moe by name as well. (Homer the Great)
Lisa's notice that she is failing gym contains the word "WARNING:" followed by strings of letters which do not form valid words in the English Language such as "Tsnhoji", "Namreb", "Toi", "Easlnpxit", "Alne", "Saeonarf" and "Trauts". "Parents [sic] Signature" on the form should contain an apostrophe. (Lisa on Ice)
Many members of the staff have said that this episode only has 1/3 of new animation. (Another Simpsons Clip Show)
Matt Groening is on top of the news' list of people who are gay. According to the audio commentary on the DVD, the people, primarily consisting of writers or production crew members, whose names were listed had to sign waivers agreeing not to sue for libel. The commentators mentioned that they appear on Internet lists of gay people occasionally. (Bart's Comet)
Milhouse is able to bounce his jack ball on grass (in the beginning scene where the kids play Cowboys and Indians before getting chased down by their parents). (Bart's Girlfriend)
Nelson's comment about epidermis is close to the fact, but not correct; epidermis is actually the skin, not hair. (Bart of Darkness)
Officially, this episode is titled "Homie the Clown", but it is still known as "Homer the Clown" in some places, including The Simpsons Archive. (Homie the Clown)
Reference is made to this episode to in Arab Strap's song 'The First Big Weekend', described as "a really good episode about love always ending in tragedy, except of course for Marge and Homer". (Another Simpsons Clip Show)
Sideshow Bob wins the election by ballot stuffing using the names of the deceased, a common type of electoral fraud that is perhaps best known for having occurred in Chicago in the mid-1900's, where the dead who voted were dubbed "ghost voters."[1] (Sideshow Bob Roberts)
Technically, Homer's request to God that he "freeze everything exactly as it is" comes true as the basic structure of Homer's life following the conception of Maggie remains mostly unchanged (as a result of the lack of change in The Simpsons universe over countless seasons). (And Maggie Makes Three)
The blackboard and couch gags are from another episode, and there is a lot of recycled animation instead of new animation throughout the episode, all taking the idea of being a clip show to the extreme. (Another Simpsons Clip Show)
The character Birchibald T. "Birch" Barlow is a take-off on American talk show host and political commentator Rush Limbaugh. He was voiced by Harry Shearer, who is a strong critic of Mr. Limbaugh and his political views. The name "Birch" is likely a reference to the John Birch Society. (Sideshow Bob Roberts)
The content of Bart's play further reinstates his bizarre obsession with the Cockney accent and Victorian England (he previously expressed a desire to live as a bootblack and frequently slips into Nadsat. (Bart of Darkness)
The ending is a twist-As Krusty had to pay a measly $48 dollars to complete the deal, and if he had given in at the start, the entire "Clown College" plot wouldn't have began. (Homie the Clown)
The ending with Homer being hit with paddles by the other members in the Simpson house was almost cut because it looked too cruel and mean for Homer after all he had been through in the episode, but David Silverman kept it in because he thought it is just a joke and the other family members were just joking themselves. (Homer the Great)
The episode was generally forced to be produced by 20th Century Fox who wanted another episode; the credited writer Penny Wise (who was actually Jon Vitti) pokes fun at this (from the phrase "Penny wise, pound foolish"). "Mrs. Wise" would be credited as writing a future clip show, "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular", would credit the director as "Pound Foolish", implying a poke at FOX. (Another Simpsons Clip Show)
The first person listed in the Springfield telephone book, "A. Aaronson", was previously mentioned in "Sideshow Bob Roberts", where he is the first listed person in the list of Springfield registered voters and voted for Sideshow Bob. (And Maggie Makes Three)
The language spoken at Republican Party headquarters is inspired by Enochian, a language associated with occult and Satanic ceremonies.[4] (Sideshow Bob Roberts)
The mob deciding to burn down the observatory at the end of the episode to prevent future disasters is similar to what the Star-mad mob did in Isaac Asimov's Nightfall. (Bart's Comet)
The music during the scene where Homer is at the lesbian bar is the same music from the scene in "Marge on the Lam" where Ruth and Marge go to an underground dance club called "The Hate Box". (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
The plot of Bart and Lisa investigating Bob's election fraud, the pull-out of Lisa looking over the voting records, and the clandestine meeting with Smithers are references to the movie (and book) All the President's Men, which chronicled Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's investigation of Watergate (Lisa even mentions that they are like Woodward and Bernstein, and the library scene mimics the overhead shot of the library in the film). (Sideshow Bob Roberts)
The puppies are named Rover, Fido, Rex, Spot, Rover II, Fido II, Rex II, Cleo, Dave, Jay, Paul, Branford, Dave II, Jay II, Paul II, Branford II, Sleepy, Dopey, Grumpy, Donner, Blitzen, Grumpy II, King, Queenie, Prince and The Puppy Formerly Known As Prince. (Note that this adds up to 26 puppies, rather than 25.) (Two Dozen and One Greyhounds)
The scene where Santa's Little Helper is having sex with She's The Fastest was originally supposed to be shown in full, but the networks complained. On all Fox network broadcasts , the sex scene was replaced with a frozen shot of the Simpson family in the stands reacting to it. All other broadcasts in North America (including syndication and the DVD version), however, reframe the original scene to only have Santa's Little Helper shown from the shoulders up as he's mounting She's The Fastest for a few seconds, in such a way that someone could barely tell he'd caught her. Apparently, some TV broadcasts in New Zealand have shown the full sex scene (which was originally an animatic that was never put to animation until after the episode aired, according to the DVD commentary). (Two Dozen and One Greyhounds)
The shelter being destroyed after everyone leaves is similar to what happened in an episode of Gilligan's Island. (Bart's Comet)
The show often implies that Wiggum, Lou, and Eddie are the only cops in Springfield, which is specifically stated in the Season 14 episode 'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky. However, in many other episodes (Marge on the Lam, for example), a much larger police force is seen such as in this episode. The nature of this conflicting canon is most likely attributed to the series' very loose continuity. (The Springfield Connection)
This episode also features cameo appearances by several Archie Comics characters, including Archie Andrews, Reggie Mantle, Moose Mason and Jughead Jones; they're shown pulling up to the Simpsons' house, tossing Homer out of Archie's jalopy, and warning him to "stay out of Riverdale!" Later, Homer reads an Archie comic and calls them all "stuck-up Riverdale punks." (Sideshow Bob Roberts)
Two slingshots are thrown at Skinner's car in attempts to get the weather balloon down. (Bart's Comet)
Upon Marge's first day on the job, she passes the "Junkytown Legal Clinic". This could mean that Junkyville and Bumtown, the two areas of town Marge is policing, are adjacent, and that the legal clinic services both areas. (The Springfield Connection)
When Bart is marking the days he wants to stay away from Jessica on his calendar, it is noticed that he circles Monday but then he is called for church. Church services are generally held on Sunday in most Christian denominations. (Bart's Girlfriend)
When Chief Wiggum is talking to Snake in the prison, Snake's shirt has the number 7F20 on it. This is the production code for "The War of the Simpsons", the first episode in which Snake makes an appearance. (Lisa on Ice)
When Lisa throws a snowball at Bart in the beginning of the episode, she is able to hit him fairly well, yet when she crumples up her academic alert and tries to throw it, it travels a very short distance. (Lisa on Ice)
When Moe takes down Homer's picture on his Mount Lushmore wall, the names of the other common bar drunks, Sam (the drunk with the glasses and the cap) and Larry the Lush (the one with the orange coat), are visible. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
When this episode originally aired, it used a short (clouds-driveway-couch-credits) opening recycled from Season 5's Boy-Scoutz N the Hood. On the April 23, 1995 airing, an even shorter (clouds-credits) opening was used. This opening is featured on the Season 6 DVD boxset. In syndication, the opening sequence from Season 5's Rosebud is used. (Sideshow Bob Roberts)
While Bart and Lisa are in Otto's pool, if you look closely you will see a young Marge lookalike (possibly from Bart the Genius) in the pool as well. (Bart of Darkness)
While Homer is being carried into the mob's lair, he lies his name is Benedict Arnold, and one of the mob replies, "The same Benedict Arnold who surrendered the Western Point to the hated British?". The world "hated" is cut in UK airings as it is obviously very offensive to UK viewers, but this is still available on Uk copies of the Complte Sixth Season DVD Boxset. (Homie the Clown)
Syndication cuts the scene where Bart is selling "maps to movie stars' homes" to Japanese tourists, who find Moe's house and mistake him for Drew Barrymore because of how unkempt and hungover he is. (A Star is Burns)
Üter's abandonment and apparent death is referenced in "Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner?" when his parents show up questioning their son's disappearance. (Nevertheless, he manages to make several appearances between these two episodes.) (The PTA Disbands!)
Syndication cuts the scene where Bart is selling "maps to movie stars' homes" to Japanese tourists, who find Moe's house and mistake him for Drew Barrymore because of how unkempt and hungover he is.
Moe Better Booze (Directed by Moe Szyslak): Moe does a musical number, dancing on top of his bar.
Man Getting Hit by Football (Directed by Hans Moleman): As the title suggests, the film simply focuses on a football hitting Hans in the groin. A remake starring George C. Scott (the film appears in his filmography) later wins the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Pukahontas (Directed by Barney Gumble): A dramatic black and white film about Barney and his alcoholism. Contains a cameo by Lisa Simpson in a scene where Barney mistakes a girl scout meeting for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
Four Funerals and a Wedding (An Itchy and Scratchy short): Itchy replaces Scratchy's bride with a dummy bride made of bombs. Scratchy manages to have bomb-children and live to old age before the dummy explodes.
The music during the 'where do the bowling pins go' scene is Raymond Scott's Powerhouse. This particular song turns up in many similar scenes and is a favorite of Matt Groening.
Technically, Homer's request to God that he "freeze everything exactly as it is" comes true as the basic structure of Homer's life following the conception of Maggie remains mostly unchanged (as a result of the lack of change in The Simpsons universe over countless seasons).
The first person listed in the Springfield telephone book, "A. Aaronson", was previously mentioned in "Sideshow Bob Roberts", where he is the first listed person in the list of Springfield registered voters and voted for Sideshow Bob.
This is only the second episode to date with "Maggie" in the title.
When Homer discovers where the bowling pins go, the man throwing the bowling ball is Jacques from the episode "Life on the Fast Lane".
The episode was generally forced to be produced by 20th Century Fox who wanted another episode; the credited writer Penny Wise (who was actually Jon Vitti) pokes fun at this (from the phrase "Penny wise, pound foolish"). "Mrs. Wise" would be credited as writing a future clip show, "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular", would credit the director as "Pound Foolish", implying a poke at FOX.
This is the second clip show.
Many members of the staff have said that this episode only has 1/3 of new animation.
The blackboard and couch gags are from another episode, and there is a lot of recycled animation instead of new animation throughout the episode, all taking the idea of being a clip show to the extreme.
The magazine that Lisa holds up at the end of the episode is called Non-Threatening Boys (from "Radio Bart").
Reference is made to this episode to in Arab Strap's song 'The First Big Weekend', described as "a really good episode about love always ending in tragedy, except of course for Marge and Homer".
This is the first episode of The Simpsons to air on Sunday nights at 8:00/7c, a timeslot it retains to this day.
While in his room, Bart plays Stratego by himself.
At one point while looking through his telescope Bart sees Jimmy Stewart, who also has his leg broken and watching people from his window, while wearing the same pyjamas he wore through almost the entirety of Rear Window. He even calls out to "Grace", an obvious reference to Stewart's leading lady Grace Kelly.
This episode, along with many in Season 6, was produced during the Northridge earthquake of 1994.
Nelson's comment about epidermis is close to the fact, but not correct; epidermis is actually the skin, not hair.
The content of Bart's play further reinstates his bizarre obsession with the Cockney accent and Victorian England (he previously expressed a desire to live as a bootblack and frequently slips into Nadsat.
While Bart and Lisa are in Otto's pool, if you look closely you will see a young Marge lookalike (possibly from Bart the Genius) in the pool as well.
Although all the other "Superfriends" are seen in later episodes, Database becomes more prominent.
Matt Groening has often said that he absolutely cannot stand Database’s voice.
Springfield Shopper headlines during this episode: "Boy Discovers Comet", "Rocket to Kick Comet's Tail" and "Mayor visits city".
A sign on the side of the rocket sent to blow up the comet reads, "Caution! Aim Away from Face".
Two slingshots are thrown at Skinner's car in attempts to get the weather balloon down.
Matt Groening is on top of the news' list of people who are gay. According to the audio commentary on the DVD, the people, primarily consisting of writers or production crew members, whose names were listed had to sign waivers agreeing not to sue for libel. The commentators mentioned that they appear on Internet lists of gay people occasionally.
Homer states that "what's left of the comet will be no bigger than a chihuahua's head". When the remnants of the comet bounces towards Bart and he picks it up, he is standing next to a chihuahua. This chihuahua was later seen in "22 Short Films About Springfield" as Bumblebee Man's pet.
According to Kent Brockman, the following people are gay:
During the scene in the bomb shelter, Waldo from Where's Waldo? initially appears near the top-left of frame during a group shot, imitating the style of the Where's Waldo? books. After a cut to a close-up, subsequent group shots in the shelter show that Waldo is gone.
The shelter being destroyed after everyone leaves is similar to what happened in an episode of Gilligan's Island.
The mob deciding to burn down the observatory at the end of the episode to prevent future disasters is similar to what the Star-mad mob did in Isaac Asimov's Nightfall.
When Bart is marking the days he wants to stay away from Jessica on his calendar, it is noticed that he circles Monday but then he is called for church. Church services are generally held on Sunday in most Christian denominations.
Milhouse is able to bounce his jack ball on grass (in the beginning scene where the kids play Cowboys and Indians before getting chased down by their parents).
During the part where Captain MacCallister (the Sea Captain) watches a boat crash, his lawyer says that he should have the lighthouse pointed out to sea instead of where the church is. The lights in lighthouses actually rotate; they don't point one way or the other.
This is one of the few episodes in which Marge's father is shown. It wasn't until "Jazzy and the Pussycats" that it was explained he had died.
According to the DVD commentary, there are five deleted scenes (or parts of scenes) from the episode:
After Homer was kicked out of Moe's Tavern, it was originally planned for a cat to come to Homer, and then have it enter the bar. The result is the barflies loving the cat with Moe even loving it when the cat spills sugar all over, and depressing Homer even more. According to David Silverman, the fact that it looked depressing was the reason why it was deleted, and replaced with a more humorous approach with him chasing a poodle.
The explanation why there was a spare pilot uniform was that the pilot who had it was on the roof, in his underwear, drunk beyond reasonability, and attempts to fly. The obvious reaction was that he fell off the roof to the ground.
Homer made fun of Marge's phobia on the plane. The reason it was cut, according to Silverman, was that it looked like it would make Marge more annoyed than panicky.
One of the things Marge had done while channeling her fear into bizarre actions was vacuuming in the middle of the night, but with the vacuum cleaner unplugged.
According to Marge, one memory of Homer involved him showing up with a tree branch in his mouth, and back in real life having him with another branch in his mouth. It was cut because, according to David, the branch joke made little sense.
At the very end, David Silverman also jokingly suggested that everybody on the plane (except Marge and Homer) died, but was cut out because "it was a bit of a downer".
When Moe takes down Homer's picture on his Mount Lushmore wall, the names of the other common bar drunks, Sam (the drunk with the glasses and the cap) and Larry the Lush (the one with the orange coat), are visible.
The music during the scene where Homer is at the lesbian bar is the same music from the scene in "Marge on the Lam" where Ruth and Marge go to an underground dance club called "The Hate Box".
Homer's Quote to the co-pilot; "As a change of pace, I'm... going to let you do most of the work here." is funnier to actual pilots because, in general, the First Officer would already do most of the work, while it would be generally accepted that the Captain (Homer) does less work.
At the end of the DVD version of this episode there is a short audio dedication to Anne Bancroft who passed away shortly after the commentaries for this season's DVDs were recorded. The dedication is read by David Mirkin who cites Anne Bancroft as a particular comedic inspiration to him and states that the film 'The Graduate' (which Bancroft starred in) as the reason he got into comedy.
At the end of the credits, on the Gracie Films logo, you can hear Carl saying “shhh… shut up!” instead of the usual “shhh!”
Lenny says that the Stonecutters don’t call each other by name, yet in the episode, Lenny calls Homer by name, and Number One calls Moe by name as well.
The ending with Homer being hit with paddles by the other members in the Simpson house was almost cut because it looked too cruel and mean for Homer after all he had been through in the episode, but David Silverman kept it in because he thought it is just a joke and the other family members were just joking themselves.
Homer’s license plate reads R8DAT, and a car close to it reads ANIM8R.
It is revealed that the Simpson house is right next to the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant’s parking lot. Likely to be a one-off gag, as all later episodes do not show it.
In the Stonecutters’ meeting place, there are Masonic symbols visible, such as the “rulers and G.”
According to the Stonecutters the proper phone number for emergency services is 9-1-2, not 9-1-1. 9-1-2 was also used in the season three episode, "Dog of Death" where Wiggum watches the lottery and hangs up on someone calling 911 by saying that the number they called was 9-1-2.
It is rather ironic that Mr. Burns belongs to a Masonic association such as the Stonecutters, since Mr. Burns has previously shown his disgust for the Freemasons in “$pringfield,” when the “germs” on Smithers’s face said “Freemasons run the country!”
It is also revealed that Fat Tony apparently works for "Don Vittorio DiMaggio", who admits to being an Italian stereotype. Don Vittorio appears in non-speaking roles in later episodes.
It is actually possible to tell Homer and Krusty apart when Homer is in costume. Krusty has a third tuft of hair on his head, while Homer has his normal two strands of hair. Krusty also has an actual clown nose, while Homer's nose is just painted red. They are also different shapes, with Krusty's nose being more of an oval shape and Homer's nose being long and protruding, like a breadstick. Also, of course their voices sound different & Homer's skin is yellow whilst Krusty's skin is white.
While Homer is being carried into the mob's lair, he lies his name is Benedict Arnold, and one of the mob replies, "The same Benedict Arnold who surrendered the Western Point to the hated British?". The world "hated" is cut in UK airings as it is obviously very offensive to UK viewers, but this is still available on Uk copies of the Complte Sixth Season DVD Boxset.
The ending is a twist-As Krusty had to pay a measly $48 dollars to complete the deal, and if he had given in at the start, the entire "Clown College" plot wouldn't have began.
When Chief Wiggum is talking to Snake in the prison, Snake's shirt has the number 7F20 on it. This is the production code for "The War of the Simpsons", the first episode in which Snake makes an appearance.
When Lisa throws a snowball at Bart in the beginning of the episode, she is able to hit him fairly well, yet when she crumples up her academic alert and tries to throw it, it travels a very short distance.
Lou and Eddie sit behind Marge and Homer in the "Lisa vs. Bart" game, although, Eddie has a different hair styling than usual.
During Bart's penalty shot, the clock counts down which is not supposed to happen (the clock should remain stopped).
Lisa's notice that she is failing gym contains the word "WARNING:" followed by strings of letters which do not form valid words in the English Language such as "Tsnhoji", "Namreb", "Toi", "Easlnpxit", "Alne", "Saeonarf" and "Trauts". "Parents [sic] Signature" on the form should contain an apostrophe.
Although Allison is seen very often after this episode, she never has a distinct speaking role again. She does, however, have a minute role in "Lard of the Dance".
In "The Way We Weren't", Homer recounts various stupid things he has done in previous episodes, including "ruining Lisa's wedding in the future".
It is important to note that all the future depictions' canon relevancy should be treated lightly, as they are events that have yet to happen. "Future-Drama" depicts Bart and Lisa in their final year of high school, but this supposedly takes place three years after 2010. By this, one may speculate that Future-Drama takes place before this episode. Milhouse's job at the nuclear plant otherwise wouldn't make sense.
Two events are established in the future, that are later shown in later, present time episodes. Lisa becomes a vegetarian ("Lisa The Vegetarian") and Milhouse's crush on Lisa ("Lisa's Date with Density").
There is a running gag throughout the episode that whenever Maggie is about to talk, someone (or something) interrupts her
When Homer tries to make a call on the videophone, it's busy, and he says "Maggie! won't that girl EVER shut up?!"
Although Marge tells Lisa that in England a mile is called a kilometer, the vast majority of the English population still use the word mile. Almost all road signs and car speedometers in England use miles as their measurement.
When this episode originally aired, it used a short (clouds-driveway-couch-credits) opening recycled from Season 5's Boy-Scoutz N the Hood. On the April 23, 1995 airing, an even shorter (clouds-credits) opening was used. This opening is featured on the Season 6 DVD boxset. In syndication, the opening sequence from Season 5's Rosebud is used.
The plot of Bart and Lisa investigating Bob's election fraud, the pull-out of Lisa looking over the voting records, and the clandestine meeting with Smithers are references to the movie (and book) All the President's Men, which chronicled Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's investigation of Watergate (Lisa even mentions that they are like Woodward and Bernstein, and the library scene mimics the overhead shot of the library in the film).
Bob says the famous line from A Few Good Men. His speech also parodies Jack Nicholson's speech following the line.
The character Birchibald T. "Birch" Barlow is a take-off on American talk show host and political commentator Rush Limbaugh. He was voiced by Harry Shearer, who is a strong critic of Mr. Limbaugh and his political views. The name "Birch" is likely a reference to the John Birch Society.
This episode also features cameo appearances by several Archie Comics characters, including Archie Andrews, Reggie Mantle, Moose Mason and Jughead Jones; they're shown pulling up to the Simpsons' house, tossing Homer out of Archie's jalopy, and warning him to "stay out of Riverdale!" Later, Homer reads an Archie comic and calls them all "stuck-up Riverdale punks."
Bob gives his acceptance speech underneath a giant poster with a picture of himself on it; this is a reference to the campaign speech scene in Citizen Kane, which was also referenced during Mr. Burns' run for governor in the episode "Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish.
Sideshow Bob wins the election by ballot stuffing using the names of the deceased, a common type of electoral fraud that is perhaps best known for having occurred in Chicago in the mid-1900's, where the dead who voted were dubbed "ghost voters."[2]
The language spoken at Republican Party headquarters is inspired by Enochian, a language associated with occult and Satanic ceremonies.[7]
While in Kindergarten, Bart plays with a Flintstones talking phone.
Despite the title of the episode, at no point does the PTA actually disband. The title was suggested by David Mirkin and was intended to poke fun at the episode writer, Jennifer Crittenden, who thought the most exciting part of the teachers going on strike would be that the PTA might disband[8]. In addition to this, Mirkin added a character to the episode who, on thinking the PTA has disbanded, jumps panicking out of a window. He returns the same way he went out when Ned tells him the PTA has not disbanded.
Despite the fact that Homer says that striking is not the answer to the teacher's problems he, and the rest of the Power Plant, went on strike in the previous episode "Last Exit to Springfield".
Üter's abandonment and apparent death is referenced in "Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner?" when his parents show up questioning their son's disappearance. (Nevertheless, he manages to make several appearances between these two episodes.)
Some of the 'extreme' magazines Marge browse over include mosh pitting, bear baiting, even glassing eating.
Because of Moe's ridicule of Homer for using the word "garage", fans jokingly refer to a garage, or garage-like structure as a "car hole", as Moe does.[citation needed]
About 50 seconds of the episode feature an excessive amount of laughing: when Marge joins the force, when she quits the force, and when Homer pranks Flanders.
The show often implies that Wiggum, Lou, and Eddie are the only cops in Springfield, which is specifically stated in the Season 14 episode 'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky. However, in many other episodes (Marge on the Lam, for example), a much larger police force is seen such as in this episode. The nature of this conflicting canon is most likely attributed to the series' very loose continuity.
Upon Marge's first day on the job, she passes the "Junkytown Legal Clinic". This could mean that Junkyville and Bumtown, the two areas of town Marge is policing, are adjacent, and that the legal clinic services both areas.
The puppies are named Rover, Fido, Rex, Spot, Rover II, Fido II, Rex II, Cleo, Dave, Jay, Paul, Branford, Dave II, Jay II, Paul II, Branford II, Sleepy, Dopey, Grumpy, Donner, Blitzen, Grumpy II, King, Queenie, Prince and The Puppy Formerly Known As Prince. (Note that this adds up to 26 puppies, rather than 25.)
The scene where Santa's Little Helper is having sex with She's The Fastest was originally supposed to be shown in full, but the networks complained. On all Fox network broadcasts , the sex scene was replaced with a frozen shot of the Simpson family in the stands reacting to it. All other broadcasts in North America (including syndication and the DVD version), however, reframe the original scene to only have Santa's Little Helper shown from the shoulders up as he's mounting She's The Fastest for a few seconds, in such a way that someone could barely tell he'd caught her. Apparently, some TV broadcasts in New Zealand have shown the full sex scene (which was originally an animatic that was never put to animation until after the episode aired, according to the DVD commentary).
The Family Guy episode, "Screwed the Pooch" has a similar scene where a family dog (Brian/Santa's Little Helper) has sex with a racing dog (Seabreeze/She's the Fastest) during a race.
"American Top 40" — The "Sign of Evil" countdown – hosted by a Casey Kasem soundalike and heard on one of the radio stations Homer tunes in — is a spoof of the weekly radio program. (Itchy & Scratchy Land)
Jurassic Park — The helicopter ride to I&S Land and parts of the story (particularly, those set in the theme park) are just as in the 1993 film. (Itchy & Scratchy Land)
Westworld — The "theme park of the future" slogan for I&S Land is an allusion to the 1973 film, which featured a theme park where chaos soon ensued. (Itchy & Scratchy Land)
The part in the beginning where the hippie sings "Sunshine on My Shoulders" and gets punched by a passerby is similar to a scene in National Lampoon's Animal House during the toga party where a hippie singer performs "The Riddle Song" and gets his guitar wrecked by Bluto (played by John Belushi). (Bart of Darkness)
The plot of the episode, as well as several visual and musical cues (including the "human head" in the freezer), parody the Alfred Hitchcock film, Rear Window. (Bart of Darkness)
The scene in which an ice cream truck driver passes Bart and Lisa claiming to be out of ice cream and adding "it's true, you know", references the claim often made to children by parents: "if the ice cream man is playing music, it means he's run out". (Bart of Darkness)
AM radio — Homer's inability to find popular music programming on several AM stations he tunes in reflects the programming changes many AM stations underwent since the late 1980s, wherein their music formats were replaced with talk, news, sports and religion. The music formats, for the most part, would be switched to FM frequencies. (Itchy & Scratchy Land)
John Travolta — Implication that bartender is really Travolta is a nod to Travolta's troubled film career; his only hit movie between 1980's Urban Cowboy and the airing of this episode was 1989's Look Who's Talking. This would change only days after the airing of the episode with the release of Pulp Fiction. (Itchy & Scratchy Land)
Addition of superfluous characters to TV series — In a gift store, Bart and Lisa find stuffed toys and other merchandise of forgettable characters from "The Itchy & Scratchy and Friends Hour." This is a reference to various theatrical cartoon characters who had shows produced for Saturday morning television during the 1970s and 1980s. Often, the shows were built around new shorts featuring one or two main characters (such as Tom and Jerry), along with shorts featuring new characters produced to fill out the program. Often, the characters failed to catch on with viewers and were quickly forgotten. (Itchy & Scratchy Land)
Jaws — Homer and Bart cause mayhem at the beach while wearing fake shark fins, much like in the 1975 film where two boys do the same on the 4th of July. (Itchy & Scratchy Land)
A deleted scene features Lisa and Maggie winning the award for Best Swedish Film Made By an Eight-Year-Old (Lisa utters "Homer aten my Häagen-Dazs"). When it's announced that Lisa and Maggie won, Maggie is dressed as Death from The Seventh Seal. (A Star is Burns)
Bart causing a commotion at the bank may be a reference to Satyajit Ray's film Mahanagar, where a similar situation causes a huge ruckus in a strikingly similar visual style. Matt Groening is known for being a fan of Ray's movies. (The PTA Disbands!)
Bart gets kicked out of the Lovejoys' house for retelling them a scene he had seen from the FOX sitcom, Martin. (Bart's Girlfriend)
Bart is in full body restraint a la Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs the next time he is in church after he is believed to have taken the money from the collection plate. (Bart's Girlfriend)
Homer's line of "I'm going to need a bigger drill" after smashing Marge's camera is a reference to the film Jaws where Roy Scheider's character Chief Brody says "We're going to need a bigger boat" after getting his first glance at the size of the titular shark. (Lisa's Rival)
In Burns' film, he says to a young boy, "Remember Elliot, I'll be here [his heart]" before boarding a spaceship. This is a spoof of Steven Spielberg's film E.T. The Extraterrestrial. Later in his film, Burns is seen giving Judah Ben-Hur a big bottle of water. (In the film Ben-Hur, it is Jesus who gives Ben-Hur water.) The title of Burns' film, A Burns for All Seasons, is an obvious parody of the play and film A Man For All Seasons. (A Star is Burns)
Krusty lights a cigarette with the first issue of Action Comics, the first full appearance of Superman, a gem piece for any comic collector. (Homie the Clown)
Less prominent references to Disney animated films are made throughout the episode. The most notable is a parody of the classic Disney production number. Montgomery Burns sings See My Vest, a parody of "Be Our Guest" from the film Beauty and the Beast. The song is sung entirely by Burns except for one line ("Kill two for matching clogs") which is sung by a female maid (in the only shot in which she appears in the episode). She has often been mistaken for a human representation of Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast; however, she is actually a parody of Nanny from 101 Dalmatians. (Two Dozen and One Greyhounds)
On The Critic, Jay Sherman has five fingers and Caucasian coloured flesh, however, in this episode, he has only four fingers and the standard yellow Simpsons complexion. (A Star is Burns)
Stated in The Simpsons Season 6 DVD Box set, Show-Runner and Executive Producer David Mirkin says the couch gag for this episode is not a James bond parody. (The Springfield Connection)
The Cheers bar is a parody of Cheers. All the characters are voiced by the actor that originally played them, curiously except for Frasier, originally played by Kelsey Grammer, who stays silent. Kelsey Grammer portrays the somewhat regular character of Sideshow Bob, on the Simpsons. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
The episode also references the backup artists of popular music groups. Known as "The Second Best Band" the band includes Art Garfunkel, Jim Messina, John Oates, and Lisa Simpson. The song they play is called "Born to Runner-up," a reference to the popular song, "Born to Run". (Lisa's Rival)
The episode references the movie The Fugitive in the scene where Milhouse is thought to be a criminal on America's Most Wanted. Later, Milhouse is at the end of a drainpipe on the top of a dam being gunned down by an FBI agent resembling Tommy Lee Jones. (Lisa's Rival)
The notes that play on the wine glasses during Homer and Krusty's bicycle trick are those of The Godfather theme. (Homie the Clown)
The overreaching plot of this episode, as well as its title, was inspired by the Disney animated film One Hundred and One Dalmatians which also deals with a large quantity of puppies which are kidnapped. On the DVD commentary, Matt Groening comments that the film helped inspire the show, especially the scene in which the puppies watch TV. This helped inspire the idea of cartoon characters watching TV, which in turn lead to Itchy and Scratchy, Krusty the Klown, and Kent Brockman. (Two Dozen and One Greyhounds)
The physical appearance and behavior of Hugh is reminiscent of Hugh Grant, as well as some of his character portrayals in various films. (Lisa's Wedding)
The scene in which Santa's Little Helper courts She's the Fastest parodies Lady and the Tramp; the two wander behind Luigi's restaurant and are presented with a plate of spaghetti. The dogs unknowingly slurp on the same noodle - unlike Lady and the Tramp, they growl and fight over the noodle. (Two Dozen and One Greyhounds)
The scene in which the cannon is knocked over parodies the song of F Troop in which a cannon goes off and destroys the leg of a lookout tower after losing one of its wheels. (The PTA Disbands!)
The scene when Bart tries to escape pulling the screen's cord but he gets wrapped around the screen parodies Garfield. (A Star is Burns)
There are several possible nods to The A-Team, including Bart leading his men on a mission of mercy, Bart's disguise (similar to George Peppard's many disguises in that series), and his make-shift method of escape, another element often used in that show. (Lemon of Troy)
When Bart and Lisa are filming The Eternal Struggle, Bart is dressed in a suit when introducing the film. This is parody of the beginning of The Twilight Zone when the narrator introduces the story. (A Star is Burns)
When Milhouse bonds with the Milhouse from Shelbyville, he sobs, "This is what it feels like when doves cry", a slightly paraphrased line from Prince's 1984 hit song, "When Doves Cry", which was in his musical movie, "Purple Rain". (Lemon of Troy)
When the plane from New York lands it forces its way in front of another plane. The pilot of the New York plane yells out "Hey! I'm landing here!", which is a nod to the film Midnight Cowboy. (A Star is Burns)
Bart identifies the number seven in Roman numerals by referring to a nonexistent sequel of the Rocky series, Rocky VII: Adrian's Revenge. (Note that the series ended with the sixth installment, Rocky Balboa, in 2006.) (Lemon of Troy)
On The Critic, Jay Sherman has five fingers and Caucasian coloured flesh, however, in this episode, he has only four fingers and the standard yellow Simpsons complexion.
When the plane from New York lands it forces its way in front of another plane. The pilot of the New York plane yells out "Hey! I'm landing here!", which is a nod to the film Midnight Cowboy.
Señor Spielbergo is a Mexican parody of director Steven Spielberg. (He is Spielberg's Non-Union Mexican equivalent.)
In Burns' film, he says to a young boy, "Remember Elliot, I'll be here [his heart]" before boarding a spaceship. This is a spoof of Steven Spielberg's film E.T. The Extraterrestrial. Later in his film, Burns is seen giving Judah Ben-Hur a big bottle of water. (In the film Ben-Hur, it is Jesus who gives Ben-Hur water.) The title of Burns' film, A Burns for All Seasons, is an obvious parody of the play and film A Man For All Seasons.
This episode's title is a play on the film A Star Is Born.
Several parts of Barney's superior film are based on the 1945 classic film The Lost Weekend about an alcoholic writer.
A deleted scene features Lisa and Maggie winning the award for Best Swedish Film Made By an Eight-Year-Old (Lisa utters "Homer aten my Häagen-Dazs"). When it's announced that Lisa and Maggie won, Maggie is dressed as Death from The Seventh Seal.
Moe's film, Moe Better Booze, is a reference to Mo' Better Blues. In the movie, he dances on his bar similar to how Joel Grey did in Cabaret.
Todd Flanders yelling "Help mmmeeeee!" is similar to how David Hedison famously yelled it in The Fly.
Bart is seen watching The Flinstones Meet The Jetsons. He refers to it as "another cheap cartoon crossover." This is a reference to this Simpsons episode itself.
The scene when Bart tries to escape pulling the screen's cord but he gets wrapped around the screen parodies Garfield.
When Bart and Lisa are filming The Eternal Struggle, Bart is dressed in a suit when introducing the film. This is parody of the beginning of The Twilight Zone when the narrator introduces the story.
The plot of the episode, as well as several visual and musical cues (including the "human head" in the freezer), parody the Alfred Hitchcock film, Rear Window.
The part in the beginning where the hippie sings "Sunshine on My Shoulders" and gets punched by a passerby is similar to a scene in National Lampoon's Animal House during the toga party where a hippie singer performs "The Riddle Song" and gets his guitar wrecked by Bluto (played by John Belushi).
The scene in which an ice cream truck driver passes Bart and Lisa claiming to be out of ice cream and adding "it's true, you know", references the claim often made to children by parents: "if the ice cream man is playing music, it means he's run out".
When the children are being rounded up by the parents in the cornfield is an homage to Planet of the Apes.
Bart is in full body restraint a la Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs the next time he is in church after he is believed to have taken the money from the collection plate.
Bart gets kicked out of the Lovejoys' house for retelling them a scene he had seen from the FOX sitcom, Martin.
Jessica twirling a baton is a reference to Pretty Poison.
The Cheers bar is a parody of Cheers. All the characters are voiced by the actor that originally played them, curiously except for Frasier, originally played by Kelsey Grammer, who stays silent. Kelsey Grammer portrays the somewhat regular character of Sideshow Bob, on the Simpsons.
"It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls is revealed as Homer's favorite song in this episode (and Smithers's when he gets hit by the record and keeps it).
Homer's line on shaking off the dust of this one-horse town comes from It's a Wonderful Life.
"You Flyboys crack me up" is also thought to be a reference to the "Fly Club", an unrecognized Harvard University social club of all boys (attended by the creator of the show).
Forgetting a family member on the plane and Abe slapping his hands on his face and yelling is similar to the movie Home Alone.
The movies Homer rents are Hero, Fearless and Alive, all involving plane crashes.
Fat Tony tells Louie that they'll get more ammo at Big 5.
Krusty bets all of his money on the Washington Generals, a basketball team that loses to the Harlem Globetrotters in exhibition games, with his reasoning being that they're "due."
Addition of superfluous characters to TV series — In a gift store, Bart and Lisa find stuffed toys and other merchandise of forgettable characters from "The Itchy & Scratchy and Friends Hour." This is a reference to various theatrical cartoon characters who had shows produced for Saturday morning television during the 1970s and 1980s. Often, the shows were built around new shorts featuring one or two main characters (such as Tom and Jerry), along with shorts featuring new characters produced to fill out the program. Often, the characters failed to catch on with viewers and were quickly forgotten.
AM radio — Homer's inability to find popular music programming on several AM stations he tunes in reflects the programming changes many AM stations underwent since the late 1980s, wherein their music formats were replaced with talk, news, sports and religion. The music formats, for the most part, would be switched to FM frequencies.
"American Top 40" — The "Sign of Evil" countdown – hosted by a Casey Kasem soundalike and heard on one of the radio stations Homer tunes in — is a spoof of the weekly radio program.
The Birds — Hans Moleman being attacked by predatory birds while in the phone booth is a spoof of the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film.
John Travolta — Implication that bartender is really Travolta is a nod to Travolta's troubled film career; his only hit movie between 1980's Urban Cowboy and the airing of this episode was 1989's Look Who's Talking. This would change only days after the airing of the episode with the release of Pulp Fiction.
Jurassic Park — The helicopter ride to I&S Land and parts of the story (particularly, those set in the theme park) are just as in the 1993 film.
National Lampoon's Vacation — The Simpsons' various adventures while en route to I&S Land is a takeoff on the 1983 comedy film, with Homer filling the role of Clark Griswold.
Walt Disney's alleged antisemitism is spoofed in the character of Roger Meyers, Sr., as well of one of the toys in the gift shop being named Klu Klux Klam.
The "Scratchtasia" and "Pin-Itchy-O" segments spoof the films Fantasia and Pinocchio.
Westworld — The "theme park of the future" slogan for I&S Land is an allusion to the 1973 film, which featured a theme park where chaos soon ensued.
Jaws — Homer and Bart cause mayhem at the beach while wearing fake shark fins, much like in the 1975 film where two boys do the same on the 4th of July.
When Milhouse bonds with the Milhouse from Shelbyville, he sobs, "This is what it feels like when doves cry", a slightly paraphrased line from Prince's 1984 hit song, "When Doves Cry", which was in his musical movie, "Purple Rain".
Bart identifies the number seven in Roman numerals by referring to a nonexistent sequel of the Rocky series, Rocky VII: Adrian's Revenge. (Note that the series ended with the sixth installment, Rocky Balboa, in 2006.)
There are several possible nods to The A-Team, including Bart leading his men on a mission of mercy, Bart's disguise (similar to George Peppard's many disguises in that series), and his make-shift method of escape, another element often used in that show.
Marge reads Love in the Time of Scurvy, a reference to Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera.
Homer's line of "I'm going to need a bigger drill" after smashing Marge's camera is a reference to the film Jaws where Roy Scheider's character Chief Brody says "We're going to need a bigger boat" after getting his first glance at the size of the titular shark.
The episode references the movie The Fugitive in the scene where Milhouse is thought to be a criminal on America's Most Wanted. Later, Milhouse is at the end of a drainpipe on the top of a dam being gunned down by an FBI agent resembling Tommy Lee Jones.
The episode also references the backup artists of popular music groups. Known as "The Second Best Band" the band includes Art Garfunkel, Jim Messina, John Oates, and Lisa Simpson. The song they play is called "Born to Runner-up," a reference to the popular song, "Born to Run".
Homer's "In America" speech while guarding his sugar pile is a direct reference to Scarface.
Lisa has a scene similar to the main character of Edgar Allen Poe's story, The Tell-Tale Heart.
The scene in which the cannon is knocked over parodies the song of F Troop in which a cannon goes off and destroys the leg of a lookout tower after losing one of its wheels.
The character at the bank who tells the angry crowd that their money's in "Bill's house, and Fred's house" is based on the James Stewart character from It's a Wonderful Life.
The "that's a paddlin'.." line spoken by Jasper is a spoof of the "that's a night in the box" from Cool Hand Luke.
Bart causing a commotion at the bank may be a reference to Satyajit Ray's film Mahanagar, where a similar situation causes a huge ruckus in a strikingly similar visual style. Matt Groening is known for being a fan of Ray's movies.
The background music of the scenes of Marge walking her beat is an homage to the theme of the 1980's police drama Hill Street Blues.
Stated in The Simpsons Season 6 DVD Box set, Show-Runner and Executive Producer David Mirkin says the couch gag for this episode is not a James bond parody.
The overreaching plot of this episode, as well as its title, was inspired by the Disney animated film One Hundred and One Dalmatians which also deals with a large quantity of puppies which are kidnapped. On the DVD commentary, Matt Groening comments that the film helped inspire the show, especially the scene in which the puppies watch TV. This helped inspire the idea of cartoon characters watching TV, which in turn lead to Itchy and Scratchy, Krusty the Klown, and Kent Brockman.
Less prominent references to Disney animated films are made throughout the episode. The most notable is a parody of the classic Disney production number. Montgomery Burns sings See My Vest, a parody of "Be Our Guest" from the film Beauty and the Beast. The song is sung entirely by Burns except for one line ("Kill two for matching clogs") which is sung by a female maid (in the only shot in which she appears in the episode). She has often been mistaken for a human representation of Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast; however, she is actually a parody of Nanny from 101 Dalmatians.
The scene in which Santa's Little Helper courts She's the Fastest parodies Lady and the Tramp; the two wander behind Luigi's restaurant and are presented with a plate of spaghetti. The dogs unknowingly slurp on the same noodle - unlike Lady and the Tramp, they growl and fight over the noodle.
The greyhounds are watching the short-lived Fox television show "Models, Inc."
The wall of Dr. Hibbert's workout room (seen through Bart's telescope lens) features caucasian (yellow in the Simpson world) family portraits. (Bart of Darkness)
Even though this episode establishes Marge's fear of flying, she had no trouble traveling by plane on the episode "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington". Likewise, this episode mentions that Homer has a fear of sock puppets, yet he had no problem with them in "Homer Alone" (It is possible that his fear began with his hands being mauled by Santa's Little Helper though) and "Homer's Triple Bypass" (when he used puppets to explain his operation to Bart and Lisa). Though it should be noticed that in neither of these instances were the puppets SOCK puppets. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
Homer is told that he is banned from Moes for life. However, after this episode, he is seen drinking there happily again. Of course this is a cartoon universe where the people are yellow and some have bright blue hair, therefore the usual laws of reality and continuity do not necessarily apply here. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
Homer's calendar reminds him that Dick Clark will appear on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, however, Jay Leno did not become host of The Tonight Show until 1992, several years after Maggie was "technically" born (as she appeared in many episodes that aired prior to 1992, including several episodes where Johnny Carson is seen as the host of The Tonight Show). (And Maggie Makes Three)
Homer's job in this episode contradicts his position in the nuclear plant, as he did not get promoted to safety inspector until "Homer's Odyssey". (And Maggie Makes Three)
In the flashbacks of Marge telling Homer she's pregnant, when Homer runs up stairs on the wall going up the stair case there is a picture of Lisa although she wasn't even born yet. (And Maggie Makes Three)
In the promo for this episode, Marge is wearing a pink shirt with a rainbow, a unicorn, and stars on it when she comments that the police academy didn't have a shirt in her size. In the actual episode, the shirt is a white T-shirt with a Hard Rock Cafe logo on it. (The Springfield Connection)
Lisa's voice comes out of Bart's mouth when she stops him from saying "Can we have a pool dad?". (Bart of Darkness)
Snake is holding his knife in his left hand when he attacks Marge in the alley, yet Marge manages to hit Snake with a garbage can lid coming from Snake's left side without him blocking it. (The Springfield Connection)
The "Don't Forget. You're Here Forever"/"Do It For Her" plaque only appears for this episode. (And Maggie Makes Three)
The Simpsons weren't living at 742 Evergreen Terrace until well after Lisa was conceived, yet the two flashbacks show Homer running up the stairs in their current home. (And Maggie Makes Three)
The flashbacks of Homer ripping out his hair when Marge announced the births of Bart and Lisa contradicts how Homer reacted to the pregnancies in "I Married Marge" and "Lisa's First Word". In "I Married Marge", Homer and Marge were in Doctor Hibbert's office and Dr. Hibbert broke the news that Marge was pregnant (by implying that he knows why she's been throwing up in the morning), to which Homer shouts, "D'oh!", which echoes down the hall, causing some guy in a body cast to say, "Poor guy" (and in the same episode, Homer's hair fell out naturally, Marge was living with her mom and sisters, and Homer was living with Barney Gumble, so there was no way they could have lived in the house that they live in now because that house wasn't shown until Lisa's First Word). In "Lisa's First Word", Homer and Marge were living in a rundown apartment (and didn't live in the house that they live in now until Grampa sold his house and gave Homer a check to pay for the house), Marge told Homer that she was pregnant herself, and Homer was happy about it until baby Bart flushed his car keys down the toilet. (And Maggie Makes Three)
The supposed scientific knowledge that drains flow differently in the Southern Hemisphere because of the Coriolis effect is actually a myth - the Coriolis effect does influence the direction of the flow, but other factors (such as how the water is injected into the bowl) have a much greater impact, making the Coriolis effect negligible. In fact, because of the way it enters the bowl, water in Australian toilets does not normally swirl in either direction. Whereas toilets in America flush with the bowl being first emptied of its wastes and then refilled with fresh water, Australian toilets are flushed by having fresh water rush into the bowl from all around the inside rim, and displace the waste by washing it over the S-bend and down the drain. In other words, the toilet is emptied and refilled simultaneously, and the fresh water meets the waste water at the bottom in a tumultuous mass. (Bart vs. Australia)
When Homer and Marge are in the car, between scenes, the windscreen goes missing. It becomes noticeable when the mirror appears and disappears, and Abe's head manages to pop out when he and Homer argue over the getaway music. (Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy)
When Homer carries Marge up the stairs they go through a door that shows the other bedrooms but in every single episode before and after and in this episode it leads to the bathroom (shown when Marge beats Homer to the bathroom so she can throw up). (And Maggie Makes Three)
When Homer gets back to the Simpson home, after crawling back to Mr. Burns to get his job back, while he's talking to a pregnant Marge, a picture of Maggie in her "present day" state is on the wall. (And Maggie Makes Three)
When Homer leaves to 'do some serious thinking' he drives away from the house in the red station wagon (Marge's car), but arrives at the farmhouse in his purple sedan. (Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy)
When Marge is catching Snake, the pearls on her neck are white, instead of red. (The Springfield Connection)
When Marge is driving through the obstacle course, she wears a plain white shirt, but when she pulls up next to Chief Wiggum, she's in a blue police officer's jacket (despite that in the next scene, she says that there were none in her size, which is why she wore the Hard Rock Cafe shirt home). (The Springfield Connection)
When Marge mulls in her head about how everyone is breaking the law, she notices the dog without a leash, but not the man behind the dog jaywalking. (The Springfield Connection)
Homer's calendar reminds him that Dick Clark will appear on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, however, Jay Leno did not become host of The Tonight Show until 1992, several years after Maggie was "technically" born (as she appeared in many episodes that aired prior to 1992, including several episodes where Johnny Carson is seen as the host of The Tonight Show).
Homer's job in this episode contradicts his position in the nuclear plant, as he did not get promoted to safety inspector until "Homer's Odyssey".
When Homer gets back to the Simpson home, after crawling back to Mr. Burns to get his job back, while he's talking to a pregnant Marge, a picture of Maggie in her "present day" state is on the wall.
The Simpsons weren't living at 742 Evergreen Terrace until well after Lisa was conceived, yet the two flashbacks show Homer running up the stairs in their current home.
The "Don't Forget. You're Here Forever"/"Do It For Her" plaque only appears for this episode.
In the flashbacks of Marge telling Homer she's pregnant, when Homer runs up stairs on the wall going up the stair case there is a picture of Lisa although she wasn't even born yet.
The flashbacks of Homer ripping out his hair when Marge announced the births of Bart and Lisa contradicts how Homer reacted to the pregnancies in "I Married Marge" and "Lisa's First Word". In "I Married Marge", Homer and Marge were in Doctor Hibbert's office and Dr. Hibbert broke the news that Marge was pregnant (by implying that he knows why she's been throwing up in the morning), to which Homer shouts, "D'oh!", which echoes down the hall, causing some guy in a body cast to say, "Poor guy" (and in the same episode, Homer's hair fell out naturally, Marge was living with her mom and sisters, and Homer was living with Barney Gumble, so there was no way they could have lived in the house that they live in now because that house wasn't shown until Lisa's First Word). In "Lisa's First Word", Homer and Marge were living in a rundown apartment (and didn't live in the house that they live in now until Grampa sold his house and gave Homer a check to pay for the house), Marge told Homer that she was pregnant herself, and Homer was happy about it until baby Bart flushed his car keys down the toilet.
When Homer carries Marge up the stairs they go through a door that shows the other bedrooms but in every single episode before and after and in this episode it leads to the bathroom (shown when Marge beats Homer to the bathroom so she can throw up).
The supposed scientific knowledge that drains flow differently in the Southern Hemisphere because of the Coriolis effect is actually a myth - the Coriolis effect does influence the direction of the flow, but other factors (such as how the water is injected into the bowl) have a much greater impact, making the Coriolis effect negligible. In fact, because of the way it enters the bowl, water in Australian toilets does not normally swirl in either direction. Whereas toilets in America flush with the bowl being first emptied of its wastes and then refilled with fresh water, Australian toilets are flushed by having fresh water rush into the bowl from all around the inside rim, and displace the waste by washing it over the S-bend and down the drain. In other words, the toilet is emptied and refilled simultaneously, and the fresh water meets the waste water at the bottom in a tumultuous mass.
Even though this episode establishes Marge's fear of flying, she had no trouble traveling by plane on the episode "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington". Likewise, this episode mentions that Homer has a fear of sock puppets, yet he had no problem with them in "Homer Alone" (It is possible that his fear began with his hands being mauled by Santa's Little Helper though) and "Homer's Triple Bypass" (when he used puppets to explain his operation to Bart and Lisa). Though it should be noticed that in neither of these instances were the puppets SOCK puppets.
Homer is told that he is banned from Moes for life. However, after this episode, he is seen drinking there happily again. Of course this is a cartoon universe where the people are yellow and some have bright blue hair, therefore the usual laws of reality and continuity do not necessarily apply here.
When Homer leaves to 'do some serious thinking' he drives away from the house in the red station wagon (Marge's car), but arrives at the farmhouse in his purple sedan.
When Homer and Marge are in the car, between scenes, the windscreen goes missing. It becomes noticeable when the mirror appears and disappears, and Abe's head manages to pop out when he and Homer argue over the getaway music.
In the promo for this episode, Marge is wearing a pink shirt with a rainbow, a unicorn, and stars on it when she comments that the police academy didn't have a shirt in her size. In the actual episode, the shirt is a white T-shirt with a Hard Rock Cafe logo on it.
When Marge is driving through the obstacle course, she wears a plain white shirt, but when she pulls up next to Chief Wiggum, she's in a blue police officer's jacket (despite that in the next scene, she says that there were none in her size, which is why she wore the Hard Rock Cafe shirt home).
Snake is holding his knife in his left hand when he attacks Marge in the alley, yet Marge manages to hit Snake with a garbage can lid coming from Snake's left side without him blocking it.
When Marge is catching Snake, the pearls on her neck are white, instead of red.
When Marge mulls in her head about how everyone is breaking the law, she notices the dog without a leash, but not the man behind the dog jaywalking.
Chief Wiggum's blue hair turns black at night. This was also seen in Homie the Clown.
The doors of the Kwik-E-Mart are located at the front instead of the side.
Bart: Of course she did. Who else would have? (Lisa on Ice)
Chief Wiggum: Alright, alright, I'll sweeten the deal. You can see the game, you don't have to come back, but you have to promise not to commit any more crimes, okay? (Lisa on Ice)
Chief Wiggum: I'll take that as a yes. (opens jail cells, prisoners run out) (Lisa on Ice)
Homer: 'Ah ber ba', I don't want you to make fun of her, just because she's different ... Aha ha ha! Hey look! That kids got bosoms! Has anybody got a wet towel? (begins chasing Üter, whipping him with a towel) Come here you butterball! (Lisa on Ice)
Homer: (running in) Hey! Apu just called. This Friday, Lisa's team is playing Bart's team. You'll be in direct competition! And I don't want you to go easy on each other just because you're brother and sister. I want to see you both fighting for your parents' love! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! (Flicking light on and off). (Lisa on Ice)
Homer: Okay, now pie I'm just gonna be doing this... (chomps in air)...and if you get eaten it's your own fault! (chomps air, hits head on oven hood) OWWWWWWW!!!!!! AARRRGGGHHH!!!! OWWW!! OWW! Oh the hell with it (picks up pie and eats it) (Lisa on Ice)
Jimbo:(menacing) All right, Simpson, you win this round. (Lisa on Ice)
Lisa supporters: Kill Bart! Kill Bart! Kill Bart! (Lisa on Ice)
Lisa: Bart, that was your cherished childhood toy. (Lisa on Ice)
Lisa: Dad please, just go, I'll be fine. (Lisa on Ice)
Lisa: Fine, I'm gonna start kicking air like this (Starts kicking the air)... and if any part of you should fill that air, it's your own fault. (Lisa on Ice)
Chief Wiggum: (to prisoners) Alright, I'm gonna make a little deal with you mugs. I'll let you all out to see my team play the hockey game if you promise to return to your cells. (Lisa on Ice)
Dr. Zweig: Marge, there's nothing to be ashamed of here. Today, male flight attendants, or "stewards", are common. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
Homer: (Bart must take a penalty shot of Lisa) Oh my God, Marge, a penalty shot with four seconds left! The winner will be showered with praises, and the loser will be taunted and booed until my throat is sore! (Lisa on Ice)
Homer: Alright hotshots, now that my daughter is on the team I want to make a few things clear. (Lisa on Ice)
Homer: As a change of pace, I'm... going to let you do most of the work here. I think you're ready for it, Allen. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
Homer: Don't worry about a thing, honey. I'm going to help you through this. (he and Marge sit down) Those are all normal noises. Luggage compartment closing...cross checking...just sit back and relax. (shot from outside the plane) That's just the engine powering up... (engine stutters) that's just the engine struggling... (the plane drives off the runway into a swamp) That's just a carp swimming around your ankles... (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
Homer: Lisa, if the Bible has taught us nothing else - and it hasn't - it's that girls should stick to girls' sports, such as hot-oil wrestling, foxy boxing, and such-and-such. (Lisa on Ice)
Jimbo: Nice PJs, Simpson. Did your mommy buy 'em for ya? (Lisa on Ice)
Krusty: (singing United States National Anthem) Oh say can you see, lalaladada...light. What so proudly we yah...lalaya...[crowd boos] Ooh, I knew I shouldn't have turned down those cue cards. (Lisa on Ice)
Lisa: Wow, Bart, I'm so impressed you were able to give Milhouse a concussion. (Lisa on Ice)
Lisa: I have to join the team or I'll get an F that will haunt me for the rest of my life. (Lisa on Ice)
Lisa: Mom, romance is dead. It was acquired by Hallmark and Disney in a hostile takeover, homogenized, and sold off piece by piece. (Another Simpsons Clip Show)
Lisa: Not exactly. They pieced it together from old shows, but it seems new to the trusting eyes of impressionable youth. (Another Simpsons Clip Show)
Marge: But its a few seconds before twelve o'clock. (Real window cleaner comes from above and knocks Homer down. You can hear him screaming as he falls). (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
Marge: Thank you, doctor. Whenever the wind whistles through the leaves, I'll think "Lowenstein", "Lowenstein". (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
Norm Peterson: Just give me another beer, you brain dead hick! (breaks bottle) I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you! (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
Psychiatrist: Everything you say in this meeting will be private. (Homer appears on a makeshift platform cleaning the windows) Oh, that just the window cleaner. He comes every day at twelve o'clock. (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
Ralph: Me fail English? That's unpossible! (Lisa on Ice)
Skinner: (on PA) Attention students, please make your way for an assembly at the Butthead Memorial Auditorium. (Off PA) Dammit, I wish we hadn't let the students name that one. (Lisa on Ice)
Weather Presenter: (on TV) There's a 75% chance of hilarity! (Lisa on Ice)
At hockey game, score tied, final seconds. (Lisa on Ice)
Bart and Lisa are watching Itchy and Scratchy. Marge enters. (reused footage from earlier episode) (Another Simpsons Clip Show)
(The plane is sitting on the ground waiting to take off) Grampa: Wow! We must really be flying high! Those men look all tiny and blurry...just like the inside of a cataract! (Fear of Flying (The Simpsons episode))
Homer:(screams) Where? Where?! (runs off screaming)
Homer: Now Marge, "Dear Abby" says seeing films about air travel can calm your fears. Ooh! Here are some upbeat titles: "Hero", "Fearless"..."Alive!" (at home, Marge watches them)
Man 1: No thanks to the plane, many of us are still...
Everyone: Alive!
Man 2:(through full mouth) We certainly are. (chews)
Man 3: Pass me another hunk of copilot.
Lisa: Dad, Mom's getting worse. You have to take her to see a real psychiatrist. Look how tense she is!
Homer: She's fine! (camera shows Marge sitting on air) Oh.
Homer: Ever since you started therapy, all you can do is talk about yourself. Well what about me, Marge?
Marge: I just left my first session and I haven't even opened my mouth yet.
Homer: You see? You see? "I just left my first session and I haven't opened my mouth yet"!
Dr. Zweig: Marge, there's nothing to be ashamed of here. Today, male flight attendants, or "stewards", are common.
Marge:(sniffs) They are?
Dr. Zweig: Yes. Thanks to trailblazers like your father, you might say he was a pioneer.
Marge: Yeah. You might even say he was an American hero.
Dr. Zweig: Let's not go nuts.
Marge: Thank you, doctor. Whenever the wind whistles through the leaves, I'll think "Lowenstein", "Lowenstein".
Dr. Zweig: My name is Zweig.
Marge:(going out the door)(whispering) Lowenstein...
Homer: Don't worry about a thing, honey. I'm going to help you through this. (he and Marge sit down) Those are all normal noises. Luggage compartment closing...cross checking...just sit back and relax. (shot from outside the plane) That's just the engine powering up... (engine stutters) that's just the engine struggling... (the plane drives off the runway into a swamp) That's just a carp swimming around your ankles...
(Marge murmurs grumpily)
(The plane is sitting on the ground waiting to take off) Grampa: Wow! We must really be flying high! Those men look all tiny and blurry...just like the inside of a cataract!
Executive: If word gets our about this, Crazy Clown airlines will be a laughing stock.
Psychiatrist: Everything you say in this meeting will be private. (Homer appears on a makeshift platform cleaning the windows) Oh, that just the window cleaner. He comes every day at twelve o'clock.
Marge: But its a few seconds before twelve o'clock. (Real window cleaner comes from above and knocks Homer down. You can hear him screaming as he falls).
Weather Presenter: (on TV) There's a 75% chance of hilarity!
Homer: I like those odds.
Chief Wiggum: (to prisoners) Alright, I'm gonna make a little deal with you mugs. I'll let you all out to see my team play the hockey game if you promise to return to your cells.
Snake: Sorry, pig. We can't make that promise.
Chief Wiggum: Alright, alright, I'll sweeten the deal. You can see the game, you don't have to come back, but you have to promise not to commit any more crimes, okay?
Snake: No.
Chief Wiggum: I'll take that as a yes. (opens jail cells, prisoners run out)
Prisoners: Alright! We're free!
Skinner: (on PA) Attention students, please make your way for an assembly at the Butthead Memorial Auditorium. (Off PA) Dammit, I wish we hadn't let the students name that one.
Bart: I was going to see if we could deal with this peacefully . . . but instead I just ripped the head off Mr. Honey Bunny!!
Lisa: Bart, that was your cherished childhood toy.
Bart: (realizing what he's done) Ah!!! Mr. Honey Bunny!!
Homer: Alright hotshots, now that my daughter is on the team I want to make a few things clear.
Lisa: Dad please, just go, I'll be fine.
Homer: 'Ah ber ba', I don't want you to make fun of her, just because she's different ... Aha ha ha! Hey look! That kids got bosoms! Has anybody got a wet towel? (begins chasing Üter, whipping him with a towel) Come here you butterball!
Üter: Don't make me run! I'm full of chocolate!
Bart: I'm going to go like this... (rotates arms)... and if you get hit, it's your own fault.
Lisa: Fine, I'm gonna start kicking air like this (Starts kicking the air)... and if any part of you should fill that air, it's your own fault.
(Bart and Lisa's yells are heard as the hit each other)
Marge: (from downstairs) I'm gonna check that out. Now Homer, don't you eat this pie.
Homer: Okay, now pie I'm just gonna be doing this... (chomps in air)...and if you get eaten it's your own fault! (chomps air, hits head on oven hood) OWWWWWWW!!!!!! AARRRGGGHHH!!!! OWWW!! OWW! Oh the hell with it (picks up pie and eats it)
Marge: (flicking light switch on and off) Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!
Bart: Mom, that is really annoying!
Marge: You are not in direct competition with each other! Repeat, you are not in direct competition!
Homer: (running in) Hey! Apu just called. This Friday, Lisa's team is playing Bart's team. You'll be in direct competition! And I don't want you to go easy on each other just because you're brother and sister. I want to see you both fighting for your parents' love! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! (Flicking light on and off).
Bart: (after receiving a turtle from Homer) Aw, thanks, Dad. (Bart and Homer hug) How about some adulation from my little sister?
Lisa: Wow, Bart, I'm so impressed you were able to give Milhouse a concussion.
Bart: Oh, you're just jealous, because (begins to deliver slapshots of garbage at Lisa) you... stink... at... SPORTS!
Homer: Lisa, if the Bible has taught us nothing else - and it hasn't - it's that girls should stick to girls' sports, such as hot-oil wrestling, foxy boxing, and such-and-such.
Homer: Well, boy, you won. So I'm going to live up to my side of the agreement: here's your turtle, alive and well.
Jimbo: Nice PJs, Simpson. Did your mommy buy 'em for ya?
Bart: Of course she did. Who else would have?
Pause
Jimbo:(menacing) All right, Simpson, you win this round.
Lisa: I have to join the team or I'll get an F that will haunt me for the rest of my life.
In the future, Lisa is being sworn in
Man: I now pronounce you President of these United...
Reporter: Stop the inauguration! I just discovered our President Elect got an F in second grade gym class!
Crowd gasps; Lisa is handcuffed
Man: In that case I sentence you to a lifetime of horror on Monster Island. (to Lisa) Don't worry, it's just a name.
Cut to Monster Island; Lisa and others are chased by \three kaiju (Gamera, Rodan & Mothra)
Lisa: He said it was just a name!
Man: What he meant is that Monster Island is actually a peninsula.
Homer: (Bart must take a penalty shot of Lisa) Oh my God, Marge, a penalty shot with four seconds left! The winner will be showered with praises, and the loser will be taunted and booed until my throat is sore!
Krusty: (singing United States National Anthem) Oh say can you see, lalaladada...light. What so proudly we yah...lalaya...[crowd boos] Ooh, I knew I shouldn't have turned down those cue cards.
