The Heartbroke Kid/References

Trivia

 * Spangler's car is a Volvo.
 * The montage near the end of the first act spoofs Bart's shots in the show's opening; additionally, Barney appears in place of where the now-deceased Bleeding Gums Murphy would've appeared.
 * One of the candies that Bart eats is named Cop Killaz.

Previous Episode References

 * Bart's line "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger" was also said by Homer in "Homer's Triple Bypass" following one of several heart attacks, which Dr. Hibbert quickly proved to be wrong.
 * Homer has a fantasy about a robotic Marge, a reference to "Gump Roast" where "Marge becomes a robot" is suggested as a future plotline.
 * Homer's half-brother Herb Powell is mentioned in this episode, marking his only appearance or even mention since his starring roles in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? and Brother Can You Spare Two Dimes?.

Goofs

 * How far is Spangler's compound from the Simpson house? Earlier in the episode it takes only an hour's drive; later, as Homer and Tab are out on the highway, Tab wants to stop at a motel overnight.

Cultural references

 * The title of this episode is probably a spoof of the 1972 film The Heartbreak Kid starring Charles Grodin. It may also reference World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Superstar Shawn Michaels whose nickname is "The Heartbreak Kid".
 * The song Homer sings for change to the German students on vacation is "99 Luftballons".
 * The song played during Bart's junkfood sequence is "Yummy yummy yummy" by The Ohio Express.
 * The line "raged against the machine" is a reference to the political rap-rock band Rage Against the Machine.
 * When Bart rips off the Krusty poster in his room which conceals a stash of junk food, it is a reference to "The Shawshank Redemption", where Andy DuFresne's means of escape is through a hole in the wall covered by a poster of Rita Hayworth.
 * Homer says "they're melting" in a style reminiscent of The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.
 * This episode's storyline is likely a satire of the real-world problem of vending machines in schools. In fact, some states have made it illegal for public schools to sell junk food to its students during school hours.