The Telltale Head/References

Cultural references

 * The episode title is a reference to the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe. In addition, Bart actually hears the head talking when he is overcome with guilt, similar to Poe's character's hearing the still-beating heart of the man he murdered in the story.
 * The Bridge over the River Kwai - the line "What have I done?", as quoted by Bart just after he cut the head off the statue.
 * When Bart awakes to a find the head of Jebediah Springfield in bed next to him, it is reminiscent of the scene from "The Godfather" where Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) "persuades" Woltz to cast Fontane in the movie by leaving the head of the producer's prize racehorse in his bed.

Trivia

 * Marge pulls a Radioactive Man comic book from inside Bart's jacket before leaving the house for church.
 * Homer has an 8-track tape deck in his car.
 * A member of the angry mob carries a sign with the likeness of Jebediah Springfield's head bearing the words, "Have You Seen Me?"
 * The football announcer on Homer's car radio says, "This could be the most remarkable comeback since Lazarus rose from the dead."
 * Announcer: "Wolodarsky takes it at the 5... oh my, he fumbles," reference to show writer-producer Wallace Wolodarsky.
 * A sign inside church where Rev. Lovejoy has just given a sermon on the evils of gambling reads, "Bingo---Tuesday Night. Monte Carlo Night---Wednesday. Reno Retreat Saturday."
 * The movie marquee reads, "Space Mutants IV: The Trilogy Continues."
 * Among the items Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearney steal from the Kwik-E-Mart is a copy of Playdude magazine.
 * Kearney stands on the lawn and leans on a sign that reads "Keep off the Grass."
 * Sideshow Bob's hair evolves from a huge red afro.
 * When Bart asks Dolph, Kearney and Jimbo how they got the stolen merchandise from the Kwik-E-Mart, Jimbo replies "Five finger discount, man." even though characters in The Simpsons only have four fingers.
 * Sideshow Bob appears with an afro, then later in the episode he appears with his spiky hair.
 * First full appearance of Krusty the Clown.
 * First appearances of Reverend Lovejoy, Apu, Ms. Albright, Sideshow Bob, Dolph, Kearney, and Jimbo Jones.
 * Also, this episode technically marked the first appearances of Patty, Selma, and Ned Flanders, as the episode Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire was supposed to be the eighth episode to air, but a problem with Some Enchanted Evening, the original first episode, caused the episode to be delayed.
 * First appearance of the First Church of Springfield, Bart and Lisa's Sunday school, the Kwik-E-Mart and the Aztec Theater.
 * Barney now has his more familiar look of brown hair and orange t-shirt but would be seen with his old look one more time in "Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire" even though that episode was produced before this one.
 * According to the producers, this episode marked the first hint towards Smither's sexuality (When Mr. Burns mentioned that he loved Smithers, Smithers replies that "the feeling is more than mutual, sir.")
 * When Barney asks how long Bart's story will take Bart says, "23 minutes and 5 seconds", meaning the length of the episode.
 * In this episode, Dolph and Jimbo originally had each other's voice before they were later switched.
 * When the bullies and Bart were watching the clouds, Kearney noted a guy being cut in the back by a switchblade; that guy resembeled Hans Moleman.

Goofs

 * When Bart enters the Kwik-E-Mart, the doors need to be pushed open to get through. When Bart leaves, the door slides open.
 * Someone else could've heard the cluck around the statue considering the fact on how loud it was.