Hurricane Neddy/References

Trivia

 * In the crowd scene at the end, outside the mental hospital, one of the signs reads "Free John Swartzwelder." John Swartzwelder is a long-time writer on the Simpsons.
 * Swartzwelder himself is seen in one of the mental institution cells; he quickly closes the door as he sees the Simpson family approaching.
 * Lucille Botzcowski (also known as Botz, the Babysitter Bandit) from the Season 1 finale "Some Enchanted Evening" makes a cameo appearance, pacing around in her cell.
 * Jay Sherman from "A Star is Burns" and series The Critic, makes a cameo appearance in a cell, telling his doctor, "It stinks! It stinks! It stinks!" The doctor responds, to humor him, "That's right, Mr. Sherman. Everything stinks."
 * The Critic had recently been cancelled, and this was the writers' explanation as to why (The Critic creators Al Jean and Mike Reiss were the show runners when Oakley and Weinstein were hired to The Simpsons staff).
 * Dr. Foster is later seen in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge," this time sporting a toupee.
 * Todd is wearing a Butthole Surfers shirt when the Flanders family is in the relief center ("Look, Dad! I'm a surfer!"). The censors, however, only allowed "Buttho Surfers" to be shown.
 * Ned says in the church " I don't drink or dance or swear." but in The Joy of Sect he is seen dispensing beer in his "rumpus room".

Cultural References

 * It's a Wonderful Life – as in the episode "When Flanders Failed," Homer leads the town to aid Flanders in his darkest hour, though on this occasion the results are far worse.
 * The Critic – Jay Sherman makes a cameo appearance in the mental hospital scenes. The Simpsons writers joked that this is what really happened to the character after the series was cancelled. Critic fans, however, don't consider this appearance part of the series' canon.
 * Dick Tracy and Pruneface – Ned's "Prune Tracy" remark is a pun on the comic strip detective. It's also an allusion to an off-color joke: Given the progression, the next name would be Dick Face, had Dr. Foster not stopped him.
 * Job – The plot of the episode is very similar to that of the Book of Job in the Bible.
 * One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest – Several scenes at Calmwood Mental Hospital are taken from the 1975 movie.
 * Swanson TV dinners – The Juvenile Aggression Study film is sponsored by Swanson Angry Man Dinners, a play on Swanson Hungry Man Dinners.
 * Halloween - Dr. Foster is shocked to receive news that Ned Flanders has gone mad, stating: "May god have mercy on us all!", referencing Dr. Loomis' reaction to Michael Myers' escape in the first Halloween film. This is clarified on the DVD commentary.

Goofs

 * When Ned is sitting with Maude when they take refuge at church, Ned does not wear a right shoe but it appears when Rod and Todd meet up with their parents.
 * Todd is missing a shoe when they take refuge at church it appears when he and Rod meet up with their parents.
 * When Brandine Spuckler is among the customers seen in the Kwik-E-Mart, her hair is blonde instead of the usual red.
 * The flashback should have taken place 50 years ago, for Ned to be a child. If the flashback took place 30 years ago, Ned would have been 30, since Viva Ned Flanders revealed Ned to be 60.