Marge vs. the Monorail/References

Cultural References

 * The episode's opening scene is a parody of the opening of The Flintstones, complete with the same music, to which Homer sings his own lyrics.
 * The main premise of a con man getting a town excited about something he sells but hardly knows anything about is borrowed from the musical Meredith Willson's The Music Man.
 * A "reverse reference" occurred in 2002 when Seattle residents opposed to a proposed monorail project held a protest event called "Coming Out With Marge Simpson." The event organizers planned to show the episode as part of the protest, but were ordered not to by Fox due to copyright laws.
 * The scene where Mr. Burns and Smithers escape town hall via grappling hook is a reference to the movie Batman (1989).

Trivia

 * At the town meeting, Mr. Burns appears with a poorly disguised mustache, calling himself "Mr. Snrub" ("Burns" spelled backwards) and suggesting that the town invest the three million dollars in the nuclear power plant. In spite of Smithers' acting as a shill for him and seconding the idea, Burns is quickly caught out by the townspeople and forced to flee the meeting.
 * Homer's conductor uniform is similar to the uniforms worn by Imperial officers such as Grand Moff Tarkin, Admiral Ozzel and Admiral Piett in the Star Wars saga.
 * The man appearing in Lanley's commercial just looks and acts the same as Homer.
 * We learn Apu dealt with being shot 8 times yet went had to go to work.

Goofs

 * Julius Hibbert was among the passagers on the monorail on the first ride, but he is soon with a pair of siamese twins in his office.