Grift of the Magi/References

Cultural references

 * Milhouse sings "Sisters are doin' it for themselves!", a song by Aretha Franklin and the Eurythmics.
 * The toy, Funzo, is a parody of the popular Furby dolls (although the Furby dolls were mentioned in the story line as an example of a popular toy).
 * Gary Coleman once worked as a security guard in real life. Coleman spoofed Arnold's (Coleman's character in Diff'rent Strokes) catchphrase, "Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?", three times.
 * At the end, the narrator says Mr. Burns was visited by three ghosts in the night which showed him the error of his ways, a homage to A Christmas Carol.
 * The narrator also says that Moe, in his annual suicide attempt, was shown what the world would be like without him after sticking his head in his oven. This is a reference to the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life.
 * This episode's title is a pun on O. Henry's short story The Gift of the Magi.
 * Funzo's metallic frame maybe a reference to the endoskeleton of The Terminator.

Error

 * Even though Bart said he wouldn't bring a toy to school, he is shown with a Krusty doll.