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's response 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".
 * During Ned's string of -didily's he actually says a proper English word: Hostility.

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.