Homer Goes to College/References

Cultural References

 * Burns's escape pod resembles the one that C-3PO and R2-D2 use in Star Wars.
 * In the movie School of Hard Knockers (which Homer sees on TV):
 * The movie itself is an obvious parody of Animal House.
 * The "bra bomb" prank is strongly reminiscient of the "laser-popped popcorn" prank at the end of the movie Real Genius.
 * The president has five fingers instead of four while dancing as bras fall on his head.
 * Springfield University dean Bobby Peterson says he used to play bass for the Pretenders.
 * Star Trek and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - The nerds are involved in an online "Kirk vs. Picard" debate with "some guys at M.I.T."

Trivia

 * Homer steals a pig in this episode, causing a disaster. Ironically, Homer later acquires a pet Pig that causes a disaster in The Simpsons Movie.
 * According to The Simpsons Guide to America's Favorite Family (and shown in this episode), Homer did attempt to apply to college in his youth. His high school guidance counselor told him he was a shoo-in for admission, and the only remaining step was to sign the application form. Homer was just about to sign when he looked out the window, saw a dog with a piece of ham, and ran outside to fight with the dog for it. He never made it back into the counselor's office to sign the application, and the frustrated counselor crumpled up the form and threw it in the trash. Homer, recalling the incident, said that "fate stood in the way" of his going to college.