Homer briefly works at the "Boris Car Loft", a reference to Boris Karloff.
The ambulance Homer buys is based on a 1959 Eureka Cadillac ambulance formerly operated by the Bogota, New Jersey Volunteer First Aid Squad.
Marge denotes the similarity of the picture behind the couch to the classic novel, Moby-Dick (the picture is, in fact, called "Scene from Moby Dick"). It inspired her novel, when she thought "No one's done a book about whaling before!" Moreover, her book is about whaling and its ending has Temperance's husband dying in a similar manner to that of Ahab, from the same novel.
Thomas Pynchon's voiced is heard in this episode. This is a big rarity, as Pynchon is a recluse and has not lent his voice to any other media.
Trivia
All of Esme's books have Scoundrel in them- I, Scoundrel, To Kiss A Scoundrel, Return to Scoundrel Island, A is for Scoundrel.
Dr. Marvin Monroe appears in this episode. Marge thought he was dead, but he explains that he was 'very sick'.
When Homer is lying to Marge his eyes twitch as if to tell her the truth. This same eye movement is translated by Marge in an earlier episode, "The Sweetest Apu".
This episode features the second time that Homer hears about a fictional character based on himself and reconsiders his ways. The first was in I Am Furious (Yellow).
When Homer asks Nelson what he's doing with his arm through Ned's door, he replies "stealing doormats". In Lisa's Date with Density, the doormat seen on the front doorstep of Nelson's house is the one stolen from the Kwik-E-Mart.
