Barney's accidental shooting and killing a woman crossing Evergreen Terrace was later referenced in the episode "Homer and Apu" (when Barney tips over the large bottle of Mrs. Butterworth and freaks out, yelling "It's all happening again!").
Homer's September calendar with 31 days
Homer's calendar has September with 31 days on it. September has only 30 days.
Keith Richards without legs
When the Ramones are expressing satisfaction about their performance, Keith Richard is missing his legs.
Coincidentally, Johnny Ramone died in 2004 on September 15th, on Wednesday (which is the day and weekday established to be Mr. Burns' birthday).
Adolf Hitler and Charles Lindbergh both owned Bobo after he was abandoned. In real life, Lindbergh, who in this episode threw Bobo to Hitler during his famous 1927 Spirit of St. Louis transatlantic flight, was known for being a Hitler sympathizer, serving as the spokesman for the controversial America First Committee, which urged non-intervention during World War II and even going as far as to encourage the United States Congress to negotiate a neutrality pact with the leader of Nazi Germany. During a visit to Berlin in 1938, Lindbergh had a major encounter with Nazi Germany military leader Hermann Göring, who even presented him with the Service Cross of the Golden Eagle.
Milhouse is implied to be missing (cf. the scene of Smithers overlaying pictures of Bobo with pictures of Milhouse on a milk carton).
Bobo was made with 100% cotton.
Smithers' birthday wish is to have Mr. Burns jump out of a cake and sing to him a la Marilyn Monroe.
A full color worker on a grey scale screen
Tommy Ramone, the last surviving original member, was dead in July 2014 due to cancer, although by this point he had been replaced by Marky, who is still alive and active in music. Also worth noting original bassist DeeDee (who died in 2002) had also left the band and was replaced by CJ Ramone, who is also still alive and active.
When Mr. Burns is watching his employees on his screens, one of the workers appears in full color despite being shown on an otherwise monochrome viewing screen.
Notice the reuse of animation when Lisa says "I'd like to believe that this time" in dire hopes of Homer concealing his butt for good.
When the mob plans to give Bobo back to Maggie, Nick Riviera has brown hair instead of the usual black.
When Lenny and Carl observe the spinning cupcake holder, they are wearing polo shirts instead of their usual suspenders and sweater respectively.
Burns' Mansion front gate B is actually the number 13.
Mr. Burns mistakes The Ramones for The Rolling Stones, ordering Smithers to have the latter killed. As Mick Jagger (singer for The Rolling Stones) appears later in the series as a guest star, we can assume Smithers never had the order carried out.
Censorship[]
The UK and Canadian airings of this episode edit out The Ramones' insulting language during their performance at Mr. Burns' party ("I'd just like to say this gig sucks," "Up yours, Springfield," and "Go to hell, you old bastard!" were the three lines edited).
The episode itself is a large homage to Citizen Kane.
The title of the episode is a direct reference to a reoccurring theme in the film, namely Kane's sled, which has the word Rosebud printed on it as shown at the end of the movie.
The opening scene of the episode is also reference. Rosebud is the final word of the protagonist in the film, Charles Foster Kane. The scene where Burns throws snow globes on his bedroom's floor and a reflection of a shattered one where Smithers enters the room mirrors from the film, with a nurse entering the room of the late Kane - this is an exact reshoot of an infamous scene from the film.
Additional References[]
The guards outside Burns' Mansion resemble the Winkie Guards from the classic 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz. They even sing a similar chant which is "All we own, we owe".
When Homer is daydreaming about the recording studio he wants Burns to give him as an appreciation of he giving back Bobo to Burns, he was singing "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame-seed bun." This was one of the slogans from McDonalds for their Big Macs.
Initially, when covering up that he is lamenting his loss for Bobo the bear when Smithers questions who Bobo is when waking him up, Mr. Burns mentioned that he hated the fact that Sheriff Lobo was cancelled. Similarly, Homer Simpson has a nightmare relating to Sheriff Lobo before realizing in horror that the day is Burns' birthday.
Some of the photos of Mr. Burns at his birthday reference several things. One of him as the soldiers at Iwo Jima, one of him in a white dress that references Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch and an image of Muhammad Ali defeating Sonny Liston altered to have Mr. Burns's face on Muhammad Ali's body.
The Ramones appear, performing for Mr. Burns and then insult him.
Just before Smithers announces Homer Simpson's comedy act, he mentions that a dog resembling Lassie was run over in the parking lot, also unintentionally ruining Homer's comedy act.
The costume Homer Simpson wears during his comedy act, consisting of a blazer and wielding a golf club, are a reference to the outfit often worn by standup comedian Bob Hope.
After Burns is taken away from his family they remark that "At least we still have his brother George." George has an uncanny resemblance and mannerisms as comedian George Burns. The real George Burns was born Nathan Birnbaum, thus this is meant to be a joke.
The scene where Mr. Burns walks in the room and says, "Smithers, I'm home!" is a reference to the show I Love Lucy.
Shows that Mr. Burns interrupted include a reference to Barney and Friends, Soul Mass Transit System (Soul Train), and Bumblebee Man.
Mr. Burns has a framed photo of a naked Mark Twain.
During the slideshow of Mr. Burns's life, an instrumental version of Diana Ross' song "Do You Know" can be heard playing.
