The action sequence at the candy convention is based on every Bruce Willis movie ever made.
Homer's imagination of living underwater is a parody of the song "Under the Sea" from the Disney film The Little Mermaid. David Mirkin says he thought the sequence would be funny because Homer would eat all of the characters from the film.
The news coverage showing Homer knocked out in the bathroom with the shower curtain draped over him, and the voice-over saying he slept in an oxygen tent believing it would enhance his sexual powers, is a reference to widespread tabloid rumors saying that Michael Jackson slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber in an attempt to slow the aging process.
When Rock Bottom does a story on Groundskeeper Willie, the producers dub him "Rowdy Roddy Peeper," a reference to "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, the stage name of a professional wrestler who adopted a Scottish persona in the ring.
Trivia
Originally, the episode was supposed to center around Lisa and Homer arguing over how men and women get away with certain things in society ("the double standard"), but David Mirkin thought it would be funnier to make fun of how the media likes to sensationalize news stories in the name of ratings, as the O.J. Simpson murder trial was occurring around the same time as this episode's premiere.
First ever episode to be rated 12 in the United Kingdom.
Goofs
In real life Rock Bottom wouldn't be allowed to air as it is pure slander.
People saying that Homer sexually harassed the babysitter was slander as there was no evidence or witnesses.
Also due to this it is highly unlikely that anyone would have believed it in the first place.
After it was revealed that Homer was innocent, the Babysitter should have been arrested for perverting the course of justice.
When Homer says "Okay, donĀ“t panic! She can't gone far! She has no arms!", Maggie's bow is missing.
The flag that Marge claims to have 49 stars really only has 38.
When Marge's coat pocket rips a huge pile of candy spills out but then in the next shot all the candy is gone.
Rock Bottom Corrections
After the revelation of Homer's innocence, Rock Bottom broadcasts a list of corrections to various claims the show has made. The list can only be read in freeze-frame or slow motion. Rock Bottom's corrections are as follows: