*In addition to revealing Bart's reasons for being a troublemaker and underachiever, this episode is also notable for fueling suspicions of [[Milhouse]]'s sexuality, after a school psychologist identifies the young Milhouse as having "flamboyantly homosexual tendencies." The episode is also notable for a rare glimpse at [[Snowball I]].
*This is the last episode in which [[Doris Grau]] has a speaking role as [[Lunchlady Doris]] (although this episode aired nearly two years after her death). It would also mark the final time the character would speak until [[The Simpsons (season 18)|Season 18]]'s "[[The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer]]" (voiced by [[Tress MacNeille]]).
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*This was the first of very few episodes [[Al Jean]] ever wrote without [[Mike Reiss]].
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*There is a goof involving the air conditioner scene, where Rod and Todd are 10 and 8 during the flashback, the same age they are currently. Bart and Lisa's ages are also goofed as well, since the episode aired in 1997. This would make Lisa age 1 and Bart age 3 because it flashed back to 1990 when 1992 would actually have fit their ages. Maybe this would mean this and all the other episodes of the 3Gxx series were produced between Seasons 8 and 9.
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*The origin of Bart's catchphrase, "[[Eat My Shorts]]," is revealed: [[Principal Skinner]] tells Bart to apologize for his impressions, and Bart's response is "Eat my shorts!"
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*This is also the last mention of Snowball I until Season 15.
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*This is the only episode that shows the [[King Toot's]] music store across the street from [[Moe's Tavern]]. All others show the store next to Moe's, such as in "[[Lisa's Pony]]."
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*In the flashbacks Homer had two hairs on his head, but he didn't get two hairs until he found out Marge was pregnant with Maggie.
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*[[Al Jean]], [[Mike Reiss]], [[Mike Scully]], [[James L. Brooks]], [[Matt Groening]] all executive produced this episode (and [[Simpson Tide]]).
*The boy who eats worms was conceived by Al Jean in [[The Complete Ninth Season]]'s commentary when he used to eat worms as a child and that he looks similar to him.
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*Homer mentions in early in the episode before as he starts to tell the story about lisa's saxophone that the year in what the story is based in is 1990, and later in the episode bart mentions that its 5 years later so that makes the year this episode is based in is 1995
*The episode ends with a montage of clips of [[Lisa]] playing her saxophone from "[[Lisa's Pony]]", "[['Round Springfield]]", "[[Moaning Lisa]]", "[[Lisa's Substitute]]", and "[[Lisa's Rival]]".
*While telling Bart and Lisa about 1990, Homer says "the [[The Tracey Ullman Show|Tracey Ullman]] was entertaining America with ... crudely-drawn filler material". This is a reference to [[The Simpsonsshorts|The Simpsons' debut]] as "bumpers"airingbeforeandaftertheshow's commercials.
*In addition to revealing [[Bart]]'s reasons for being a troublemaker and underachiever, this episode is also notable for fueling suspicions of [[Milhouse]]'s sexuality, after a school psychologist identifies the young Milhouse as having "flamboyantly homosexual tendencies." The episode is also notable for a rare glimpse at [[Snowball I]].
*Bart's blackboard punishment "I no longer want my [[wikipedia:MTV|MTV]]" is a reference to the old MTV slogan "I Want My MTV" (and a jab at the channel's declining quality due to lack of music videos and an uptick in non-musicrelated shows, like ''[[wikipedia:The_Real_World|The Real World]]'').
*This is the last episode in which [[Doris Grau]] has a speaking role as [[Lunchlady Doris]] (although this episode aired nearly two years after her death). It would also mark the final time the character would speak until [[Season 18]]'s "[[The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer]]" (voiced by [[Tress MacNeille]]).
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* The song "Those Were the Days" parodies the opening credits of the classic television show ''[[wikipedia:All_in_the_Family|All in the Family]]''.
*The boy who eats worms was conceived by [[Al Jean]] in [[The Complete Ninth Season]]'s commentary when he used to eat worms as a child and that he looks similar to him.
*The song Lisa plays on her new saxophone near the end of the episode is "[[wikipedia:Baker_Street_(song)|Baker Street]]" by [[wikipedia:Gerry_Rafferty|Gerry Rafferty]].
*A flashback to 1990 shows Homer watching ''[[wikipedia:Twin_Peaks|Twin Peaks]]'' as [[wikipedia:Dale_Cooper|Dale Cooper]] remarks, "That's some damn fine coffee you got here in Twin Peaks... and damn good cherry pie." [[wikipedia:The_Giant_(Twin_Peaks)|The Giant]] is then shown waltzing with a white horse, under a tree with a traffic light hanging from a branch. Homer says: "''Brilliant''! I have absolutely ''no'' idea what's going on."
*When Lisa's saxophone gets run over, one of the people who runs over it is a man on a tricycle, who promptly falls over. This is a reference to a character played by [[wikipedia:Arte_Johnson|Arte Johnson]], an old man in a raincoat on a tricycle, which is a running gag from the NBC variety show ''[[wikipedia:Rowan_and_Martin's_Laugh-In|Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In]]''.
*In King Toot's music store, when Homer buys Lisa her first saxophone there is a guitar in the background that is similar to [[wikipedia:Eddie_Van_Halen|Eddie Van Halen's]] "Frankenstein" guitar.
*When Marge, Homer and Lisa visit a preschool recommended by a school psychologist, a child can be seen in the left hand corner of the screen, that appears to be painting [[wikipedia:Rene_Magritte|Rene Magritte]]'s famous painting "[[wikipedia:The_Son_of_Man|The Son of Man]]".
*While telling Bart and [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] about 1990, [[Homer]] says "the [[The Tracey Ullman Show|Tracey Ullman]] was entertaining America with ... crudely-drawn filler material," a reference to when ''The Simpsons'' started out as animated filler for ''The Tracy Ullman Show''.
*Bart's blackboard punishment "I no longer want my {{w|MTV}}" is a reference to the old MTV slogan "I Want My MTV" (and a jab at the channel's declining quality due to lack of music videos and an uptick in reality TV shows, like ''{{w|The Real World}}''), which was also featured prominently in the {{w|Dire Straits}} song "{{w|Money for Nothing}}", which was also the first video to air in MTV Europe, in 1987.
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*The song "Those Were the Days" parodies the opening credits of the classic television show ''{{w|All in the Family}}''. The show was also referenced with the narrator claiming that ''The Simpsons'' was filmed in a live action studio, and Homer referring to Bart as meathead.
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*Michigan J. Frog (or rather, a knock-off on him) briefly appears when announcing the new WB TV movie. In addition, his [[The WB's Proud To Present Theme|sing-song announcement]], "We're proud to present on the WB, another bad show that no one will see!", is a jab towards {{w|The WB|the WB network}}'s notoriety for being in the bottom six in ratings, and its shows being last chances that will not make it to other networks.
*A flashback to 1990 shows Homer watching ''{{w|Twin Peaks}}'' as {{w|Dale Cooper}} remarks, "That's some damn fine coffee you got here in Twin Peaks... and damn good cherry pie." {{w|The Giant (Twin Peaks)|The Giant}} is then shown waltzing with a white horse, under a tree with a traffic light hanging from a branch. Homer says: "''Brilliant''! I have absolutely ''no'' idea what's going on."
*When Lisa's saxophone gets run over, one of the people who runs over it is a man on a tricycle, who promptly falls over. This is a reference to a character played by {{w|Arte Johnson}}, an old man in a raincoat on a tricycle, which is a running gag from the NBC variety show ''{{w|Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In}}''.
*In King Toot's music store, when Homer buys Lisa her first saxophone there is a guitar in the background that is similar to {{w|Eddie Van Halen|Eddie Van Halen's}} "Frankenstein" guitar.
*When Marge, Homer and Lisa visit a preschool recommended by a school psychologist, a child can be seen in the left hand corner of the screen, that appears to be painting {{w|Rene Magritte}}'s famous painting "{{w|The Son of Man}}."
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*The montage of Lisa playing her saxophone in the end of the episode features clips from past episodes, such as [[Lisa's Pony]] (in the talent show and aside [[Princess]]), [[So It's Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show]] (aside Homer, who is in coma), [[Moaning Lisa]] (on a bridge with [[Bleeding Gums Murphy]]) and [[Separate Vocations]] (on top of a bench in the school courtyard).
*[[Rod]] and [[Todd]] are still the same age in the flashback as they are in the present.
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*[[File:Lisanolashes.jpg|thumb|Lisa without any eyelashes]]Despite this episode showing Bart as a bad student due to his bad first day of kindergarten, "[[Lisa the Simpson]]" reveals that Bart -- along with Homer, [[Grampa]], and a group of other male Simpson relatives -- is genetically predisposed to become stupid as he grows older. On top of that, "[[Homer Loves Flanders]]" has Bart pointing out that being a loser is genetic (with Bart saying "D'oh!" when he realizes that this affects him as well).
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*Five years before 1997 would have been in 1992. ''It is possible Homer meant around 1990.''
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*When Homer has to choose between either an air conditioner or a Saxophone for Lisa, Lisa lacks any eyelashes.
In addition to revealing Bart's reasons for being a troublemaker and underachiever, this episode is also notable for fueling suspicions of Milhouse's sexuality, after a school psychologist identifies the young Milhouse as having "flamboyantly homosexual tendencies." The episode is also notable for a rare glimpse at Snowball I.
The boy who eats worms was conceived by Al Jean in The Complete Ninth Season's commentary when he used to eat worms as a child and that he looks similar to him.
There is a portrait of Albert Einstein on the wall at school for smart children.
Cultural references
While telling Bart and Lisa about 1990, Homer says "the Tracey Ullman was entertaining America with ... crudely-drawn filler material," a reference to when The Simpsons started out as animated filler for The Tracy Ullman Show.
Bart's blackboard punishment "I no longer want my MTV" is a reference to the old MTV slogan "I Want My MTV" (and a jab at the channel's declining quality due to lack of music videos and an uptick in reality TV shows, like The Real World), which was also featured prominently in the Dire Straits song "Money for Nothing", which was also the first video to air in MTV Europe, in 1987.
The song "Those Were the Days" parodies the opening credits of the classic television show All in the Family. The show was also referenced with the narrator claiming that The Simpsons was filmed in a live action studio, and Homer referring to Bart as meathead.
Michigan J. Frog (or rather, a knock-off on him) briefly appears when announcing the new WB TV movie. In addition, his sing-song announcement, "We're proud to present on the WB, another bad show that no one will see!", is a jab towards the WB network's notoriety for being in the bottom six in ratings, and its shows being last chances that will not make it to other networks.
The song Lisa plays on her new saxophone near the end of the episode is "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty.
A flashback to 1990 shows Homer watching Twin Peaks as Dale Cooper remarks, "That's some damn fine coffee you got here in Twin Peaks... and damn good cherry pie." The Giant is then shown waltzing with a white horse, under a tree with a traffic light hanging from a branch. Homer says: "Brilliant! I have absolutely no idea what's going on."
When Lisa's saxophone gets run over, one of the people who runs over it is a man on a tricycle, who promptly falls over. This is a reference to a character played by Arte Johnson, an old man in a raincoat on a tricycle, which is a running gag from the NBC variety show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In.
When little Bart skips along the grass, he bears a resemblance to Charlie Brown sketches.
In King Toot's music store, when Homer buys Lisa her first saxophone there is a guitar in the background that is similar to Eddie Van Halen's "Frankenstein" guitar.
When Marge, Homer and Lisa visit a preschool recommended by a school psychologist, a child can be seen in the left hand corner of the screen, that appears to be painting Rene Magritte's famous painting "The Son of Man."
Rod and Todd are still the same age in the flashback as they are in the present.
Lisa without any eyelashes
Despite this episode showing Bart as a bad student due to his bad first day of kindergarten, "Lisa the Simpson" reveals that Bart -- along with Homer, Grampa, and a group of other male Simpson relatives -- is genetically predisposed to become stupid as he grows older. On top of that, "Homer Loves Flanders" has Bart pointing out that being a loser is genetic (with Bart saying "D'oh!" when he realizes that this affects him as well).
Five years before 1997 would have been in 1992. It is possible Homer meant around 1990.
When Homer has to choose between either an air conditioner or a Saxophone for Lisa, Lisa lacks any eyelashes.
