The name of this episode is also a reference to the movie Summer of '42.
Trivia
On Australian TV, the scene of Homer buying the risque personal items (the condoms, the porno mags, two enemas, some panty shields, and a bottle of Old Harper) to cover his tracks in buying illegal fireworks was cut, yet the scene of Marge picking through the bag and telling Homer, "Whatever you're planning to do tonight, count me out!" wasn't edited.
This episode was broadcast on the same day as the episode "Homerpalooza" on American TV.
When Milhouse sees Lisa in her cool persona, he remarks that she looks like Blossom. Coincidentally, fourteen years after this episode aired Blossom's actress Mayim Bialik, would be cast as The Big Bang Theory character Amy Farrah Fowler, who like Lisa is very intellectual and has a similar disappointing yearbook experience due to unpopularity like Lisa in this episode.
At the end of this episode, the Beach Boys song All Summer Long plays at the end credits and when the Gracie Films logo appears, the logo's music is played by a sax and it is a summer-like theme.
In the promotional image for this episode, Lisa's glasses have no or transparent lenses, but in the episode itself, they have purple lenses.
Homer's purchase of numerous items, then sneaking in an illegal item in the dialogue is a parody of American Graffiti, in which an a teenager attempts to buy alcohol this way. The ill-gotten liquor is called "Old Harper", which is one of the items Homer rapidly requests.
A deleted scene shows Ned Flanders at the Simpson residence when they are away, cleaning their septic tank. He tells himself "Hello, Mr. Brown Ground, what have you got for me?" The scene was cut for timing purposes.
Marge said Bart hadn't said "Don't have a cow, man!" in 4 years. This was true at the time this episode premiered. The last time Bart said this quote before this episode was "Bart the Murderer".
Becky clasping her yearbook to her heart after Bart signed it heavily implies she might have a crush on him.
Goofs
White pens in Martin's pocket
In the opening scene, the pens in Martin's pocket are white instead of their usual purple.
Marge with a white necklace
When Lisa first meets the skater kids, she's wearing her glasses in one shot but they disappear in the next. Then they reappear in front of the library.
Right before Bart and Lisa fight at the table, Marge's necklace is colored white.
At Ned's beach house, there is a picture of Maude above the bed Lisa was sitting on. When the camera angle changes, the picture changes to a photo of Rod and Todd.
This episode was released after "I Love Lisa", so Ralph was already established as Lisa's friend. In addition, Janey, Sherri, Terri, Wanda, Becky, and Allison established as Lisa's friends. So Lisa could have chosen one of them.
