Bart's best friend, Milhouse, is revealed to have some Italian ancestry through his mother's side of the family -- apparently, Luann's mother (named "Sophie") is originally from Italy and is currently living in the region of Tuscany. Milhouse explains to Lisa that, ever since he was a baby, he spends part of each summer visiting his maternal grandmother and was basically forced to learn Italian due to his grandmother's hatred of the English-language.
In the very next episode, "The Italian Bob," the Simpsons travel to Italy, with one of the places they visit being Rome (the location of the study abroad program that Lisa wanted to join). Lisa's shown speaking some Italian and also translates various words and phrases for her family (as none of them are fluent in Italian like she is).
It's revealed in this episode that Luigi can't speak Italian, only "fractured English" (with an Italian accent) what his parents spoke at home.
Agnes Skinner appears to be a member of the Red Hat Mammas, indicating she volunteers in more than one club.
This is the second episode where Nelson receives instant karma, which he accepts. The first was "Barting Over".
In the preceding episode, the Crazy Cat Lady, Mayor Quimby, Eddie, Clancy, and Lou appeared and they do so again in this one. They become the second non-main characters this season to appear in two consecutive episodes back-to-back after Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearney.
It's revealed the Crazy Cat Lady can throw a cat over the roof.
This is one of the episodes where the Springfield Police get emotional. This is Clancy' second and Lou's first.
Marge's sobbing and the other Red Hat Mamma members joining in with her, and Homer, is what stops Mr. Burns from taking the arrest any further.
There are two running gags in this episode: Moe appearing from out of nowhere in the sky (twice) and somebody (Milhouse's grandmother and Lisa) getting a tree branch and angrily chasing Milhouse (twice) with the same Italian chase music, which is actually heard three times in this episode.
Another running gag is Ralph saying "Yay" while finding the same egg, oblivious to the fact that his basket has a hole in it to which Bart points out.
Burns' name spelled as "Bwrns"
"Burns Manson"
When Homer pulls out the folder, Mansion is misspelled as "Manson". This is fixed in later airings.
The blueprint on the wall during the planning of the heist misspells Burns name as "Bwrns."
In the Italian dub, Milhouse teaches Lisa Italian history and literature. At the end of the episode, Lisa compares Angelica to the Roman Empress Messalina.
Always in the Italian dub, Nana Sofia speaks with a Sicilian accent.
Marge and Tammy talk to each other while skydiving, however such a conversation would be impossible for either person to hear because of the wind noise.
When Marge enters the family room from the kitchen, Homers questions her. A few seconds later after Homer adds on, the camera zooms out and Marge is suddenly in the living room, meaning we didn't see her walk through the camera to get in there. It could be possible that she crawled into there while Homer was confused.
After Homer crashes through the mayor's office, there's no rip on his pants before the next scene where he yells at the bunny mascot. It isn't until he brings up to the women that he ripped his pants while fighting the easter bunny that we do see the tear.
Cultural references[]
Homer's line, "Game over man ... game over" (when the police arrive at Burns' mansion) is taken from the movie Aliens.
Eddie's animated style of traffic direction is likely a reference to Tony Lepore, the "Dancing Cop" of Providence, Rhode Island.
When Lisa and Milhouse go to Little Italy, Milhouse acts like Don Fanucci from The Godfather Part II. His clothes in that scene are similar, too.
Hugs Bunny, the referee of the Springfield Easter Celebration, is an obvious pun on Bugs Bunny. Mrs. Quimby also mimics Elmer Fudd's speech impediment in introducing Hugs. Later, Homer mentions the Road Runner, surprised to learn there is an actual bird by that name.
Mayor Quimby's office is styled after the White House Oval Office. Mrs. Quimby's trip around the mayor's office is vaguely reminiscent of a spoken word track on the record, The First Family, wherein Mrs. Kennedy led the paparazzi around the White House, leaving everything "just the way it is."
Red Hat Society - The Cherry Red Tomatoes organization is a spoof of the women's group, focusing on fun and companionship.
"Rigoletto" - Lisa sings new lyrics to the aria "La donna è mobile" from Verdi's opera.
The episode title is a play on the movie title Sophie Tucker - The Last of the Red Hot Mamas, about the life of the Vaudeville entertainer.
During his fight with Hugs Bunny, Homer remarks, "Silly wabbit. Kicks are for ribs!" This is a play on the catchphrase for the children's breakfast cereal Trix.
When Milhouse is been kissed by Lisa he says "I'm the luckiest boy in the whole world!". This is a reference from Ojamajo Doremi's line "I'm the unluckiest girl in the whole world!" Doremi Harukaze's catchphrase.
