The Old Man and the Key/References

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Cultural references

• The title is a pun of The Old Man and the Sea; like "The Old Man and the Lisa" and "The Old Man and The "C" Student."
• When Abe and Zelda take off on one of their dates, three old men with long beards imitate ZZ Top as a short part of “Sharp Dressed Man” is played.
• The closing credits parody those of The Beverly Hillbillies. At the end, Lisa says in a Southern accent, "This has been a Gracie Films presentation," which parodies the line at the end of The Beverly Hillbillies, "This has been a Filmways presentation."
• This episode pokes fun at the XFL. According to Marge, the XFL MVP was sweeping up toenails at the beauty parlor. Apparently, she breaks the news to Homer that there’s not going to be a new season. In truth, Tommy Maddox, the lone XFL MVP, was the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers at the time of this episode and would win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award for the 2002 season. Additionally, Homer believes the "X" in XFL stands for "eXtreme". In actuality, the X never stood for anything.
• The drag race parodies a scene from Grease.
• Grampa sings an altered version of "Old Time Love" by The Rivingtons to Zelda.
• The music in the beginning of the concert is the third movement of Frederick Chopin's Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35.
• On the way to Branson, Missouri, the Simpsons end up in the fictional town of Bronson, Missouri. In Bronson, all the inhabitants (male and female) look and sound like Charles Bronson.
• When Homer asks if "Grampa" is Grandpa Munster, Marge answers, "No, Simpson!" This prompts Homer to stomp the ground like Herman Munster.
• When Homer salutes his sunken ship in "Scrabbleship," he says, "Semper Fi," which is short for Semper Fidelis (Latin for "Always faithful). This is the motto of the United States Marine Corps.
• "Scrabbleship" is an illogical combination of the popular board games Scrabble and Battleship played by Bart and Homer, who apparently created it.

Trivia

• Gloria, from "A Hunka Hunka Burns in Love" earlier in the season, returns in this episode as Snake's girlfriend.

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