The Telltale Head/References

Episode	References	Gags	Appearances	Gallery	Quotes	Credits

◄ The Call of the Simpsons

The Telltale Head

Life on the Fast Lane ►

Cultural references

• The episode title is a reference to the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe. In addition, Bart actually hears the head talking when he is overcome with guilt, similar to Poe's character's hearing the still-beating heart of the man he murdered in the story.
• The Bridge over the River Kwai - the line "What have I done?", as quoted by Bart just after he cut the head off the statue.
• When Bart awakes to a find the head of Jebediah Springfield in bed next to him, it is reminiscent of the scene from "The Godfather" where Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) "persuades" Woltz to cast Fontane in the movie by leaving the head of the producer's prize racehorse in his bed.

Trivia

• Marge pulls a Radioactive Man comic book from inside Bart's jacket before leaving the house for church.
• Homer has an 8-track tape deck in his car.
• A member of the angry mob carries a sign with the likeness of Jebediah Springfield's head bearing the words, "Have You Seen Me?"
• The football announcer on Homer's car radio says, "This could be the most remarkable comeback since Lazarus rose from the dead."
• Announcer: "Wolodarsky takes it at the 5... oh my, he fumbles," reference to show writer-producer Wallace Wolodarsky.
• A sign inside church where Rev. Lovejoy has just given a sermon on the evils of gambling reads, "Bingo---Tuesday Night. Monte Carlo Night---Wednesday. Reno Retreat Saturday."
• The movie marquee reads, "Space Mutants IV: The Trilogy Continues."
• Among the items Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearney steal from the Kwik-E-Mart is a copy of Playdude magazine.
• Kearney stands on the lawn and leans on a sign that reads "Keep off the Grass."
• Sideshow Bob's hair evolves from a huge red afro.
• When Bart asks Dolph, Kearney and Jimbo how they got the stolen merchandise from the Kwik-E-Mart, Jimbo replies "Five finger discount, man." even though characters in The Simpsons only have four fingers.
• First full appearance of Krusty the Clown.
• First appearances of Reverend Lovejoy, Apu, Ms. Albright, Sideshow Bob, Dolph, Kearney, and Jimbo Jones.
• First appearance of the First Church of Springfield, Bart and Lisa's Sunday school, the Kwik-E-Mart and the Aztec Theater.
• According to the producers, this episode marked the first hint towards Smithers' sexuality (When Mr. Burns mentioned that he loved Smithers, Smithers replies that "the feeling is more than mutual, sir.")
• When Barney asks how long Bart's story will take Bart says, "23 minutes and 5 seconds", meaning the length of the episode.
• In this episode, Dolph and Jimbo originally had each other's voice before they were later switched.
• When the bullies and Bart were watching the clouds, Kearney noted a guy being cut in the back by a switchblade; that guy resembled Hans Moleman.

Goofs

• When Bart enters the Kwik-E-Mart, the doors need to be pushed open to get through. When Bart leaves, the door slides open.
• Someone else could've heard the cluck around the statue considering the fact on how loud it was.
• Sideshow Bob appears with an afro, then later in the episode he appears with his spiky hair.