Trash of the Titans/References

Cultural references

 * The episode's title is a reference to the 1981 film, .
 * U2 are shown to be touring in the tour, which coincided with the release date of the episode. They play "", with images of Homer being beaten up by security staff on the screens behind them, ironically as the lines "in the name of love" are being sung.
 * Ray Patterson's remarks about how he is moving away from Springfield and the people can wallow in the mess they made by electing Homer was a reference to a 1990 show in Las Vegas where was billed. Twelve people were in attendance. Foxx was introduced via a band that played the theme music to , whereupon an angry Foxx stated he would not perform for such a meager audience and walked off. The band, unsure of what to do, played the Sanford & Son theme music once again.
 * The final scene of the teary-eyed Indian was reference to a number of TV commercials starring Iron Eyes Cody.
 * "The Garbage Man" is a parody of "" from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
 * During "The Garbage Man", appears.

Trivia

 * Homer is disappointed with his Love Day gift of "Sir Loves-a-Lot". Much later in the episode, when garbage bags are being stuffed into the mine shaft, a Sir Loves-a-Lot bear is shown pricked with four hypodermic needles.
 * This episode was dedicated to Linda McCartney, who died shortly before the episode's debut.
 * The original idea for the script would be for the entire town to be raised by hydraulics, then come back down to smoosh all the garbage, but was dismissed as being too ridiculous.
 * U2 drummer appears in the episode although he has no lines.
 * The script originally planned to have Homer run for mayor.
 * U2's head of Principal Management Paul McGuinness and Susie Smith, an employee of Principal Management and Adam Clayton's then girlfriend also make brief appearances in the episode as themselves. Smith is the bald camera control operator, McGuiness lets Homer by after claiming he's the "potato man".
 * The phrase Homer uses "Good news everyone" when announcing to the family his fight with the garbage man is later used as a catchphrase by Professor Farnsworth in Futurama.

Goofs

 * When Ned comes to complain, he is shown on the doorstep, then suddenly appears 3 steps away.
 * Homer throws trash on Ned through a window that appears just above Homer's front door. Later, the window disappears again.
 * This fact is acknowledged and joked about on the episode's DVD commentary.