When Flanders Failed/References

Cultural references

 * The title of this episode is a reference to the poem .
 * The final scene is a nod to the final scene in It's a Wonderful Life.
 * Rather than go to Ned's barbecue, Homer watches the draft on television.
 * The Saskatchewan Roughriders are also briefly mentioned.
 * Homer asks Ned if The Leftorium is located in "the merry old land of ", a reference to The Wizard of Oz.

Trivia

 * This is the first episode to have Ned Flanders's name somewhere in the title and the first episode to primarily focus on Ned Flanders.
 * Although Ned states in this episode that he is left-handed, he was putting right-handed in the episode "Dead Putting Society".
 * This is the last time the prototype theme music from the Season 2 opening titles is played. This is also the last time that Bart's chalkboard gag has its original high color saturation.
 * Ned's "Hail to the Chef" apron is later used in the Lego set 71006 The Simpsons House.
 * People at the Leftorium include:
 * Emily Winthrop
 * Professor Lombardo
 * Cowboy Bob
 * Richie Sakai
 * Power Plant wife
 * One of Burns' escorts from "Homer's Night Out"
 * Ned sells left-handed nunchakus.
 * Chief Wiggum plays accordion during the song at the end of the episode.
 * At least he holds one in hands during the song.

Goofs

 * Near the end of the episode, Homer congratulates Flanders for being the richest left-handed man in Springfield. This would not be true considering Mr. Burns is also left-handed.
 * However, Homer could have meant that Flanders is the richest in terms of friends and happiness.
 * Or he may have forgotten Mr. Burns was left-handed.
 * During Marge and Homer's argument at the beginning, when Homer says that Ned Flanders is a jerk, his mouth doesn't match what he's saying.
 * When Barney is drinking beer at Moe's Tavern, his chest is, for one frame, the same color as his shirt.
 * When Mr. Burns is notified about the Leftorium, the can and can opener have disappeared from Smither's hands.
 * When Homer discovers that the Leftorium is going out of business, there is a sign that says "Coming Soon: Gum for Less". Later on, though, Ned says the new store is becoming "Libertarian Party Headquarters".
 * When Rod and Todd Flanders are roasting marshmallows in the car, Todd's marshmallow was the only one above the lighter, even though both of them have turned black.
 * At the beginning, when there is a overhead shot of the Simpsons' lawn, the broken lawn mower has disappeared.
 * At the end, you can briefly see Dr. Marvin Monroe. The cigar he is holding instantly changes from white to brown.
 * When Homer buys Ned's living room for $75, Bart is wearing a pink "Ned loves Maude" T-shirt but by the end of the scene where Bart says "Hands off my china hutch", his shirt is the standard orange shirt.
 * When the family is having dinner, the glasses on the table keep disappearing/reappearing between shots.
 * When Homer goes to the barbecue, he grabs a plate of burgers. There isn't a burger at the top of the pile. However, when Flanders talks to him there is a burger on the top.
 * When Mr. Burns brings the pile of tin openers to the cash register, Dr. Monroe's beard is brown.
 * In the scene where Bart is lying on Ned's sofa in the Simpsons' backyard, he is wearing a pink T-shirt reading "MAUDE LOVES NED". In the scene following the establishing shot, "NED" reads "NEL".
 * Furthermore, after this, Bart's T-shirt changes back to its normal light red.