Monty Burns' Fleeing Circus/References

Cultural references

 * The episode title is a reference to the series .
 * On the title screen, Kodos flies across with a banner reading "Vote Kodos make the universe great again", a reference to the presidential campaign of Donald Trump.
 * The blackboard text references the.
 * The couch gag is a parody of .
 * Skinner and Chalmers walk the aisles of Springfield Bowl dressed as.
 * The new Lard Lad statue destroying the town is a probable reference to, a London skyscraper which has been in the news for reflecting sunlight in a similar manner which caused damage to the sidewalk and cars parked nearby.
 * Ralph imitates Porky Pig from Looney Tunes saying "That's all folks!" while in the fire of the New Lard Lad Donuts's metallic statue on Springfield Tire Yard.
 * Homer mentions filling water guns up with iced tea and lemonade to spray Lenny with to make an and later Lenny and Carl spray Homer with these. The drink was named after US golfer  who coincidentally died the same day this episode aired.
 * Chief Wiggum compares the Lard Lad Donuts statue being missing like the time was stolen.
 * When Marge says "there's only one man we can turn to", Homer answers "Supergirl?".
 * In the couch gag, one of the Spucklers is wearing Mickey Mouse ears.
 * The Channel 6 headline for the riot was , the name of a heavy metal band.
 * The song  by plays during one of the Power Plant's "parties".
 * Crazy Cat Lady sings by.
 * Homer references Spider-Man saying "With above average height comes above average responsibility", a reference to the Spider-Man's "With great power comes great responsibility".
 * Rod and Todd's performance is playing and singing .
 * Sherri and Terri's performance is a reference to .
 * The song playing during the end credits is "" by.
 * The first film seen on the is .
 * Characters in the audience seen laughing at the child Burns are:
 * Charlie Chaplin as his character.
 * in.
 * Itchy as Steamboat Itchy.
 * Rod and Todd, on stage with their instruments, are reprising the act.
 * Todd's line, "God always liked you best" is a riff on Tommy Smothers' catch phrase, "Mom always liked you best."

Continuity

 * In the couch gag several references to past episode appears:
 * The Multi-eyed squirrel. (The Simpsons Movie)
 * "H.J.S. + M.B." initials written inside a heart carved in a tree. ("The Way We Weren't")
 * Springfield Lemon Tree. ("Lemon of Troy")
 * Bobo. ("Rosebud")
 * Barney, dressed as Plow King, is driving his Plow King's Plow. ("Mr. Plow")
 * Moe as a yeti. ("Moe Goes from Rags to Riches")
 * The Angel Skeleton on the ground. ("Lisa the Skeptic")
 * Homer is shown flying over a canyon on a skateboard, but he fails to make over to the other side and tumbles down the canyon. ("Bart the Daredevil")
 * Lisa plays the saxophone in a cave full of fireworks and with Linguo near her. ("Trilogy of Error")
 * The Olmec Head. ("Blood Feud")
 * The Grumple chases Rod and Todd on the road. ("Kill Gil, Volumes I & II")
 * A picture of Stampy on Bart's Treehouse. ("Bart Gets an Elephant")
 * In the dump several items appear:
 * A picture of nude Mr. Burns. ("Brush with Greatness")
 * A Funzo skeleton. ("Grift of the Magi")
 * Chief Knock-A-Homer. ("I, (Annoyed Grunt)-bot")
 * The Homer. ("Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?")
 * The Bear Buster 5000. ("The Fat and the Furriest")
 * Monorail car. ("Marge vs. the Monorail")
 * Mr. Sparkle's box. ("In Marge We Trust")
 * The Hive. ("'Cue Detective")
 * Devil's Advocate. ("Insane Clown Poppy")
 * The Inanimate carbon rod. ("Deep Space Homer")
 * Among the spectators laughing at young Mr. Burns is Itchy from Steamboat Itchy.
 * Maude Flanders and Edna Krabappel appear as ghosts next to Ned. ("Alone Again, Natura-Diddily", "The Man Who Grew Too Much")

Goofs

 * In some frames in Burns' Mansion, Maggie is swivel-eyed.
 * At the first audition, Lisa's headset changes sides between scenes.
 * Manjula changes clothes between two scenes.
 * When Mrs. Burns was licking Mr. Burns at the pageant, a line appears through her face for a frame.
 * Krusty's makeup turns yellow for a few frames.
 * Apu is seen with the octuplets in baby carriers in the start of the episode, but a few seconds later, he appears with Manjula when the town of Springfield are looking up at the sky without wearing the octuplets in the baby carriers.

Trivia

 * This is the second episode which primary focus is on Burns, and also the second episode in which Burns auditions people, this time for a Virtual Reality family.