Milhouse of Sand and Fog/References

Cultural references

 * The term "Pox Box" is a play on the former name of, Fox Box.
 * The beginning of this episode (the Pox Party) is similar to the South Park episode "". Ironically, this is a case where "South Park Already Did It".
 * In the scene parodying The O.C., in addition to the cheating scene, it also involves the O.C. gang going to Knott's Berry Farm (along with a person dressed as from Peanuts), with The O.C.'s theme song "" playing (Snoopy then forces the O.C. kids to take out money from an ATM at gunpoint). California is also played over the ending credits.
 * In one scene, Bart and Milhouse are acting out the song "" from the and  musical .
 * When Milhouse stumbled upon Luann and Kirk making out during the Pox Party, he exclaims "Sweet Lizzie McGuire!"

Trivia

 * Doctors are actually against the idea of pox parties that was used in this episode, claiming people should get the chickenpox vaccine instead as a safer alternative.
 * People at the A.M.E church include:
 * Julius Hibbert, Bernice Hibbert and the Hibbert children.
 * Carl Carlson
 * Lou
 * Drederick Tatum
 * Lucius Sweet
 * Lewis Clark
 * Sideshow Raheem
 * Alcatraaaz
 * The stewardess from "Simpson Safari"

Continuity

 * Bart's fall over the cliff references two past Simpsons moments. First, Bart falling on the rocks references Homer's famous fall over Springfield Gorge in "Bart the Daredevil". Second, the idea of having a Simpson use a dummy over a cliff to fake their own death was used by Homer in "Mother Simpson".
 * This is the second time Milhouse's therapist Professor Wexler is referred to, the first time being "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming".

Goofs

 * Marge worries adult-onset chicken pox will render Homer sterile—but years of working in a nuclear power plant have already done that. However, only Mr. Burns and Smithers know this, and they covered it up to avoid paying compensation (although this is unnecessary as they already tricked Homer into signing a liability waiver in "Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?"). Then again, Homer asks if he's sterile in "Eight Misbehavin'", and Marge assures him he is. So either he found out at some point or she was fibbing to avoid an awkward conversation.
 * Milhouse (apparently) already had the chicken pox once, in "Lady Bouvier's Lover", but it is possible to contract the disease twice.
 * Carl is seen a black church despite being a Buddhist.
 * Marge threatens Bart that she will delete all his custom ringtones on his cell phone but he doesn't have a cell phone until "Lost Verizon".
 * He could have had a phone and lost it
 * In a scene after Maggie gets Chicken-Pox, Maggie appears from the box, but there is no sign of chicken-pox on her.
 * Homer's chicken-pox disappears when he takes food out of the refrigerator.