Cultural references[edit]
- The title of the episode is a reference to the book The Joy of Sex, by Alex Comfort.
- Just Crichton and King Bookstore's name is a reference to authors Michael Crichton and Stephen King. Moleman asks if they have anything by Robert Ludlum.
- Homer sings "Fishing" to the tune of the "Batman Theme" by Neal Hefti. Later, Glen and the Movementarians sings "Leader" to the same tune.
- In the Movementarians' orientation film, the string on the model UFO is visible, a reference to the movie Plan 9 From Outer Space.
- When Mr. Burns designs a logo for his new religion, it looks like the Special K logo, which Smithers then points out is already a breakfast cereal.
- When Mr. Burns introduces his new religion, most of the sequence is a parody of the video for Michael Jackson's "HIStory".
- One of the questions asked in Movementariasm school is "Who invented Morse code?"
- Barney the Dinosaur from Barney & Friends sings "We Love Him" to the babies, a parody of the ending song of the show, "I Love You". This song is sung to the tune of "This Old Man".
- During the cult wedding, "Royal Court" by Debbie Wiseman plays.
- When Marge attempts to escape the compound, she:
- Willie scratching his fingernails on the window and offering to kidnap and kill Homer is a reference to the character of Quint in the film Jaws.
- Ned has a picture of the Last Supper on his wall.
Movementarianism spoofed several cults, among them:
- Moonies: Where inductees were led to a compound with balloons and banners reading "Welcome Home, Brothers & Sisters"; heavy involvement in group activities with little, if any, privacy, and mass marriages where couples were married en masse by Sun Myung Moon.
- Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (also called "Osho"): Like The Leader, the Bhagwan was famous for driving in a Rolls-Royce while his followers lined the side of the road to watch him go by and greet their leader on his daily drive-bys. At one point Osho held the world record for ownership of Rolls-Royces by an individual, 93 in all.
- Aum Shinrikyo: The Japanese cult responsible for the 1995 sarin gas attack in Kobe, Japan. Inductees were subject to intense sessions in order to breakdown beliefs in their former lives and signed a statement saying "I hereby entrust power of attorney and all my assets to Aum", similar to Movementarians signing over all title to the Leader. Aum was led by Shoko Ashara who propezied the world was doomed and he was the only way to a higher world.
- Scientology: Belief in an extraterrestrial power.
- Heaven's Gate: Belief that a spaceship would come to Earth to take worthy members to a paradise planet. Cult leader was also known for micromanagement of member's lives.
- The sign at Springfield Airport reads: "No Crashes Since Tuesday".
- Mr Burns only pays $3 tax per year.
- Movementarian schoolbook titles:
- Arithmetic the Leader's Way
- Science for Leader Lovers
Continuity[edit]
- Willie, Lovejoy, and Marge are all unable to knock out Homer by hitting him with bats - this is a reference to the episode "The Homer They Fall", which reveals Homer has a protective layer around his brain which gives him extra protection.
- Bart was taken out of school to watch the team arrive, yet Mrs. Krabappel is there as well.
- At the dinner table, Agnes Skinner has blue hair.
- Lenny remains in the Christian church despite seeing the orientation film.
- In the picture of the Simpsons that Kent Brockman shows, Maggie doesn't have her hair ribbon.
