Million-Dollar Abie/References
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Trivia
- The teaser for the upcoming The Simpsons Movie, which had previously only appeared during the previews for Ice Age: The Meltdown, made its TV debut during this episode. Homer's dialogue is different: in the movie he expressed uncertainty; in the TV airing, he says "I forgot what I'm supposed to say!" Both versions end with him saying "Uh oh, we better get started" when the movie's release date of July 27, 2007 is given.
- When Abe is waiting for someone to call him, the simulated time lapse effect and music parody the movie Koyaanisqatsi, a movie parodied seven years earlier in the episode "Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder".
- The bodies of the Blue Man Group can be seen in the Las Vegas garbage barge.
- During the scene where the citizens of Springfield are running from the bulls, you can see a bearded man with a hat in the corner. He is modelled after long time Simpsons writer George Meyer and has appeared in several episodes, notably as one of the writers in "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show" and one of the bachelors in "Special Edna".
- An outtake shown during the closing credits shows a young Abe "naming names" to the House Un-American Activities Committee.
- The sounds that can be heard in the basement when Homer was in there are:
1. Power tool whirling
2. Hammering
3. Typewriter key clanking, return carriage dings
4. Pinball machine jingling
5. Bowling pins falling
6. European siren wails
7. Children in a ghostly voice saying "Ring around the rosy." - The full name for the new Springfield Stadium is (as shown on Homer's model):
DUFF BEER
KRUSTYBURGER
BUZZ COLA
COSTINGTON'S DEPARTMENT STORE
KWIK-E-MART
STUPID FLANDERS
PARK - The names Rob Reiner covered up with his first and last name in the video are Carl Reiner, his father, and Rob Lowe.
- The euthanasia machine Abe is hooked up to is called the diePod, an obvious spoof of the ever popular iPod series of MP3 players created by Apple.
- This was the fourth episode of The Simpsons to be classified M in Australia. It received an advisory notice for "Adult themes". The episode premiered on Network Ten at 8.30pm, Tuesday 8th August, followed by a re-run of Treehouse of Horror XV.
Cultural References
- The title of this episode is a play on the 2004 movie, Million Dollar Baby
- The celebrities who appear in the "Springfield Blows" video include Michael Jackson, Jack Nicholson, Steven Spielberg, Jim Jam Bonks (The Simpsons' parody of Jar Jar Binks), The Who, Bono, Sting, Barbra Streisand, Sylvester Stallone, Freddy Krueger and El Kabong.
- The euthanasia center is a spoof of the one in Soylent Green.
- One of the options on the diePod's menu is "Megadeath", an allusion to the thrash metal band Megadeth.
- The Doctor that helps Grampa try to kill himself an obvious reference to Dr. Jack Kevorkian.
- The name of the Glenn Miller Orchestra song that Grampa requested may be pennyslvania 6-5000.
- The song that plays when Abe 'lives it up' is 'Superman' by R.E.M. from their 1986 album, Lifes Rich Pageant.
Goofs
- When Marge makes her comments about the bull taunter and bull stabber, she points to them conversely. When she mentions the bull taunter, the picador who lances the bull is shown.
- After the diePod is hauled away, there is junk on the floor. In the next shot of the floor, it is clean.
- When Maggie's words are translated it is revealed that she thinks Homer is her "bald mommy." However in Lisa's First Word she clearly knows who Homer is, as her first words were "Daddy."
