Hard Times/References

General

References/Trivia

Appearances

Cultural references

• The title is a reference to the novel by Charles Dickens, Hard Times, in which the setting is Coketown.
• On the TV, it says "Who Used to be a Billionaire?" a reference to the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.

Mr. Burns owned famous art pieces. Many of them were stolen in real life

• Mr. Burns owned various iconic paintings, which many were stolen in real life. These include:
  • Buccleuch Madonna, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci and another artist, was stolen in 2003 and recovered in 2007.
  • Portrait of a Young Man, by Raphael, was stolen in the 1940s and its current location is unknown.
  • Chez Tortoni, by Édouard Manet, was stolen in 1990.
  • The Concert, by Johannes Vermeer, was also stolen in 1990.
• Other pieces include:
  • A painting of four Mr. Burns faces, resembling Marilyn Diptych of Andy Warhol.
  • The Venus de Milo by Alexandros of Antioch.
  • The hands of Adam and God from The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo.
  • A Mercedes-Benz 770, commonly used by many Nazi leaders.
• Throughout the advert, Coca-Cola is seen.