One Flu Over Springfield/References

References/Trivia

Cultural references[edit]

The story's title is a pun on the novel, play, and film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
The cold/flu medication Flu Fighters is a pun on the alternative rock band Foo Fighters.
When Moe arrives at the Simpson home to baby-sit Maggie, he says they're going to watch a marathon of Real Midwives of Amish Country, a reference to the reality TV show The Real Housewives and its spin-offs set in various locations.
The depiction of the spread of the flu epidemic in Springfield is reminiscent of the account of the spread of the apocalyptic superflu epidemic in the Stephen King novel The Stand.
M*A*S*H: Rev. Lovejoy is infected with the flu and unknowingly infects the congregation of the First Church of Springfield when he serves them Holy Communion. In the episode "Hepatitis", Father Mulcahy contracts hepatitis and is concerned that he can't serve Communion because he'll infect everyone when he places the wafers on their tongues.
- Lovejoy is later seen at Dr. Hibbert's office giving Flu Fighters tablets to infected church members, in a scene that resembles a Communion service.
Comic Book Guy takes a plane flight out of town to get away from the epidemic, and tells his seatmate that he'll try not to recite dialogue from the Doctor Who episodes he'll be watching during the flight.