Grift of the Magi/References

References/Trivia

Cultural references

Milhouse sings "Sisters are doin' it for themselves!", a song by Aretha Franklin and the Eurythmics and covered on The Yellow Album by Lisa, Ann and Nancy Wilson and Patty and Selma.
The toy, Funzo, is a parody of the popular Furby dolls (although the Furby dolls were mentioned in the story line as an example of a popular toy).
Gary Coleman once worked as a security guard in real life. Coleman spoofed Arnold's (Coleman's character in Diff'rent Strokes) catchphrase, "Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?", three times.
At the end, the narrator says Mr. Burns was visited by three ghosts in the night which showed him the error of his ways, a homage to A Christmas Carol.
The narrator also says that Moe, in his annual suicide attempt, was shown what the world would be like without him after sticking his head in his oven. This is a reference to the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life.
This episode's title is a pun on O. Henry's short story The Gift of the Magi.
Funzo's metallic frame maybe a reference to the endoskeleton of The Terminator.

Even though Bart said he wouldn't bring a toy to school, he is shown with a Krusty doll.