Viva Ned Flanders/References
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Cultural references
- The title of the episode is a reference to the film and song "Viva Las Vegas".
- The song "Viva Las Vegas" is played during the montage where Ned and Homer are running away from their wives in the casino.
- Ned references the theme tune to the sitcom "Maude" when he proclaims "And then there's Maude!"
- While driving to Las Vegas, Homer sings Deep Purple's "Highway Star" with lyrics about Ned.
- The Moody Blues were the opening act for the Satin Knights, a Moody Blues tribute band.
- The chalkboard gag references Jerry Seinfeld.
- While driving in the desert, author and journalist Hunter S. Thompson and his lawyer pass Ned and Homer in the oncoming lane, drawn in the style of the Ralph Steadmann painting, The Savage Journey. This is a reference to the Hunter S. Thompson novel, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
- Comic Book Guy's bumper stickers include a series of sci-fi references, including Star Trek ("I Brake for Tribbles", "My Child is an Honor Student at Starfleet Academy" and "Keep Honking, I'm Charging My Phaser"), Star Wars ("My Other Car is the Millennium Falcon"), The X-Files ("The Truth is in Here"), as well as The Simpsons itself ("Kang Is My Co-Pilot").
- On the church marquee, the text says "TODAY'S TOPIC: He knows what you did last summer." This may be a reference to the 1997 movie I Know What You Did Last Summer, which is based on the 1973 novel of the same name.
- When their getting married, the preacher says "the power invested in me by the Chicago Outfit". The Chicago Outfit is a Italian-American Mafia group based in Chicago, with resources and territory in Las Vegas. Perhaps it's most famous member is Alphonse "Al" "Scarface" Capone, which was its boss from the 1920s all the way up until 1932, when he was arrested for tax evasion.
- After Ned signs the papers to join Homer's "program", Homer says "One day soon, I will come for you and then the game will begin. Could be in the middle of the night. It could be when you least expect it." This line could be a reference to a similar scene in the 1997 mystery thriller The Game.
Continuity
Goofs
- This episode reveals that Ned is 60 years old, but earlier in "Hurricane Neddy", it's revealed he was a little boy 30 years ago, so he should've been 30 then.
Trivia
- On the premiere episode (and the syndicated reruns), Homer mutters that Barney Gumble's birthday is the same day as Adolf Hitler's (April 20th). Because the Columbine school shooting happened on that day, the line on the UK version and the season 10 DVD set is changed to "Barney's birthday is July 15th, same day as Lassie's."
- Marge’s line, “Now it’s Marge’s time to shine!” was later used as one of her quotes on the official Simpsons website, along with a quote from “Mr. Spritz Goes To Washington”.
