A Star Is Torn/References

References/Trivia

Cultural references

This is the third episode with the title parodying the film A Star Is Born, the other two being "A Star Is Burns" and "A Star Is Born-Again".
The couch gag is a parody of the opening of the television sitcom Get Smart
When Bart hits Lisa with a chicken bone, Bart says "Praise the Lord!", in a Martin Luther King style.
Li'l Starmaker is a parody of American Idol and this is even referenced in the episode ("Not affiliated with American Idol; we've never even heard of American Idol").
This episode seems to draw heavily from Al Jolson's The Jazz Singer.
The city Sideshow Mel asks about during "I'm Talkin' Springfield" is Jacksonville.
Homer's line "Everything I did, I did for you" is a reference to a song from Gypsy, a musical about a vicious stage parent.
Cameron's character could be seen as a parody of the American Idol contestant Clay Aiken.

When Milhouse sings his first line "When a man loves a woman", Lenny and Carl questions his sexuality, causing Milhouse to walk off.
Homer once again shows his talents as a musician (he use to be a part of the Be Sharps).
Lurleen Lumpkin can be seen standing in the mall audience.
Lisa was the only family member who did not get food poisoning.

There are not enough lines on Lisa's note paper to cover the entire of the lyrics to the song "I'm Talkin' Springfield".
At the end of Lisa's performance, Lenny and Carl have gray hair.