Moby Dick for Dummies, a reference to Moby Dick. Bart opens the book and reads the phrase "Call me Ishmael, dummy". A reference to Ishmael, the narrator, and the opening line of the book, "Call me Ishmael".
American actor Christopher Walken is reading Goodnight Moon to a group of kids. This children's book is a highly acclaimed bedtime story.
In his movie roles, Walken plays a lot of characters who are psychopathic or high-strung, as alluded to by his scaring the children despite his efforts to the contrary.
Lenny asks poet Maya Angelou if a B-2 bomber, the stealth strategic heavy bomber plane, is more detectable when it rains.
At first, Lenny's questions seemed to be addressed to novelist Tom Clancy, who is best known for his technically detailed espionage and military-science storylines set during and after the Cold War.
Maya Angelou answers poetically, and says that the B-2 bomber is a "Mach 5 child", referring to the fictional racing car Mach Five, from the anime Speed Racer, and hints the controversy the aircraft brings to the United States Congress due to its considerable manufacturing and operating costs.
Lisa gives American author Amy Tan her interpretation of The Joy Luck Club, Tan's most famous novel. Although Tan gets offended, Lisa's interpretation is actually correct.
When Sophie tells Krusty he met her mother during the Gulf War, Krusty asks wether she was American journalist Cokie Roberts.
During the Gulf War, Krusty was part of the United Service Organizations (USO). This is a reference to the USO centers that opened in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War, with many American entertainers performing for the troops.
Krusty saying jokes about Saddam Hussein while holding a golf club parodies Bob Hope, who was an entertainer during the Gulf War and was usually carrying a golf club during his standup segments.
The phrase "Here's your mission, get down with the clown!" by Krusty is a reference to the song "Down with the Clown" by Insane Clown Posse, the band referenced in the episode's title.
After destroying the Duff beer parachute cargo, Krusty parodies the "Who's on First?" comedy routine made by American comedy duo Abbott and Costello. Krusty's version involves Saddam Hussein and the Ayatollah.
When Krusty sees Sophie crying, he offers her some Claritin, the medication used to treat allergies.
The song "I Like That Girl" by the American rock band NRBQ is heard when Krusty spends time with Sophie at the beach.
The song is also heard during the credits.
Krusty attended French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau's funeral, in which he made a joke about tide pools.
When Krusty takes a look at Erin's apartment, he only sees pictures of clowns getting killed and shouts "Oskar Homolka!". This is a reference to actor Oscar Homolka and specifically a reference to Alfred Hitchcock's film Sabotage in which Karl Verloc (Oscar Homolka) is killed by his wife (Sylvia Sidney), something that worries Krusty that could happen with Erin.
Krusty insinuates that the Chechen city of Grozny is a friendlier place than Erin's apartment.
The family is watching Dawson's Creek, the American teen drama TV series.
According to Krusty, the mafia summit gathering includes "mob families" such as the Cuomos, the Travoltas, the Lasordas and the Boyardees. The families mentioned have Italian heritage, something usually associated with the mafia, while "the Boyardees" refer to the American brand of pasta Chef Boyardee.
When Lisa is standing at the microphone, her necklace is white. When she is badmouthed, the camera zooms in on her face, and her necklace is red.
In the shot of Legs and another gangster shooting at each other, Legs has Joey's colors.
When Ned Flanders is on the beach, he is of an average build, with visible body fat. Earlier and later episodes that feature him shirtless depict him as being very physically fit with a pronounced six-pack.
When Krusty goes to give Fat Tony Sophie's violin, the case has a sticker on it with her name, but when Krusty and Homer go to steal it back, the case is stickerless.
Stephen King somehow knew Marge's name, despite Marge not telling him who she was.
