The Debarted/References

General

References/Trivia

Appearances

Gags

Credits

Quotes

	Season 19 Episode References
← 412 "Love, Springfieldian Style"	413 "The Debarted"	"Dial "N" for Nerder" 414 →

Cultural references

• The title and plot of the episode reference the 2006 film The Departed. The episode contains several elements of the film, including the use of the Dropkick Murphys song "I'm Shipping Up to Boston", the chasing scene and the ending, which shows a rat.
• Lisa reads The Joy of Sax, a pun on The Joy of Sex.
• When playing basketball Skinner calls himself "Air Skinner", a reference to one of Michael Jordan's nicknames "Air Jordan".
• The car Homer loans is a first generation Cadillac CTS.
• While driving in the loaner car, Homer sings "Driver of a Loaner Car", a parody version of the song "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes.
• Doug mentions Vanderbilt University.
• The table at Bart's treehouse is the same one as the one in Eric Forman's basement in the sitcom That '70s Show. This is a reference to Topher Grace, who guest-starred as Donny and portrayed Eric Forman in the sitcom.
• The song Homer plays in the car with Marge is D'Angelo's version of "Cruisin'".
• The Dropkick Murphys song "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" is heard when Bart and his friends play jokes on Skinner and when Bart is chasing the rat. This song gained worldwide attention for its use in The Departed.
• Martin has a picture of him with Elvis Presley.
• Lisa contributes to the NPR (National Public Radio) by putting a coin in the car stereo.
  • The voice of Terry Gross, who is the host of the famous interviews program Fresh Air, is heard when she introduces a 1987 interview with Senator Alan Cranston.

Bart creates the Diet Coke and Mentos eruption reaction

• Bart mixes Mentos with Diet Coke, referencing the Diet Coke and Mentos eruption reaction.
• Before the Diet Coke and Mentos eruption reaction happens, Skinner says "sorry to plop plop on your fizz fizz" while confronting Bart. "Plop plop, fizz fizz" is the catchphrase of Alka-Seltzer.

Trivia

• At the end of the episode, Ralph states "The rat is a sign of obviousness." He then smiles slightly, hinting that Ralph may have been the one true Rat.

Goofs

• After Principal Skinner locks Bart and Donny in the detention room, he chuckles to himself, but his mouth doesn't move.
• When Bart found out that that Groundskeeper Willie is on Principal Skinner's side as a rat, Bart's lips saying "Willie? You're on Skinner's side?" were out of synch.