The Way of the Dog/References

General

References/Trivia

Appearances

Gags

Credits

Quotes

	Season 31 Episode References
← 683 "The Hateful Eight-Year-Olds"	684 "The Way of the Dog"	"Undercover Burns" 685 →

Cultural references

• The episode's title is a reference to the 1700 play The Way of the World.
• Homer sings a parody of "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms.
• Homer plays Candy Crush on his myPad but then crushes real candies.
• Homer watches UFC Fight 243 on his myPad. Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, the main professional fighters in the UFC 243, can be seen.
• At Springfield Knowledge College, Comic Book Guy's dog looks like Krypto, the superhero dog.
• Sideshow Mel is driving a Mazda MX-5.
• Lisa reads a book called Looking for Mister Good Boy, which is a reference to the title of the 1975 novel Looking for Mr. Goodbar.
  • The novel was previously parodied in the title of the Season 28 episode "Looking for Mr. Goodbart", which was also written by Carolyn Omine.
  • According to Lisa, in the book's acknowledgements section Dr. Elaine Wolff thanks all 101 dalmatians, a reference to Disney's franchise 101 Dalmatians.
• Oogle is a parody of Google.
• When Homer puts an Elizabethan collar on himself, he compares himself to the Pixar logo. He is referring to Luxo Jr., the desk lamp character used as the primary mascot of Pixar.
• Chief Wiggum imagines himself as a balloon in a parade with "La Marseillaise" playing in the back.
• "Dognitive behavioral therapy" is a play on Cognitive behavioral therapy, the therapy to improve mental health.

Elaine Wolff gives Santa's Little Helper "Snausage water", a reference to the sausage-looking dog treats Snausages

• At the Dognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute:
  • Elaine Wolff gives Santa's Little Helper "Snausage water". Snausages were a brand of dog treats first introduced in the 1980s by Del Monte Foods, which became part of the now-defunct Big Heart Pet Brands. The treats were designed to resemble small sausages.
  • The dogs eating in small tables in a restaurant resemble the iconic restaurant scene from Lady and the Tramp.
  • One of the dogs holds a plush that resembles SpongeBob SquarePants.
• Homer prays to St. Bernard, the breed of dog.
• Dr. Hibbert wants to watch Euphoria TV series on HBO Go.
• She Biscuit's name is a reference to the American racehorse Seabiscuit, who became the top money-winning racehorse up to the 1940s. The horse has been the subject of numerous books and films, including the 2003 Academy Award-nominated film Seabiscuit.
• When Santa's Little Helper runs towards She Biscuit, "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand plays. The episode's version is sung by Suzanne Waters.

Trivia

• The episode was dedicated in memory of Little Richard who passed away on May 9, eight days before this episode aired.
• This is the last episode with the production company under the name 20th Century Fox Television, before being renamed as 20th Television.

Continuity

• Four of the Simpson family's dead animals appear on the title screen:
  • Snowball I. ("Stark Raving Dad")
  • Nibbles. ("Lisa the Veterinarian")
  • Bart's turtle. ("Don't Fear the Roofer")
  • Mr. Pinchy. ("Lisa Gets an "A"")
• Footage of Bart and Homer adopting Santa's Little Helper is shown. ("Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire")

← Season 30 Season 31 References Season 32 →

The Winter of Our Monetized Content • Go Big or Go Homer • The Fat Blue Line • Treehouse of Horror XXX • Gorillas on the Mast • Marge the Lumberjill • Livin La Pura Vida • Thanksgiving of Horror • Todd, Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? • Bobby, It's Cold Outside • Hail to the Teeth • The Miseducation of Lisa Simpson • Frinkcoin • Bart the Bad Guy • Screenless • Better Off Ned • Highway to Well • The Incredible Lightness of Being a Baby • Warrin' Priests: Part One • Warrin' Priests: Part Two • The Hateful Eight-Year-Olds • The Way of the Dog