Difference between revisions of "Children of a Lesser Clod/References"

Latest revision as of 17:24, September 14, 2026

Cultural references[edit]

• The episode title is a reference to the 1986 romantic drama film Children of a Lesser God.
• The chalkboard gag is "Today is not Mothra's day". This is a play on words on Mother's Day, which in the USA fell on the episode's original airdate, and Mothra, a monster from the Godzilla franchise.
• In 1983, Soviet coach Lugash "cartwheeled" over the Berlin Wall to get to the United States.
  • Lugash is a parody of weight trainer Béla Károlyi.
• In the gym, Comic Book Guy is wearing a Muttley T-shirt from Wacky Races.
• Professor Frink is wearing shoes with flubber. This is a reference to 1997 film Flubber (a remake of The Absent-Minded Professor) in which professor Philip Brainard creates a sentient green goo with enormous elasticity.
• Rainier Wolfcastle's plan to convert the YMCA so he can hunt "the most dangerous prey of all: man" is a reference to The Most Dangerous Game.
• Homer's line "I believe you can fly!" references R. Kelly's song "I Believe I Can Fly" from the 1996 film Space Jam.
  • The song Carl sings with lyrics "Go Carl. It's my birthday" parodies 50 Cent's famous hit "In da Club", with the opening "Go shawty. It's your birthday".
• When playing basketball at Springfield YMCA, Homer shares a strategy he was saving for the Olympics, or possibly the final four.

George Jetson hits Homer with a spacecar. Homer yells "Jetson!" in a similar way Cosmo Spacely, George's boss, yells at him

• George Jetson, the main character from Hanna-Barbera's cartoon The Jetsons, hits Homer with a spacecar. Homer yells "Jetson!" in a similar way Cosmo Spacely, George's boss, yells at him.
• The porn film name Doctor Screwlittle is a parody of Doctor Dolittle.
• Barney asks Marge if she could make him some Jell-O.
• Lisa has to attend a rally for Take Back the Afternoon, a parody of the anti-violence organization Take Back the Night.
• Homer plays "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye on the radio. The song features romantic and sexual lyricism.
• Ned thinks he has tickets for a Christian Rock concert but they are actually for a concert featuring American comedian Chris Rock.
• Rod and Todd and Homer are watching the real American comedy series Kids Say the Darnedest Things, starring Bill Cosby.
  • A kid on the show replies to Cosby's question "What do you like to play?" with Pokémon.
• The song "Encyclopedia" by American rock band NRBQ is heard at Uncle Homer's Daycare Center.
• The "crazy" torch song that Homer sings while babysitting Rod and Todd is the 1969 hit song by Peggy Lee called "Is That All There Is?".
• Homer sings "If You're Happy and You Know It" with the children.
• People from the Teamsters labor union are sleeping in Bart's room.
• The New York Times criticized The Good Guy Awards as "Pointless".
• Mother Teresa Jr., a non-existent daughter of nun Mother Teresa, is a candidate for the award.
• A poster of Xena from Xena: Warrior Princess franchise is on the wall of Comic Book Guy's office.
• The Good Guy Awards sponsor is Hansen's Hypno-Coins, a reference to Hansen's beverage company.
• When Ralph asks where they are going, Homer's reply is "For some frosty chocolate milkshakes", a reference to his old catchphrase used in The Tracey Ullman Show shorts.

Goofs[edit]

• When Sanjay can be spotted in the Good Guy Awards' audience, he has yellow skin.