Difference between revisions of "Mona Leaves-a/References"

Revision as of 12:44, December 21, 2025

Cultural references

• The title of the episode is a pun on Leonardo da Vinci's painting, the Mona Lisa.
  • It is the third time a title is used based on this painting, the first two being "Moaning Lisa" and "Moe'N'a Lisa".
• At Springfield Mall, Lisa wanted to lecture food court business that still used styrofoam as food containers.
• The Stuff-N-Hug store is a parody of the popular Build-A-Bear Workshop chain.
• One of the hippos mentions B.A. Baracus, referring to Sergeant Bosco Albert "B.A." (Bad Attitude) Baracus (Mr. T) from The A-Team.
• Homer says Mona always disappears like the show Scrubs. Scrubs is famous for frequently writing characters off the show, often abruptly.
• Food seen at the kitchen in one of Homer's childhood flashbacks include:
  • A can of Quaker on top of the fridge.
  • A KFC bucket inside the fridge. Homer is later eating from it.
  • A box of Yodels.
• On TV, Homer watches the ESPY Awards, an annual American awards show produced by ESPN recognizing individual and team athletic achievement.
  • They are being hosted by Lance Armstrong, who plays himself, and Fozzie Bear from The Muppet Show. Fozzie says his catchphrase, "Wocka wocka!".
  • Fozzie makes a joke referring to the Tour de France as "Tour de Pants".
• Abe planned to do the Hustle dance on Mona's grave. He later change to tap.

Homer's Union Jack parachute scene parodies the pre-title sequence in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.

• The secret missile launch sequence parodies 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice. The music heard also resembles the "James Bond Theme".
• A guard in the mountain references Monk by saying "Ever since you started watching Monk you've been acting like Monk, you're not Monk". Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) was a private detective with obsessive–compulsive disorder.
• Mr. Burns mentions American actress Mamie Van Doren, one of the leading sex symbols in the 1950s.
• Mr. Burns' plan to get rid of his nuclear waste is to put it in a rocket and shoot it into the Amazon Rainforest.
• The psychedelic rock song "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane plays briefly when the hemp purse is burning and the scent is transferred through the ventilation shaft.
• Homer's line when he sets the brick down, "That'll do Brick. That'll do," is a parody of "That'll do, Pig. That'll do", a famous line from the ending of Babe.
• Homer's Union Jack parachute scene is a reference to the pre-title sequence in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.
• During the flashbacks montage:
  • "Mother and Child Reunion" by Paul Simon is heard during the sequence.
  • Homer sleeps while holding a Pillsbury Doughboy doll.
  • Richard Nixon is seen on television.
• The episode was dedicated to Elsie Castellaneta and Dora K. Warren, mothers of Dan Castellaneta and Harry Shearer, respectively.

Trivia

• Originally aired on Mother's Day in 2008.
• The episode was dedicated to Dan Castellaneta's mother, Elsie Castellaneta. She died in January 2008.

Goofs

• The Simpson family returns from the Stuff-N-Hug store in the evening, but as Homer walks into the kitchen, swinging the "Defender", he stops next to a window and the sky outside is much brighter.

Continuity

• This episode is a sequel to "My Mother the Carjacker" and "Mother Simpson".
• Seth, Munchie and Mason Fairbanks are seen at the funeral home. ("D'oh-in' in the Wind" "Homer's Paternity Coot")
• In "The Funeral", Homer said "this is the last funeral we're going to". They have since attended:
  • Aunt Gladys ("Selma's Choice")
  • Bleeding Gums Murphy ("'Round Springfield")
  • Krusty the Clown ("Bart the Fink")
  • Frank Grimes ("Homer's Enemy")
  • Sideshow Bob ("Funeral for a Fiend")
  • Mona Simpson ("My Mother the Carjacker" and "Mona Leaves-a")