Midnight Rx/References
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Cultural references
- The episode title is a pun on the 1978 American prison drama Midnight Express.
The Plywood Pelican, created by Mr. Burns, is a parody of the Hughes H-4 Hercules, commonly known as the Spruce Goose, designed and built by American aviator and magnate Howard Hughes
- At Springfield Air and Space Museum:
- Two Saturn Vs hold the "Welcome Springfield Nuclear Plant Employees!" sign.
- The Spirit of Shelbyville is a parody of the Spirit of St. Louis, preserved at the National Air and Space Museum.
- World War II planes seen include a P-51 Mustang and a Corsair.
- The Wright Flyer and the Bell X-1, the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in controlled level flight, are hanging from the roof.
- The narrator from the History of Flight mentions an IMAX theater located at Cape Canaveral.
- The Enola Gay is seen.
- Agnes Skinner was a wing walker in her youth.
- The 1902 classic piano rag, "The Entertainer", is her during her performance.
- The film features typical stunts from barnstorming.
- The Plywood Pelican, created by Mr. Burns, is a parody of the Hughes H-4 Hercules, commonly known as the Spruce Goose, designed and built by American aviator and magnate Howard Hughes.
- According to the pamphlet, it weighs more than the state of New Hampshire.
- After the plane had a fire incident, Mr. Burns was fired by the Führer.
- Homer used the Apollo 12 Lunar Module as a bathroom.
- When escaping from the plant employees, Burns and Smithers fly by a full moon in a makeshift aircraft, parodying the iconinc bicycle scene in the 1982 American science fantasy film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
- To earn more money, Homer asked if "those guys on Friends need another friend", referencing the TV sitcom. He also mentions Rachel Green, one of the main characters.
- The man at the employment agency plays a game clearly modelled after Doom.
- Krusty demands the audience to send him lithium bromide to treat his bipolirity. This drug was used as a sedative beginning in the early 1900s, but it fell into disfavor in the 1940s as newer sedatives became available.
- Dr. Hibbert, quietly backed by pharmaceutical companies, is seen wearing an Allegra cap, a Celebrex gold chain, and a Prilosec hoodie. Allegra, Celebrex, and Prilosec are brand names for fexofenadine, celecoxib, and omeprazole, respectively. He is also sponsored by Pfizer, the American pharmaceutical company.
- "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot is heard during the dancers performance.
- Huey Lewis and the News sing "I Want a New Drug" and parts of the real music video for the song are seen in the Pharm-er John's Pharmaceuticals ad.
- Abe mentions having "died" during World War II.
At the Canadian border, a sign reads "Now Celine Dion-free," referencing Dion's move to Las Vegas for her residency at Caesars Palace
- At the Canadian border, a sign reads "Now Celine Dion-free," referencing Dion's move to Las Vegas for her residency at Caesars Palace.
- Johnny mentions Regina and Saskatoon, the two largest cities in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, which have a longstanding rivalry.
- The name of the store Dudley Do-Drugs is a pun on Dudley Do-Right, a fictional Canadian character from The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends.
- At this pharmacy, Abe orders Vioxx, Coumadin, albuterol, and Prevacid.
- The song playing while Homer and Abe are obtaining the drugs is "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane, a song known for its drug-related imagery and references.
- At this pharmacy, Abe orders Vioxx, Coumadin, albuterol, and Prevacid.
- The members of Los Souvenir Jacquitos wear souvenir jackets from Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, and Jurassic Park. They also give Abe an Operation Dumbo Drop souvenir jacket.
- Lisa mentions Xanax and Zoloft.
- When the for men drive to Canada, a road sign can be seen that points to Gimli, Manitoba.
- Apu asks help from Shiva, one of the principal deities of Hinduism.
- Ned mentions Hawkman, the superhero from DC Comics.
- The Canadian Flanders mentions Vietnam War.
- Ned mentions Fox News.
- Homer imagines himself and Abe being carried by King Kong to enter Canada.
- Homer mistakes Burns for American actress Katharine Hepburn. Hepburn portrayed a pilot in the 1933 pre-Code romantic drama film Christopher Strong.
- During their last drug run, when Homer asks Johnny how he can repay him, Johnny responds by saying that he would like to see someone "with an IQ of a child get executed by the state" because they "don't get that up here." Canada officially abolished the death penalty in 1976.
- Groundskeeper Willie mentions Propecia.
- The scene in which Mr. Burns revives Smithers parodies the Disney films Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, with Smithers lying in a glass coffin, and Sleeping Beauty, with Smithers locked in a room in the palace.
Trivia
General
- This episode reveals that Lisa takes Xanax and Zoloft for stress problems.
- When Homer, Grampa, Flanders, and Apu go to Winnipeg a sign can be seen as they enter the city. It reads: Welcome to Winnipeg. We were born here, what's your excuse?
- The couch gag features Lisa saying "What, can't we sit on the couch without something happening?". This references the couch gag in "The Call of the Simpsons", where the family run onto the couch and nothing happens.
Broadcast
- Ironically, with part of the episode taking place in Winnipeg, CKND, the Winnipeg station that airs first-run episodes of The Simpsons, aired an NFL playoff game on January 16, 2005 in place of this episode.
- Krusty the Clown mentions that he needs lithium dibromide (LiBr) to treat his bipolar disorder. Lithium dibromide appears to be a reference to either lithium bromide, which is used in air-conditioning systems, or lithium carbonate which is commonly used to treat bipolar disorder. Lithium dibromide is also incorrectly named using the system of IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic chemistry. This line was cut from the episode when it aired on Sky One. What is heard on the UK airing is the end of his speech which is "Nobody likes a bipolar clown." Krusty does his trademark laugh, then begins to cry. He repeats this laugh-cry pattern a few times.
Continuity
- Flanders needs insulin for Rod whose diabetes is mentioned in "The Dad Who Knew Too Little".
- On the Canadian News, Homer is referred to as a former U.S. astronaut. ("Deep Space Homer")
- Homer being restricted from entering Canada is a reference to the episode "Kill the Alligator and Run" which involves the whole Simpson family being banned from Florida.
- Sideshow Mel's lactose intolerance is mentioned. ("Bart Gets Famous")
Goofs
- When the Canadian Ned offers Flanders a "reeferino" and says that "it's legal here", this is somewhat incorrect as non-medicinal marijuana is still technically illegal in Canada, but punishment for possession of the drug in small amounts is relatively minor, and jail time for possession is very unlikely. This scene makes reference to the ongoing debate about the de-criminalization of marijuana in Canada.
- When Homer, Grampa, Ned and Apu are returning to the United States, they encounter an RCMP officer at the border, in full uniform. In actuality, RCMP officers only wear the Red Serge on special occasions; as well, the CBSA is responsible for patrolling the border on the Canadian side, not the RCMP. Additionally, in reality when crossing the Canada - United States border, people only need to check in with the country they are entering, not the one they are leaving. These three exact errors also happened in an episode of That 70's Show. One more small issue is when one RCMP officer asks the other if Homer had a passport, when in reality passports at the time were not required to cross the border.
- Earlier in the show Mr. Burns mentions that rain makes the Plywood Pelican catch fire. Later, it is shown in a dock.
- When Grampa announces that he wants to fight the system, his beard is drawn over his glasses for a few frames.
