Sideshow Bob Roberts/References
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< Sideshow Bob Roberts
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Cultural references
- The title of the episode is a reference to Bob Roberts, a 1992 film following the eponymous politician, suggesting that success comes from shady deals, hypocrisy, and deceit.
- Much of the episode is based on the Watergate scandal and borrows many elements from the film All the President's Men which focused on the investigation into the incident by reports Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. These include the meeting with Smithers and the overheard shot of Lisa in the library. Also, Lisa compares herself and Bart to Woodward and Bernstein.
- Bob enters the meeting wrapped in an American flag, a reference to the film poster of Bob Roberts'.
- According to Carl, right-wing conservative talk radio show host Birch Barlow once said that American politician Ted Kennedy lacked integrity.
- Birch Barlow is a parody of American talk show host and political commentator Rush Limbaugh. His first name is a reference to the John Birch Society, an American right-wing political advocacy group.
- Skinner says "Gong hei fat choi" (Cantonese for "Wishing you prosperity and wealth"), one of the most common greetings in the Chinese New Year celebration.
- The song playing on the radio when Lisa drives the car is "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" by John Parr.
- During Sideshow Bob's call to the radio show, he makes a reference to American politicians George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.
- Mayor Quimby changes the name of the highway to Matlock Expressway, after the 1986 TV series Matlock.
- The conservatives Birch Barlow mentions in his show include:
- American political commentator and retired US Marine Colonel Oliver North.
- Officer Stacey Koon, one of the Los Angeles police officers involved in the 1991 beating of Rodney King.
- Joe Camel, the advertising mascot used by the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for their cigarette brand Camel.
- Edna Krabappel makes a reference to the 1994 South African general election, which were the first in which citizens of all races were allowed to take part.
- The fanged, green-skinned member of the Springfield Republican Party is the vampire from the film Nosferatu.
- Archie, Jughead and Reggie from Archie Comics throw Homer out of their car, while Moose says "Duh, stay out of Riverdale!". It is not known how he met them or what he did to offend them.
- Homer later refers to them again; he is seen reading an Archies comic and comments, "Riverdale punks, think they're too good for me!".
- Bob's aides are parodies of Richard Nixon's advisors during Watergate, H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman.
- Quimby's appearance at the debate mimics Nixon's appearance at the 1960 Presidential debate after he had just recovered from a cold.
- In court, Bob says, "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!" quoting Jack Nicholson's famous line from the movie A Few Good Men.
Trivia
- Sideshow Bob was released by Democratic mayor Joe Quimby after pressure from Republican-inspired protests. In "Black Widower" he claimed he and his prisonmates would be released on the streets once the Democrats were back in power.
- Humphrey Boa-Gart, one of Sideshow Bob's fake voters who is buried in the Springfield Pet Cemetery, is a reference to movie star Humphrey Bogart and boa snakes.
- Names seen in the phone book include:
- Gorilla A.
- Getty C.
- Jay Weinstein
- Bert Gaines
- Robert Gordon
- Teil Moss
- Toby Muntz
- Allison Neu
- Cathey Neu
- Jack Neu
- Jeb Neu
- Jennifer Neu
- Ken Neu
- Richard Nash
- Bob Newhall
