The device Neal's dad puts into Sam's mouth in the scene at the dentist's office was a gag that producer Judd Apatow used to use in his old stand-up routine.
The license plate on Neil's father's Corvette reads, "I FLOSSEM" (Neil's father is a dentist).
In the diner, there is a Statue of Liberty New York license plate on the wall. These weren't introduced until 1986.
Bill tells Sam and Neal that his mother does not like to watch Dallas (1978) alone. Claudia Christian (Gloria Haverchuck) appeared in Some Do... Some Don't (1984) as Peter Richards' friend.