First appearance of McGonigle, loosely based on Clint Eastwood's character Dirty Harry.
Besides the trampoline, other free items listed in the newspaper classifieds include a Vietnam-era flamethrower, "Greatful Dead" concert tickets and a grave digger's lantern.
Albert Brooks's first return to the show since doing two episodes in the first season. He would return as Hank Scorpio in the eighth season.
The scene where Homer pushes a trampoline over the edge of a desert cliff, only to have it bounce back up, land on his head and hammer him into the ground was inspired by Warner Bros.' Roadrunner cartoons.
The scene where Marge walks through the Simpson's backyard among scores of injured, moaning children was inspired by the Battle of Atlanta scene from Gone With the Wind.