In one of his many characteristic anachronisms, Mr Burns thinks that Homer is a reporter for Collier's magazine, which ceased publication in 1957.
Mr. Burns claims that he owns the suit that Charles Chaplin was buried in, a reference to the fact that his body was stolen from a cemetery in Switzerland.
The blackboard gag, "I will not demand what I'm worth", is clearly a reference to the voice actors of the show demanding more money for their services.
A painting seen behind Burns resembles Whistler's "Portrait of the Artist's Mother" .
Originally, Homer was to learn that he was a Native American, and would try to exploit it to not have to pay taxes. The idea had been going well for a few days, but the staff did not actually know whether Native Americans had to pay taxes. When the writers found out that they did, the whole plot had to be scrapped.