In this episode, when Shawn and Gus are eating lunch, Shawn is eating mashed potatoes and has formed them into the same shape seen in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, a movie about aliens.
Shawn refers to Darcy (Mayte Garcia, ex-wife of recording artist Prince) as a peach; Prince previously wrote and recorded a song titled "Peach", which is about Mayte.
When Shawn is trying to convince Karen to have the SBPD pay for his speed date, he suggests that they should split the price. This is known as "going Dutch." However, Shawn says "going Deutsch" This is a callback to the Psych-Out from "Weekend Warriors" in which Shawn incorrectly pronounces "dutchies" as "deutschies."
While on her speed date with Shawn, Glenda says she used to have a pet goat named Cassie. This is a reference to Stargate SG-1 (1997) on which Teryl Rothery was a regular as Dr. Janet Frasier. Dr. Frasier had an adopted daughter named Cassie.
Shawn says that his hyper-observational skills "can be a gift, but also be a burden." This is similar saying to the TV show Monk, which was USA Network's breakout show, Monk has a common phrase about his abilities saying "it's a gift, and a curse"
Andy Berman: The writer of this episode, at the end of the episode as the guy that Shawn interrupts at the speed dating event who is talking to his date about having been in an avalanche, and having to drink his own urine and eat three of his toes to survive.