The graffiti painted by Nelson is a reference to Pablo Picasso's 'Guernica.'
Rogen commented that he and Goldberg wanted to show with the episode how Hollywood generally ruins superhero films. He said that "the whole joke is that Homer is cast to play a guy who's an everyman and they try to make him into this physically fit guy." Rogen also noted that the plot mirrors the situation he was in while working on The Green Hornet (2011), when he had to lose weight and do physical training for his role. Show runner Al Jean commented that the writers tried not to repeat the comic book film theme from Radioactive Man (1995). Instead they decided to parody the fact that almost every comic book has been turned into a film. Jean commented that that scene in the episode in which the studio executives "are trying to think up an idea that hasn't been done really is what they are doing these days [in real life]."
When defending herself from comic book guy's attack on Stratego the movie, the studio executive says that Brett Ratner had the final cut. Ratner doesn't have the final cut of his movies and has been quoted as saying "Why do I need final cut? Final cut is for artistes quote unquote - directors whose movies don't make a lot of money. Maybe Scorsese should have final cut because a guy like Harvey Weinstein or a studio might change it to make it a little more accessible or a little more commercial and he has a vision of what he wants it to be. He wants it to be four hours long or whatever."
This is the second episode in which Matt Groening, creator of the show, has guest-starred as himself. He last appeared in My Big Fat Geek Wedding (2004)," where he was signing autographs. In this episode, he is seen loading his truck with Bongo Comics, his own line of comic books, while saying how rich he is.
The movie posters in the background at the Everyman premiere are for "Alvin and the Chipmunks 3: Gettin' Rabies", "Eddie Murphy in Fat Suit" and "Welcome Back, Potter" which are parodies of "Alvin and the Chipmunks 3: Chipwrecked", "The Nutty Professor" and "Welcome Back Kotter" respectively.