At the end of the show, Elka mentions having a big crush on Liberace. In reality, Betty White and Liberace were close personal friends.
During the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame party, Huey Lewis' character makes a reference to drilling oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Victoria replies "still don't follow the news, do you?" This is a pun on Huey Lewis being (in actuality) the leader of his band, The News, and a reference to the 2010 BP oil spill.
The title is based on the 1953 song "The Man that Got Away" written for the movie "A Star Is Born" by Harold Arlen and the lyrics by Ira Gershwin. In 1955 it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became one of Judy Garland's standard tunes.
At the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, Elka (Betty White) asks the bodyguard if Jay Z is there. Jay Z was the musical guest when Betty White guest hosted Saturday Night Live on May 8, 2010.
During Victoria's story of being dumped by a rock star, Melanie was referring to the Eagles' song "Take It Easy".