Alex falls asleep watching Mildred Pierce. In a black and white fantasy sequence Swoosie Kurtz plays Mildred, Ashley Judd plays Veda and David Gianopoulos plays Monte.
The mother runs the daughters life and are named Mildred and Veda in both movies. The mother runs a pie shop in both movies and the mother dresses like Joan Crawford in "Mildred Pierce."
Mildred's daughters perform the song "South American Way", which Carmen Miranda famously performed in this musical. Kay is even parodying Miranda's famous appearance.