John Williams' theme song from Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), "Raiders March", plays throughout the opening sequence. The producers had to contact Steven Spielberg in order to clear the rights for the song so that they could use it in the episode.
In reference to the play Romeo and Juliet, Milhouse says that Samantha and his relationship started like Romeo and Juliet, but ended in tragedy, unaware that the play also ends in tragedy. Milhouse's original line in the scene was "It feel like somebody gave my heart a wedgie."
Lisa reads a magazine with the headline "The Year 2525 - were Zager & Evans Right?", referring to musicians Zager and Evans and their song "In the Year 2525".
The writers had difficulties coming up with an idea for the end of the episode. James L. Brooks pitched the idea of Samantha getting shipped off to a Catholic school with "fun nuns" that are like The Singing Nun.
Kimmy Robertson said of her role: "I had no idea how popular I was going to be after I did that. All my friends think I'm the bee's knees now. I've made it."