The story is based upon on Appalachian folk tale regarding a family member (normally a male who is an uncle or grandfather) passing away and then refusing to accept the fact that they are dead. In most versions of the story, various members of the family will try and convince the departed that they are in fact dead and encourage them to return to their grave. The dead person will only do so once some undeniable proof is provided as to their status, such as seeing their reflection in a mirror as a corpse, or (in more gruesome versions, such as the one depicted in the episode) having a body part fall off from rotting.
Guest star Christian Slater also later appeared in the 1990 theatrical movie Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990).
The reference which grandpa uses to the phrase "Show me", attributing it to a politician in Missouri, sets the story at the turn of the 20th century since the phrase is generally attributed to a Congressman Willard Vandiver who first used this term in a speech in the year 1899.