- The episode’s title is a reference to the film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
- A cutaway shows an episode of the 1950s/1960s children’s television series Lassie with subliminal pro-smoking messages. Subliminal advertising was an experiment during the 1950s.[1]
- A flashback shows Peter giving false testimony at the 1991 confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Clarance Thomas, where Thomas’ alleged sexual harassment of former aide Anita Hill became an issue.[2] After his lies are called out, he screams “Baba Booey! Baba Booey! Howard Stern’s penis! Baba Booey! Baba Booey!” Stern encourages listeners to interrupt high-profile political and media events and give him publicity, often shouting “Baba Booey,” the nickname of Stern’s producer Gary Dell’Abate, as a codeword.
- The series of magazine ads features Peter as a parody of the Marlboro Man, drawn like Joe Camel, in an ad with “You’ve come a long way honey” which is similar to the motto for Virginia Slims.
- Lois reading a People Magazine featuring Peter with Jim Carrey says they're "sssmokin" in reference to The Mask's catchphrase in the 1994 film starring Carrey.
- Peter says that, since he’s been president, “profits have been higher than Alyssa Milano,” referring to tabloid accusations about the actress’s drug abuse. In a live-action scene, Milano appears as herself and urges her lawyer to sue FOX. Her lawyer was played by the episode’s writer, Ricky Blitt.
- When the tobacco executives decide to send Peter to Washington as a lobbyist, they parody the opening of the sitcom That Girl from 1966.
- The scene where there is an anthropomorphic legal bill singing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building is a reference to the 1970s educational movie series Schoolhouse Rock!.
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