Cultural References
The title of this episode is a play on the famous quote “Play it again, Sam” from the classic 1942 movie “Casablanca”
Fruit Stripe Gum
Lois: “Well what about Cleveland?”
Peter: “He's on the road touring w/ Black Box”
Black Box aka Blackbox was a House Music group popular in the 80s/90s.
The song being performed is “Everybody Everybody”, emphasizing Cleveland's variation of the word 'Everybody'.
Lois: “...like the Osmond Family wastes water”
Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond being the most famous members of the family.
Hartz Mountain Flea Dip
Seth sings a version of “As Time Goes By”. “As Time Goes By” is a song written by Herman Hupfeld for the 1931 Broadway musical, “Everybody's Welcome”. In the original show it was sung by Frances Williams.
The song was re-introduced in 1942 in the film “Casablanca”, sung by Dooley Wilson.
During Seth's version of “As Time Goes By”, Brian & Lois get their characters drawn.
The characters the artist draws are “Snoopy” from “Peanuts” & “Jane” from “The Jetsons”
Herbert: “Oh Rats!”
“Oh Rats!” is a quote said by Charlie Brown from Peanuts
The 70s/80s sitcom starring John Ritter, “Three's Company” is mentioned in Peter's note to Lois
Brian: “We could rent Vanilla Sky”
Lois: “I said a bad movie not an abortion.”
“Vanilla Sky” starring Tom Cruise is apparently Lois & Brian's idea of a bad movie
Brian: “Lois my darling!”
Brian's imagining himself seducing Lois saying “Lois my darling!” is a reference to Woody Allen's 1972 movie “Play It Again, Sam”
Stewie calls Brian to ask him a question regarding the Hasbro/Milton Bradley game “Scattergories”
Herbert: “Dang it, I'm missing 'Boy Meets World' for this.”
“Boy Meets World” (1993-2000) was a sitcom starring Ben Savage
Brian: “I hope you like 'Roman Holiday'”
“Roman Holiday” is a 1953 movie starring Gregory Peck & Audrey Hepburn
Brian: “Oh my god I attacked Lois. What the hell was I thinking? I'm a rapist. I'm no better than Kobe Bryant, or Mike Tyson or Regan”
Kobe Bryant faced sexual assault charges in 2003, the charges were dropped.
Mike Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 and served 3 years in jail.
Ronald Reagan allegedly “forced himself” on an actress in the 50s.
The Grateful Dead
Stewie: “...and just to be a jerk, I carved 'Brooks Was Here' on the wall”
“Brooks Was Here” is a reference to the 1994 movie “The Shawshank Redemption”
Peter marries Nathan Lane, star of “The Birdcage” & “The Producers” (to name 2) not realizing in Massachusetts, gay marriage is legal.
Peter: {singing} “The spirit of Massachusetts is the spirit of America, the spirit of the red white and blue”
This song is a reference to real commercials promoting tourism for Massachusetts.
Peter: “Was he bigger than me?”
This is a direct quote from the 1978 movie “Animal House”
As a bedtime story for Chris, Herbert reads the story “Peter & The Wolf” even whistling “Peter's Tune” composed by Sergei Prokofiev.
Peter: “You couldn't even get Jillian to take you back and she was dumber than Lou Ferrigno”
Lou Ferrigno played the Hulk in the “The Incredible Hulk” (1978-1982)
Brian admits part of his essay was taken from the book/movie “Summer of '42”.
Specifically the lines “no person I've ever known has ever done more to make me feel more sure, more insecure, more important, and less significant”