Kenny actually dies TWICE in this episode.

This episode won the 2005 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Animated Program (for programming less than one hour)." It was also the shows first ever Emmy.

Kyle: Dude, we have to do everything we can to get that feeding tube put back in!
Stan: Yeah!
Gabriel: No!
Stan: Let's go to the…umm…media. We'll make everyone in the country know that they're killing Kenny!

Archangel Michael: The child did something none of us could - reach Level 60 on the PSP. I don't know if that's luck or perseverance, but it's goddamn impressive!

Gabriel: And Satan's armies are approaching.
Archangel Michael: Oh goddamn it!

Kevin: I will do what we always do - use the Republicans.

Archangel Michael: Basically, Kenny, you... are Keanu Reeves.

American actor Keanu Reeves is best known for his starring roles in films such as The Matrix and Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Here, Michael is saying Kenny is the one who can topple a dark empire, such as Keanu's character Neo in The Matrix, or as John Constantine in Constantine.

Plot: Kenny is kept alive by feeding tube

This part of the plot echoes a current event from the time of this episode. Terri Schiavo was a woman from St. Petersburg, Florida, who had brain damage and was kept alive by a feeding tube. She was kept alive this way for fifteen years despite being declared in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). There was a legal battle between her husband and her parents on whether or not she was conscious, and if her feeding tube should be removed. As per legal decision, her tube was taken out and she was allowed to die in March of 2005, hours after the episode had aired.