Chalkboard Gag: They are laughing at me, not with me.

Couch Gag: The family rushes in and crams onto the couch. Maggie pops into the air, landing in Marge's arms.

This episode marks the first appearance of news anchor Kent Brockman.

(Bart pins the robbery on Sisdeshow Bob, during his show)
Bart: Attention, fellow children! Krusty didn’t rob that store! Sideshow Bob framed him, and I got proof!
(Bart pounds one of Sideshow Bob’s feet with a mallet and Bob jumps around in pain)
Sideshow Bob: Ow! My Foot! You lousy, stupid, clumsy--
(All the children in the audience gasp)
Bart: See that? Krusty wore big floppy shoes, but he's got little feet like all good-hearted people!
(Bart pounds Sideshow Bob’s other foot as Sideshow Bob crumples onto the ground in pain)
Bart: Sideshow Bob really fills his shoes with big, ugly feet!
(Bart pulls off one of Sideshow Bob’s shoes to reveal his large feet)

(Homer is brought down to the police station to identify Krusty the Clown in a lineup)
Chief Wiggum: Ready, Mr. Simpson.
Homer: Yes, sir.
Chief Wiggum: Send in the clowns!
(A lineup of five clowns enters the opposite room and stands against the wall as Homer chuckles at the sight)
Chief Wiggum: So, Simpson, which one is it?
Homer: (Giggles and Laughs) Well, if the crime is making me laugh, they’re all guilty! (Laughs)
Chief Wiggum: (Impatiently) No, no! Which one is the robber?
Homer: Oh, definitely number--(Slow wheezing laugh)
Chief Wiggum: Simpson.
(Homer continues to chuckle)
Chief Wiggum: Simpson!
Homer: (Quickly) Four.

(Krusty the Clown breaks down on the witness stand and admits that he can’t read)
Judge Snyder: Can it be that the champion of child literacy can’t even read himself?
Krusty: (Distraught) Is it a crime to be illiterate?
Prosecutor: All right, all right. See this, Krusty? (Holds up an evidence label with a “B” on i.) This is a “B.” And this is exhibit B. (Holds up betting slips) Betting slips--obtained by this court indicating that you have lost substantial sums of money on sports gambling.
Krusty: (Nearly crying) Is it a crime to bet on sporting events?
Prosecutor: Yes, it is!
Krusty: (Sheepishly) Oh.

(Sideshow Bob greets his viewers for the first time since taking over for Krusty the Clown)
Sideshow Bob: My young friends, for years I have been silent, save for the crude glissandos of this primitive wind instrument. (Holds up slide whistle) But now, destiny has thrust me into the center ring. In the coming weeks, you will notice some rather sweeping changes in our program. Please do not be alarmed. Itchy and Scratchy will still have a home here. But we will also learn about nutrition, self-esteem, etiquette, and all the lively arts.

When Lou the Policeman appears in this episode, he is white instead of black like he usually is.

When the Simpson family are watching the news at home, Krusty takes Apu at gunpoint, and we can see that Apu stands still with his hands in the air. However, when the situation took place with Homer in the Kwik-E-Mart, Apu walked away from the counter right away and gave Krusty a bag of cash. This does not happen on the tape on the news.

Perry Mason

The attorney prosecuting Krusty acts like and is dressed like 50s lawyer Perry Mason.

Shoeless Joe/Chicago Black Sox

Bart's tearful "Say it ain't so." references baseball's infamous Black Sox Scandal, where the Chicago White Sox were accused of accepting bribes to throw the 1919 World Series. The quote is taken from the original, "Say it aint' so, Joe" referring to "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, who supposedly told a child uttering the famous quote that the scandal was true. The story was retold in the 1988 film Eight Men Out.