This episode marks the first time one of the male Simpsons voice actors does a female character. Dan Castellaneta voices the laughing old lady in North Haverbrook. (edit) Conan O'Brien called George Takei to be in this episode, but he turned the part down. It instead went to Leonard Nimoy. (edit) Conan O'Brien declared this episode as his favorite. (edit) The Monorail Song was actually written by Jeff Martin, Conan O'Brien, John Swartzwelder, Jon Vitti, Al Jean, Mike Reiss, George Meyer & Frank Mula. (edit) Blackboard Joke: I will not eat things for money.
Couch Gag: The family sits down, followed by the show's whole cast sitting in front of them. (edit)

Marge: How fast is it going?
(Sees Homer scream in the speeding monorail passing by.)
Scientist: Well, judging by your husband's cowardly scream, 480 miles per hour. (edit) Kent Brockman: What have you been up to, Lurleen?
Lurleen Lumpkin: I spent last night in a ditch. (edit) Leonard Nimoy: A solar eclipse: the cosmic ballet goes on.
Man sitting next to Nimoy: Does anybody want to switch seats? (edit) Marge: Homer, there's a man here who thinks he can help you!
Homer: Batman?
Marge: No, he's a scientist.
Homer: Batman's a scientist.
Marge: It's not Batman! (edit) Marge: We're too late!
Cobb: I shouldn't have stopped for that haircut. Sorry. (edit) Marge: Homer, there's a family of possums in here.
Homer: I call the big one "bitey." (edit) Homer: Do you want to change your name to Homer Junior? The kids can call you Ho-Ju!
Bart: ...I'll get back to you. (edit) Lyle Lanley: Now, I'm here to answer any questions you children may have about the monorail.
Kid: Can it outrun the flash?
Lyle Lanley: You bet.
Kid: Can superman outrun the flash?
Lyle Lanley: Eh, sure, why not. (edit) Mayor Quimby: I'll just amuse myself with some pornographic playing cards. (edit) Apu: I would like to see this money spent on more police officers. I have been shot eight this year. As a result, I almost missed work.
Chief Wiggum: Cry-baby. (edit) Mr. Burns: Hello my name is Mr. Snrub and I come from some place far away. Yes, that will do. Anyway I say we invest that money back in the nuclear plant.
Smithers: I like the way Snrub thinks! (edit) Mayor Quimby: We will now hear suggestions for the disbursement of the two million dollars.
Lisa: Don't you mean three million dollars?
Mayor Quimby: (looks around nervously, adjusts his tie) Of course. How silly of me. (edit) Marge: I think the money should be spent on something the whole town can be proud of.
Homer: Like a giant billboard that says 'no fat chicks!'? (edit) (Sung to the tune of "(Meet) The Flintstones")
Homer: Simpson, Homer Simpson.
He's the greatest guy in his-tor-ey
From the Town of Springfield,
He's about to hit a chestnut tree...
AUGHHH!!! (edit) Homer: Donuts. Is there anything they can't do? (edit) Homer: Are we gonna die, son?
Bart: Yeah, but at least we're going to take a lot of innocent people with us. (edit) Automated Female Voice: The lever you have pulled, "Brakes," is no longer in service. Please make a note of it. (edit) The Monorail Song
Lyle Lanley: Y'know, a town with money is like a mule with a spinning wheel. No one knows how he got it and danged if he knows how to use it!
(audience laughs)
Homer: Heh heh! Mule.
Lyle Lanley: The name's Lanley. Lyle Lanley. And I come before you good people tonight with an idea. Probably the greatest... Aw, it's not for you. It's more of a Shelbyville idea.
Mayor Quimby: Now wait just a minute! We're twice as smart as the people of Shelbyville! Just tell us your idea and we'll vote for it!
Lyle Lanley: All right, I tell you what I'll do. I'll show you my idea! I give you the Springfield Monorail! (audience gasps) I've sold monorails to Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrooke, and by gum, it put them on the map!
Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
Like a genuine,
Bona fide,
Electrified,
Six-car
Monorail! ...
What'd I say?
Ned Flanders: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What's it called?
Patty & Selma: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: That's right! Monorail!
(crowd chants "Monorail" softly and rhythmically)
Miss Hoover: I hear those things are awfully loud.
Lyle Lanley: It glides as softly as a cloud.
Apu: Is there a chance the track could bend?
Lyle Lanley: Not on your life, my Hindu friend.
Barney: What about us brain-dead slobs?
Lyle Lanley: You'll all be given cushy jobs.
Grampa: Were you sent here by the devil?
Lyle Lanley: No, good sir, I'm on the level.
Chief Wiggum: The ring came off my pudding can.
Lyle Lanley: Take my pen knife, my good man.
I swear it's Springfield's only choice...
Throw up your hands and raise your voice!
All: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What's it called?
All: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: Once again...
All: Monorail!
Marge: But Main Street's still all cracked and broken!
Bart: Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken.
All: Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!
Homer: Mono... D'oh! (edit) Mayor Quimby: And, uh, may the Force be with you.
Leonard Nimoy: You have no idea who I am, do you?
Mayor Quimby: Sure, I do. You're one of the Little Rascals, right? (edit)

Lurleen Lumpkin, from "Colonel Homer," makes a cameo as a washed-up celebrity. (edit) One of the paintings in the monorail luxury bar area is the Led Zeppelin symbol, the burning Hindenburg. An eerie fore-shadowing of the monorail. (edit) Sign at Swampy's Liquor on Main Street reads: "Duff Spoken Here" (edit) Matt Groening's favorite line from this season comes when Homer says, about a group of possums living in the monorail, "I call the big one Bitey." (edit) The three "escalator to nowhere" patrons are caricatures of directors Rich Moore, Wes Archer, and supervising director David Silverman. (edit) The name Burns uses at the town meeting is Mr. "Snrub," which of course is "Burns" spelled backwards. (edit) The other places Lyle Lanley sold monorails to are Ogdenville, North Haverbrook, and Brockway.
(edit) Apu was shot 8 times during the year this episode took place, requiring him to "nearly miss work." (edit) Goof: Dr. Hibbert is on board the monorail, but he later appears in his hospital talking to the siamese twins. (edit)

Beverly Hills Cop
When Smithers and Burns are hiding the green ooze, the music bears a striking resemblance to the "Axel F" theme from this movie. (edit) Child: Is Superman faster than The Flash?
This question the child asked was based on the Superman comic book and the episode, "Speed Demons." (edit) Homer: Batman's a scientist.
Aside from this quick joke, Simthers' and Burns' escape is a parody of the power zip-cord from the film Batman. (edit) The Flintstones
Homer leaving work and his drive home is a parody of The Flintstones intro and theme.
(edit) Lyle Lanley: Based on the quick-talking con man Harold Hill from Meredith Wilson's musical "The Music Man". (Both characters convince the townspeople to go for their cons by taking over a town meeting with a catchy patter song. Harold Hill's is "Ya Got Trouble".) (edit) Homer: I gave my love a chicken, it had no bone.
The line Homer sings is a line in Allan Sherman's song "Shticks and Stones." (edit) The Silence Of The Lambs
When Mr. Burns is brought to court, he is strapped to a dolly and has a metal shield over his mouth, just like Hannibal Lecter from The Silence Of The Lambs. (edit)