Two Dozen and One Greyhounds

Matt Groening was happy with the episode because he thought it felt like a callback to the first episode, Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (1989), and because it features references to One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961). The Disney film thrilled Groening as a child, and was one of the reasons he was first interested in animation and cartooning. In the film, the puppies watch cartoons on television several times; the idea of a cartoon within a cartoon thrilled Groening, and said that this idea inspired him to create The Itchy & Scratchy Show.

When Bart and Lisa go down the laundry chute, Lisa removes Bart's shoes and socks and throws his socks down the chute to get the puppies to go down and escape Mr. Burns. However, when Mr. Burns points his gun at Bart and Lisa after deciding he can't kill the puppies in the next scene, Bart's shoes are back on.