: Brian’s pre-show ritual (eye drops and the phrase "Showtime!") mirrors the character Joe Gideon from the 1979 film All That Jazz . Interesting Facts

: This episode is often cited as a "Wham Episode" because it marks the transition of Brian from being treated mostly as a dog to being characterized as a more complex, human-like intellectual.

: Brian's emotional courtroom plea ("If you scratch him, does his leg not shake?") parodies Shylock’s "Hath not a Jew eyes?" speech from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice .

: This episode features the first appearance of Stewie's iconic teddy bear, Rupert .

: This episode explains that Peter found Brian as a stray adult dog, though later seasons contradict this by showing videos of Brian as a puppy already living with the Griffins.