American Duos musical number, only to have Nigel, no longer having to force them through the competition, calling it one of the worst performances he ever saw. Star James Roday, who plays Shawn Spencer, co-wrote this episode. It is a send up of "American Idol", and Tim Curry plays the Simon Cowell-esque British judge Nigel St. Nigel. Gina Gershon plays Emilina Saffron, who is a caricature of Paula Abdul. In the episode, Gus says (of Randy Jackson), "That guy's not black, he's Latino. There's a difference," comparing Jackson and the third "Duos" judge, Zapato. According to Roday, "American Duos" has the highest
Judge Me Tender Judy". The ending of the episode features Jay Leno making a joke about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on "The Jay Leno Show". Moe mistakes "American Idol" with "Armenian Idol" ("Hay Superstar") which, he states, is his favourite show. Upon being informed he is to judge the American one, he inquires who stands for Egor Glumov (one of the judges of the Armenian version). The song playing during the Springfield Annual Classic Car Contest, the Bonsai Tree Contest and the Bully Competition is "Why Can't You Be Nicer to Me?" by The White Stripes. In its original American broadcast "Judge