A Star Is Burns play in the opening moments of the episode is a parody of "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer. The opening of Bart's film "The Eternal Struggle" is a reference to The Amazing Criswell's narration in "Plan 9 from Outer Space". Barney's film contains references to "Koyaanisqatsi", and the music of the film, which was composed by Philip Glass. Barney's film also features musical selections from the aria "Un bel di vedremo" from Act II, pt. 1 of Puccini's opera "Madama Butterfly". In its original broadcast, "A Star Is Burns" finished 57th in the ratings for the week of February
Julianna Di Giacomo made her debut with the New York Philharmonic as the soprano soloist in Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9"; a work she had performed a year earlier with the Vienna Philharmonic. Also in 2014, she made her debut at the San Francisco Opera as Amelia in "Un ballo in maschera", appeared at the Hollywood Bowl as Nedda in "Pagliacci" with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and portrayed Desdemona in "Otello" at the Teatro Massimo. In May 2015 Di Giacomo portrayed the title role in Verdi's "Luisa Miller" at the Teatro di San Carlo. In June 2015 she portrayed Leonora for her debut with