Beware My Cheating Bart Club" gave the episode a C+ saying that "A stellar Bill Plympton couch gag is the best part of a mediocre "Simpsons"". Different chalkboard gags appeared for different airings of this episode. The original U.S. broadcast version was "The true location of Springfield is in any state but yours", a response to reactions to a Matt Groening interview in which he revealed that the name of Springfield was inspired by Springfield, Oregon, which was widely misinterpreted as Groening revealing that "The Simpsons" Springfield was located in Oregon. The montage featuring Simon & Garfunkel's "April Come She Will" is a reference
Matt Groening that he feared viewers would "see it as nothing but a pathetic attempt to advertise "The Critic" at the expense of "The Simpsons"," and was concerned about the possible implication that he had created or produced "The Critic". He requested his name be taken off the episode. Groening is credited with writing or co-writing the episodes "Some Enchanted Evening", "The Telltale Head", "Colonel Homer" and "22 Short Films About Springfield", as well as "The Simpsons Movie", released in 2007. He has had several cameo appearances in the show, with a speaking role in the episode "My Big Fat Geek Wedding".