Archive audio of President Theodore Roosevelt is included in this episode. This makes Theodore Roosevelt the only US President to date who has appeared as himself in the series. Other Presidents who have appeared have been impersonated and include Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Bill Clinton.
According to John Kricfalusi, Simpson creators Matt Groening gave him permission to go all out on the couch gag. He later said that it was the most fun he had working on animation in years.
Superintendent Chalmers' first name is revealed to be "Gary".
The second half of the episode when the boys take over the school is very similar to the 1981 movie "Taps", where students at a military academy engage in an armed take-over of their school to prevent it being closed and sold.
Teddy Roosevelt is seen knocking out Mr. Burns in a boxing ring, in a photo on Bart's computer.