This is the second appearance of Queen Latifah. She first appeared as Marissa Redman, the obnoxious, rude actress that Hilary was an assistant to.
In the episode She Ain't Heavy from Season 2. Queen Lathifah's character Dee Dee tells Will he'll notice her at the Lakers game they're attending because "She'll be the one screaming her phone number out at Magic Johnson." This episode aired November 4th 1991. 3 Days later on November 7th 1991 at a press conference Magic Johnson announced his retirement from basketball after testing positive for HIV.
This is Nia Long's first appearance on the show, a few seasons later she portrays Lisa Will's girlfriend.
Will makes a comment about some food advertised on TV saying "Man I ain't heard nothing that disgusting since Clarence Thomas found that hair on his cola." This is in reference to some less than family friendly details of the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas during which Anita Hill accused Thomas of sexual harassment.