Aunt Flo mentions Pinky Tuscadero, who was a character on Happy Days for three episodes in September 1976, only 2 months before this episode aired.
Characters on the show occasionally mention contemporary celebrities -- mainly those in politics or the news business -- but Flo's mention of "Happy Days" character Pinky Tuscadero is rare in-dialogue reference to a contemporary sitcom -- and on a competing network to boot. Maybe it was a tip of the hat to Henry Winkler for making a relatively fast ascent to TV superstardom. Three years earlier, Winkler had appeared on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" as a party guest in only his second television role. By the time this episode ("Lou Proposes") aired in 1976, "Happy Days," starring Winkler, was one of the hottest shows on TV; it was the #2 show overall that year. Incidentally, the #1 show that year was "Laverne & Shirley," starring Penny Marshall, who appeared on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" three times -- including once after the run of "Laverne & Shirley" had begun.
Aunt Flo mentions catching a ride to Minneapolis on Air Force 2. When this episode aired, Nelson Rockefeller of New York was the Vice President. However, the 1976 Presidential election had just taken place and the Vice President Elect was Walter Mondale of Minnesota.