Morty's criticism of the lighthouse owner's screenplay beginning with a "Three Weeks Earlier" title is a reference to Dan Harmon's own dislike of that device, as discussed in a 2013 episode of Harmon's podcast "Harmontown". However, Morty's preference for having stories "start where they begin, not where they get interesting" is an in-joke, as several Rick and Morty episodes immediately jump into the middle of the action without any introduction.
The exterior shot of the rich people's compound is based on Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California.
The scene where Morty criticizes the Lighthouse Keeper's book is an allusion to the Latin-American film The Motorcycle Diaries (2004), where Gael García Bernal's character critiques Dr. Hugo Pesce's novella. The Doctor and the Lighthouse Keeper's attire is very similar as well.
In the post credit scene, Beth finds a bill for $700 to Tandi LLC. Tandi comes on the TV and says you can call him for 1.99 a minute. So Jerry spoke to Tandi for 351 minutes or just under 6 hours.