Because Elaine is dating a man with the same name as New York serial killer Joel Rifkin, she wants him to change his name to a less embarrassing one and suggests O.J.; about six months after this episode aired, O.J. Simpson was arrested and charged with the murder of his ex-wife and her friend. His ride in the white Bronco is parodied later in Season 6, "The Big Salad."
Lisa Pescia plays the role of Lisa in this episode, and appears in the very next episode (The Cigar Store Indian (1993)) as a completely different character called Joanne.
Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) brags that he hasn't vomited "in thirteen years" since June 29, 1980, longer than the eight-year stretch of Elaine's (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) boyfriend--who happens to have the same name as serial killer Joel Rifkin. Rifkin himself was finally apprehended June 28, 1993: Thirteen years less a day from Jerry's last upchuck.
Joel Rifkin (Anthony Cistaro) asks Elaine if he should wear a beret when discussing new names. Previously on Cheers, Anthony Cistaro played the memorable Henri, the frenchman that Woody's girlfriend brought back from her trip to France.