During the episode's cold open, Leslie performs the third verse of "Parents Just Don't Understand", a rap song by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, while Ron tries to tell her about an emergency by saying the song's starting line, "Here's the situation". April presents a stylized stencil poster of Leslie designed in a similar way to the Barack Obama "Hope" poster designed by artist Shepard Fairey, with the word "Knope" instead of "Hope". While introducing Leslie at a gay bar, April says Leslie is "here to recruit you", quoting a line from gay rights activist Harvey Milk. At the bar, Leslie sings a karaoke cover of the 2008 Lady Gaga song, "Poker Face". When Leslie insults Tom's shirt, he defends it by claiming it was featured in the monthly men's magazine, Details. When sarcastically asking if Langman wants her to commit harakiri, Leslie accidentally says "harikari," a common mispronunciation of the traditional Japanese cultural term.
