The scene where the Navy comes to tell Milhouse his parents have been lost at sea is a shot by shot parody scene from Saving Private Ryan. (Even the reflection in the window is parodied.)
The title is based upon the comic strip 'Little Orphan Annie' created by Harold Gray (1894-1968) and first appeared on August 5, 1924. The character has been on radio, television, stage plays and in the movies.
Despite the characters eyes being black dots in white circles, it has been established that Marge Simpson's eye color, is hazel.
Norbert Van Houten is a parody of Indiana Jones.