Fornell asks if the reporter's name is Mindy. Pam Dawber, who plays the reporter (named Marcie), portrayed Mindy on the TV show Mork & Mindy (1978), her star-making breakthrough role. She is married to Mark Harmon.
Knight says she can't find her office things, including a red stapler. This is a subtle reference to the movie Office Space (1999), which starred Gary Cole, who now portrays Special Agent Alden Parker, as a permanent addition to the "NCIS" regular cast.