The scene where Joker uses lawyers to buy his freedom is a satire of the O.J. Simpson murder case. One of the Joker's lawyers resembles Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., one of Simpson's lawyers. The lawyer's statement, "If a man's filled with glee, that man must go free!" is a clear parody of Cochran's now-famous catchphrase "If the glove does not fit, you must acquit!"
The episode is directly based on the comic book story "Joker's Millions" by David Vern Reed and Dick Sprang, first published in "Detective Comics" #180 in February 1952.
The episode is directly based on the comic book story, "Joker's Millions", first published in Detective Comics #180, in February 1952. There are also some similarities with the 1985 film Comment claquer un million de dollars par jour? (1985), including the mocking videotape message, delivered to the main character (Richard Pryor), by his elderly benefactor (Hume Cronyn). "Brewster's Millions" was first published as a novel in 1902, and was also adapted to film in 1914, 1921, 1935, 1945, and 1961 (though the 1985 version remains the most well-known); it thus may have partially inspired the original comics story.
The Joker's called his Hyenas' Bud and Lou, named after the two legendary comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.