The basic premise of the episode, as well as the design of Peter's panic room, are based on the movie "Panic Room". When Peter's Paleolithic ancestor is attempting to market the wheel, Brian tells him "You so money, you don't even know it", a reference to the film "Swingers". His ancestor says "Let's party like it's 9" in reference to the Prince song "1999". The story of Nate Griffin, an ancestor of Peter, makes references to the first installment of "Roots", as well as the LAPD's low-speed pursuit of O. J. Simpson following his wife's murder and the song "Hot for Teacher". Nate Griffin is a member of the tribe of Tootie-and-Blair, a reference to "The Facts of Life". The scene in which the slave ship captain is thrown overboard uses the song "Are You Ready for the Summer?" from the film "Meatballs". The story about Peter's ancestor who was a silent film star is a spoof of "Singin' in the Rain", as the girl in "Singin' in the Rain" did not have a good voice for the talking pictures. His speaking voice, deemed unacceptable for talkies, was a spoof of Bobcat Goldthwait.