The girls at the sleepover can be seen watching the film The Breakfast Club (1985) on the TV. Emilio Estevez is shown, who directed this episode.
Filmed at Crespi High School, which is frequently used for schools ( all boys high school) in their shows.
The book Rita is telling her mother about in the car is "A Ring of Endless Light" by Madeleine L'Engle.
Daveigh Chase, Carly Schroeder, and Ashley Rose-who played the 1990 version of Ariel, Brandi and Tiffany, respectively-were all born in 1990.
Rita Baxter was murdered on November 9, 1990.