The name of Stevie Parsons, the late-night host, is a combination of the names Johnny Carson, Steve Allen and Jack Paar - all Tonight Show hosts.
Before Stevie Parsons brings out Sally, he says "I rib you not", which gets a laugh from the audience. The line is a reference to talk show host Jack Paar's catchphrase, "I kid you not".
Stevie Parsons says "schmock schmock" a take off on Steve Allen.
Dick Patterson (Stevie Parsons) was in the touring company of "Bye, Bye Birdie", a show Dick Van Dyke starred in on Broadway and the movie.
The title is based on the proverb: "The pen is mightier than the sword."