Coolio recorded dialogue and a rap song as Kwaanzabot a few weeks before his death. Subsequently, he receives a special "In Memory Of" tribute. He died on September 28, 2022 at the age of 59 from an overdose of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine.
Prof. Farnsworth's forward time machine from The Late Philip J. Fry (2010) in Season 6 reappears, though now it's been modified with a reverse gear.
As the Planet Express crew is decorating for Xmas, stockings can be seen with each character's name including "Nibbler's Parasites" which is a call back to parasites Regained, an episode that aired just two episodes prior. Indicating that Nibbler remains on good terms with his parasitic inhabitants.
The likeness on the face of the penny Prof. Farnsworth uses to adjust Robot Santa's "naughty or nice" circuit is that of the late actress/director Penny Marshall.
Beginning with this episode, the robot cop URL, originally voiced by John DiMaggio and whose voice was inspired by deep-voiced Black soul singers such as Barry White and Isaac Hayes, is now voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.