In "There's Something About Paulie", the Griffins are watching the show. In the introduction to "Family Guy Viewer Mail", Stewie keeps pushing a button on a laugh box. When Brian asks Stewie where he got the gizmo, he says he got it from the frequently maligned sitcom. Brian jokingly declared he was surprised that there was anything left in it. ABC has been looked down upon for allegedly overusing a bad laugh track in their comedies. Show writer Patrick Meighan previously worked as a writer on the show.