With the aid of an Aztec Indian, a wimpy paleontologist becomes the even wimpier super-hero Pumaman, who battles a power-hungry madman empowered by a stolen hypnotic mask.
Beginning of the episode
Opening host segment
Movie begins
Quoting the beginning of the lyrics from the song Stonehenge by Spinal Tap
Referring to former heavyweight boxing contender Randall Cobb's dented face
Referring to Jon Astley's song "Jane's Getting serious"
Various urban legends are based around the combination of aspirin and Coca-Cola. The most popular ones state that taking the two together will either produce an aphrodisiac effect or intoxicate the consumer.
Sadomasochism (or S&M) is a type of sexual gratification derived from pain inflicted on or received from another person. It is linked to BDSM, a set of sexual practices and preferences which also includes the "black leather" fetish.
In Charles Dickens' 1843 novella "A Christmas Carol," the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three spirits--the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come--who eventually inspire Scrooge to change his selfish, greedy ways.
This is a play off of "Vidalia" -- a type of pungent onion.
First host segment
Refers to a famous scene in the 1975 Al Pacino film "Dog Day Afternoon" in which Pacino's character begins a chant of "Attica!" (in reference to the 1971 Attica Prison riot) to rile up a crowd of people outside of a bank he is robbing.
A parody of the opening lines (spoken by the main character, Tevye) from the musical "Fiddler on the Roof."
Bird strikes are common--sometimes fatal--aviation hazards. "Black box" is a slang term for the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder in airplanes, which are researched in the event of an accident.
Lesley Hornby (1949- ), better known by the nickname "Twiggy" for her rail-thin figure, is an English supermodel who became a 1960s icon. She later retired from modelling to pursue careers in acting and singing.
Second host segment
Amelia Earhart (1897-1937?) was an American aviator who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932. She disappeared in 1937 over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to make a flight around the world.
A slightly altered version of the opening lines from Macbeth's soliloquy (just prior to murdering the King) from Act II, scene I of Shakespeare's play.
Third host segment
In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado", Montresor lures Fortunato into a crypt with a promise of Amontillado only to brick him up inside a recess for insulting him.
Parody of the 1974 Carl Douglas song "Kung Fu Fighting." Real lyrics: "Everybody was kung fu fighting/Those cats were fast as lightning/In fact, it was a little bit frightening/But they fought with expert timing."
Likely refers to a Wisconsin-based grocery store chain. This might also refer to Mike's (the character, not his portrayer Michael J. Nelson) Wisconsin upbringing.
Likely refers to Snyders Drug Stores, a Minnesota-based drug store chain. This is one of numerous Minnesota-related riffs in the series, owing to the fact that Best Brains, Inc. and several MST3K cast and crew members are from or have lived in Minnesota.
Parody of the theme song of the 1981-83 TV series "The Greatest American Hero." Real lyrics: "Believe it or not, I'm walking on air/I never thought I could feel so free-ee-ee..."
A "titty twister" is a physical prank in which someone pinches one of another person's nipples and twists it in a painful fashion.
A parody of/sample from the 1981 Diana Ross/Lionel Richie song "Endless Love," which was used as the theme song for the 1981 movie of the same name (which, in turn, was adapted from Scott Spencer's novel of the same name).
Refers to the 1984 Van Halen song "Jump." Sample lyrics: "Might as well jump (jump)/Might as well jump/Go ahead, jump (jump)/Go ahead and jump."
Bennigan's Grill & Tavern is an American chain of bar-and-grill restaurants designed to emulate Irish pubs.
See above note about "Endless Love."