House introduces the two new cases to his staff beginning "Picture a door, unlocked with the key of the mind..." The dark room and House's verbal cadence are reminiscent of Rod Serling's introduction of Twilight Zone episodes, some of which included the line "You unlock this door with the key of imagination."
Once Taub arrived at Foreman's apartment, he said he expected shag carpet because Foreman always seemed to have a kind of "Mod Squad" vibe about him. Omar Epps, who plays Foreman, also played the character Linc in the movie adaptation.
House describes Wilson decorating his place like "Grey Gardens," a famous documentary from 1976 depicting two reclusive elderly women who live in a derelict mansion, basically representing Wilson as an old cat lady.