Alex Désert's performance as Carl Carlson, replacing Hank Azaria's, received a mixed response from fans. Many found the change highly distracting and unnecessary, while others were more positive, claiming that they couldn't hear the difference.
Mr Burns says he's never had friends before only frenemies or French enemy's and points to a painting on the wall the 2 men In the painting are the Frenchmen from Episode 11 from Season 1 Crepes of Wrath
The episode title "Undercover Burns" is obviously an allusion to Undercover Boss (2010), but the concept of walking amongst one's men in disguise to observe their true thoughts and deeds goes all the way back to William Shakespeare's play called Henry V. Incidentally, Henry V centered on the Hundred Year War between the English and the French.
This is the first episode of the show to have 20th Television branding rather than 20th Century Fox.