The title is based on the 1939 play, "The Man Who Came to Dinner." In the play a blowhard critic breaks his hip at a dinner party and must stay with the host until he heals, during which time his presence wreaks havoc on the host family. It was adapted for the screen in 1942 starring Monty Wooly, Ann Sheridan, and Bette Davis.
The plot of the film is similar to that of [linktt0100087], released the year before this episode aired, starring Cheers alum Kirstie Alley.
"This Old House" (1979) is an American home improvement show that originally aired on the PBS network and still remains on the air to this day [2020]. The 'that guy' from "This Old House" that Frasier is referring to is Master Carpenter and longtime host, Norm Abram. Norm (Peterson)'s ignorance of the show is odd considering that the bar has watched the show on occasion and the show was originally produced in Boston.
Frasier tells Norm he wonders who invented the machine to stir paint cans. It was invented by Roger Fillon in the1960s.
Frasier and Lilith need their living room repainted after Frederick played "Fireman" with ketchup and mustard bottles. Decades later, on the second Frasier series, Frederick has grown up to be a firefighter.