Kevin Sorbo reportedly had many health problems during the fourth season. The previous few outings worked around the problem by letting Hercules either be absent, appear as his younger self, or be limited to a cameo. While he has more screen time in this one, his subplot is more leisurely, without any stunts or combat. Instead, the strenuous adventure revolves around Iolaus and Autolycus.
At 24:02 Iolaus says to Autolycus "This is another fine mess you've gotten us into," paraphrasing a line which Oliver Hardy often said to Stan Laurel.
At 39:50 Ares says to Discord the chicken "Let's go, my little chickadee". My Little Chickadee (1940) was a film starring Mae West and W.C. Fields. Ares perfectly mimics Fields' delivery of the line.
Early on, Autolycus says "I got a bad feeling," a shorter version of this series' (and Star Wars') recurring line "I got a bad feeling about this."
PT Barnabus, owner of the Greatest Show in Greece, is based broadly on P.T. Barnum, who billed his circus as the Greatest Show on Earth.