The plot of "Doug's Lost Weekend" is an homage to
Billy Wilder's 1945 film "The Lost Weekend" starring
Ray Milland. Doug's hopeless addiction to video games consumes his life, rendering him unable to focus on anything or anyone else, including his academics. He loses track of time over the course of a weekend long video game binge. This mirrors the story of Don Birnam (Ray Milland) in the 1945 film "The Lost Weekend" in which Birnam's hopeless addiction to alcohol becomes the focal point of his existence, rendering him unable to focus on anything or anyone, including his professional career. Birnam loses track of time during the course of a weekend long drinking binge. There is also a fantasy sequence in "Doug's Lost Weekend" in which Doug is thrown out of a game shop after begging the clerk for "just one more game"-- mirroring Birnam being removed from a tavern after begging the barkeep for "just one more drink". In the scene, Doug's slovenly appearance is identical to Birnam's (with his 5 o'clock shadow and disheveled fedora and suit jacket). The episode's title is also a reference to the film.