The pre-credit sequence features the song "Christmas in Hollis" by Run-DMC, also used in Die Hard (1988), Peralta's favorite movie.
In the cold open, Boyle claims to be 42. The actor who plays Boyle, Joe Lol Truglio, turned 43 the day before this episode aired.
When Charles, Holt and Jake are in the safe house Holt says something and Jake says touchie instead of touche. Charles says he'd heard it both ways. This is very similar to Sean Spencer on the TV show Psych. He'd say he'd heard a word or phrase both ways even if he actually didn't.