During the table read, Bette Davis makes reference to Tamora, a character in Shakespeare's play 'Titus Andronicus' - the "woman who ate her sons in a pie." Jessica Lange, who plays Joan Crawford, played Tamora in Titus (1999).
William Castle, whom John Waters knew and portrays, was actually one of his inspirations for becoming a film director. Both men are known for making quirky gimmicky movies.
John Waters has spoken many times about William Castle's influence on his work as a filmmaker. Waters plays Castle in this episode.
Some of this episode takes place at a screening of Strait-Jacket (1964), which William Castle and Joan Crawford both attend. John Waters, who plays Castle, previously used a clip from Straight-Jacket in his film Serial Mom (1994).