 The $ 1 @,@ 000 Homer received when entering Alaska is a reference to the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend . As Homer leaves Eski @-@ Moe 's he grabs on to a passing truck and uses it to propel himself back to the house , a tribute to actor Buster Keaton , while the epiphany scene features homages to the film Brazil and the works of Salvador Dalí . Hillary Clinton appears as Itchy 's vice president , while an Orc from The Lord of the Rings appears in the mob scene . A scene that was cut had Marge and the kids appear on the TV talk show The View to spread the news of Springfield 's impending doom . Parts were written for the show 's entire panel and the scene was planned to feature Russ Cargill having a gunfight with Joy Behar . Another dropped scene featured Moe describing Springfield 's varying physical states inside the dome , one of which was the Disneyland ride Autopia . There are several references to events in previous TV episodes of The Simpsons . These include the wreckage of the ambulance from the episode " Bart the Daredevil " crashed into a tree next to Springfield Gorge . The Carpenters ' song " ( They Long to Be ) Close to You " was used in Homer and Marge 's wedding video and had also been used in several emotional moments between them in the TV series . 
