 The episode is largely presented as an homage to and parody of Die Hard , which was also centered on terrorists instigating a hostage crisis on the day before Christmas . The episode also has music similar to Die Hard , including the song " Ode to Joy " . Reginald VelJohnson reprises his role of LAPD officer Al Powell from Die Hard and Die Hard 2 . While Powell bought several Twinkies for his wife in Die Hard , in this episode he and Big Mike are shown eating Twinkies at the same time . Chuck later parodied Die Hard on a much larger scale in " Chuck Versus the Leftovers " . 
