Liz considers moving to Cleveland with her boyfriend, and begins to have suspicions about Phoebe. Meanwhile, Tracy becomes convinced that he's being targeted by a shadowy cabal of black celebrities called the "Black Crusaders".
This episode contains the following tropes:
- Anachronism Stew: The "Cleveland" song sounds like it's from years ago, referencing now long-gone Cleveland institutions like the Higbee's department store, until the song brings up Tracy Jordan trying to get away
- Arab Oil Sheikh: One of them buys the apartment Floyd and Liz were looking for.
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking:Floyd: If the whole world moved to their favorite vacation spots, then the whole world would live in Hawaii, Italy, and Cleveland.
- The Cameo: Lester Holt appears to break the fourth wall In-Universe and tell Tracy Jordan that the Black Crusaders are after him.
- Cleveland Rocks: Contrary to its popular depiction in media, Cleveland is portrayed as an idealized, idyllic city, where people go to get away from the stress of New York City. That said, it's still seen as a lot more modest than New York.Jenna: We're all models west of the Allegheny.
- The Conspiracy: Tracy believes in a shadowy group of powerful African-Americans called the "Black Crusaders", who conspire against other black celebrities who embody negative black stereotypes. As it turns out, he's totally right.
- Gold Digger: Phoebe is revealed to be one in this episode. She's seen out to dinner with another wealthy older man.
- Gold Makes Everything Shiny: Jack has a Gold Card made of actual gold.
- In the Style of: "Cleveland", the song Floyd and Liz sing as they enjoy everything Cleveland has to offer, is a pastiche of Burt Bacharach's easy listening pop.
- Literal Metaphor: Floyd, upset over being passed up for a promotion, complains that he's sick of the rat race. It turns out his neighbors race rats in his apartment hallway late at night. Sometimes he places bets.
- Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: Phoebe's British accent slips into an American one during a confrontation with Liz, leading her to believe that Phoebe is a complete phony.
- Properly Paranoid: Tracy turns out to be completely right about the Black Crusaders.
- Ride of the Valkyries: Liz's ringtone.Phoebe: I didn't know you were a fan of Wagner!Liz: No, I'm a fan of Elmer Fudd.
- Spiteful Spit: A random passerby spits in Liz's mouth for no reason, leading her to want to get away from New York for a while.
- Stop Being Stereotypical: The Black Crusaders are a shadowy organization run by Bill Cosby and Oprah Winfrey, targeting black celebrities who they see as embarrassing their race.
- The Big Rotten Apple: Downplayed to portray Cleveland as a nicer place. In New York City, people will spit in your mouth and heavily-armed police will stop you and search your bags, while in Cleveland, people ask if you're a model, are generally polite, and even the police ask you if you want to pet a police horse (see "Wink Ding" below).
- The Television Talks Back: Lester Holt gives a message directly to Tracy, almost subliminally, through the television.
- Wink "Ding!": A police horse does this in Cleveland.
