The film:
- Actor Allusion: One of the last shots in the opening montage is of Rodney Dangerfield golfing. This was taken directly from Caddyshack.
- Actor-Shared Background: Thorton Melon, was a truck driver in his younger days, as was Rodney Dangerfield himself.
- The Cast Showoff:
- Danny Elfman's band Oingo Boingo shows up at Thornton's kickass dorm party.
- Rodney Dangerfield performed the "Triple Lindy" himself.
- Cast the Expert: The divers were expert college divers. Director Alan Metter asked them to "do their worst" to play the Grand Lakes diving team.
- Hey, It's That Place!: Diane's house is the same as used for the Doyle house where Laurie Strode babysat in Halloween (1978).
- Throw It In!:
- Jason laughing at his dad's secretary is because the actor couldn't stop cracking up at Edie McClurg.
- During the scene with Sam Kinison, when he throws the desk, Rodney Dangerfield is trying really hard not to laugh. You can't see his face during it but his head is very much bobbing.
- What Could Have Been: Jim Carrey was originally considered for the angry history professor, but was decided against for being too young at the time.
- Bob Saget was also considered for the same role, but they felt his humor wasn't abrasive enough.