Max Greenfield's character "Rick Ludwin" shares the name with real life Rick Ludwin, a long time NBC executive who backed Jerry Seinfeld during the creation of the sitcom Seinfeld (1989). Ludwin was the one who kept fighting for the series when other NBC executives didn't believe it would succeed.
Seinfeld asserted in an interview with Jimmy Fallon that he did not seek permission from Kellogg for using their product names and characters but he would enjoy being sued.
Bob Cabana (Jerry Seinfeld) smells spoiled milk by Mike Diamond (Christian Slater), asks "What's the expiration...?" As he passes out, Diamond tells him, "July Third." This is based on a joke Seinfeld did in his standup act, in which the cow says its milk's expiration date is July 3rd.
Elements in the opening diner scene matching Norman Rockwell's famous September 20, 1958 Saturday Evening Post cover illustration "Runaway" include the red hobo pack, the white-clad counter man, the white vertically ribbed wall, the Specials chalk board, the chrome bar stools with green cushions, the coffee maker on right, the pie case on left, and the wall mounted radio. Appropriately added for the film is a Kellogg's display. In the Rockwell painting, Seinfeld's place is taken by a police officer who suspiciously eyes the little runaway.
The meeting of the "Five Breakfast Families" that Marjorie Post sets up is held at Barzini's grocery store. Barzini was one of the "Five Families" in Mario Puzo's The Godfather.