Concerned for his safety, Lois decides to admit him to a nursing home in Florida, in an attempt to help him adjust to life as an older man.

The episode featured guest performances by Adam Carolla, Jack Carter, D. C. Douglas, R. Lee Ermey, Christine Lakin, Joel David Moore, Linda Porter, Floyd Van Buskirk, Mae Whitman and Wally Wingert, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series.

A snowstorm has hit Quahog, Rhode Island, with Stewie set to visit his grandparents, Carter and Barbara Pewterschmidt at their mansion.

Later that day, the retired Carter decides to visit his son-in-law Peter along with his friends Joe and Quagmire at the local bar to learn about their discussions of their lives at home, much to their chagrin.

Carter then warns Barbara, Peter, and Lois never to put him in a retirement home again, vowing to continue running his business until the day he dies.

The scene where the drill sergeant with Alzheimer's disease is repeatedly cursing at a man he calls a "joker" is a reference to the Vietnam War movie Full Metal Jacket, which starred R. Lee Ermey.

[2] The cut away scene where the man who was late for work, and as a result wasn't killed on 9/11, is possibly a reference to Seth MacFarlane himself.

[4] Holmquist joined the series in its second season, directing the episode "Running Mates", which was written by Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan.

[3] "Grumpy Old Man" was broadcast on December 11, 2011, as a part of an animated television night on Fox, and was preceded by The Simpsons and The Cleveland Show, and followed by Family Guy creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane's second series, American Dad!.

It was watched by 6.10 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings, despite airing simultaneously with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on ABC, The Amazing Race on CBS and Sunday Night Football on NBC.