In the episode, Bart wants to become a rock star after attending a Spın̈al Tap concert, so Homer and Marge buy him a guitar.

Harry Shearer, who is a regular Simpsons cast member, reprises his This Is Spinal Tap role, Derek Smalls.

Bart and Milhouse attend a Spın̈al Tap concert, which is a complete disaster - puddles of water cover the stage (the venue is an ice hockey arena), the drummer is nearly crushed by a giant half-inflated balloon of Satan, and Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) is temporarily blinded by lasers.

Bart bemoans his lack of progress on the morning school bus to Otto, who wows the children by playing the guitar expertly.

Otto subsequently attempts to obtain his license but fails the test, overseen by Patty, and is evicted from his apartment because he cannot pay his rent.

Harry Shearer, a regular Simpsons cast member, co-starred in This Is Spinal Tap and reprises his role as bassist Derek Smalls.

[8] In a 2016 interview Shearer said this was the only time Spın̈al Tap had worked to a script, all other movie, television and live appearances being improvised.

In 2023, a fan used sound editing software to discover that Marge told Homer "Make sure they don't pick up any of the band's attitudes towards women, liquor, religion, politics...really anything.

While waiting in the car during the Spinal Tap concert (as well as the ensuing riot), Homer sings along to the song "Spanish Flea" by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.

Waste Disposal Unit" alludes to the word's status as a generic trademark for a brand of large trash containers.

[11] The Simpsons was the fourth highest rated show on Fox that week after Married... with Children, Beverly Hills, 90210 and In Living Color.

The Spinal Tap material feels somewhat tacky – it was a tie-in with their then-current attempt to sell a new album – and Otto's not a strong character.

Bryce Wilson, in his review of the third season for Cinema Blend, wrote "Simpson’s [sic] voice actor Harry Shearer...reunites Spinal Tap just for 'The Otto Show', an episode full of the trademark Tap banter and stage disasters that rival even the mighty 18 inch Stonehenge.

[16] Andrew Martin of Prefix Mag named Spın̈al Tap his favorite musical guests on The Simpsons out of a list of ten.