Tina Fey's Netflix sitcom is crammed with weird references that might have gone over your head
10. “When is Deblasio gonna put an end to these senseless shorty fires burning on the dance floor?”
From: S2E4 – ‘Kimmy Kidnaps Gretchen!’
Who says it: Lillian
What it means: This throwaway line from Kimmy’s landlord is of course a reference to the lyrics of Sean Kingston ‘Fire Burning’.
11. “I’m really glad you’re not a giant crab”
From: S2E12
Who says it: Mikey
What it means: Speaking to Titus, Mikey subtly references the fact that actor Tituss Burgess played Sebastian the crab in a Broadway version of The Little Mermaid.
12. “Welcome to the singing laundromat / We are not responsible for theft”
From: S3 – various
Who says it: Titus, Dionne Warwick
What it means: When you first hear this vocal warmup, Titus is preparing to record backing vocals. In episode 8, featuring the hilarious Maya Rudolph as Dionne Warwick, there’s a blink-and-you-miss-it callback, where it’s revealed that her character taught Titus the warmup lines.
