Maria is a Latina, as noted by her habit of occasionally speaking Spanish. She is quite possibly loosely based on renowned Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno.
The nuts that Maria's father offers to the boys actually look like cashews, a nut native to South America.
Hayden voices Milhouse Van Houten in The Simpsons.
On the televised episode, there was no credit given for Melvin (the punch pourer at the dance), but there is a credit given for him in the Hey Arnold!: Love Stinks video tape.
Several musical cues resembling a Latin style can be heard and are exclusive to this episode.
Continuity[]
Maria and Connie would make the villain role in Phoebe Skips.
Though the party the boys attend is a P.S.118 6th grade reunion, no mention of Ruth P. McDougal is given whatsoever.
Cultural References[]
The scene where Arnold and Gerald dance disco music is a reference to dance scenes from 1977 film Saturday Night Fever.
Story Analysis[]
The dates are in fact interracial, with African American Gerald going out with white skinned Connie, and white skinned Arnold going out with Maria, who is a Hispanic Latina.
Maria wears a smaller version of Helga's pink hair bow.