Tom WaitsTom Waits' odd hand gestures when explaining the psychofrakulator were the result of him writing his dialogue on his fingers and reading the words as he went along.
The Shoveler's inspiring "egg salad" speech to the team is a spoof of William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare's St. Crispin's Day speech from Henry V; even going as far as saying "Those of us who survive this night will wear our scars proudly," much like Shakespeare wrote "Then will he strip his sleeves and show his scars."
The bowler's skull-ball was a custom ball. After the release of the movie, bowling ball manufacturer Ebonite made a less-detailed version of the skull ball as part of their "Super Fun Ball" line.
The Bowler's stream-of-consciousness monologue in support of independent filmmaking at the conclusion of the film was originally not intended to be included in the finished print. Janeane GarofaloJaneane Garofalo was instructed by director Kinka UsherKinka Usher to say whatever came to her mind at the time. Usher simply wanted to use up some excess film. Usher liked her performance so much he edited it into the final print.
