The bar that Espinoza goes to is called La Axila, which translates literally as The Armpit.
When Maze and Dan talk in his appartment (around 38' in), you can see in four posters in the background. They're all fakes: the movies don't actually exist. But they subliminally describe Daniel's state of mind. The fake movie titles are:
- The Plunge - may be a nod to "The Descent" (2005);
- The Leechmen;
- The Zamboni - may be a nod to "The Mangler" (1995), cinematographer Zach Zamboni (or both);
- Bog Shark - may be a nod to "Jaws" (1975) and/or to the never made Tommy Wiseau movie "Big Shark".
The dog is named Chucho. "Chucho" is an affectionate diminutive variant of Jesús (in this case literally a pet name), making this the second 5b use of the name (the gourmet coffee Lucifer drinks in Bloody Celestial Karaoke Jam (2021) is made by a single-origin farmer named Jesús).
The style of the episode is gonzo, e.g. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998).
Dan's short-lived alias "Joe Stone" recalls the PI Stone, fictional hero in the musical City of Angels (1989). He is a Philip Marlowe-like character in the story, written by and the alter-ego of Stine, and his adventures in the movie being scripted have many points in common with Dan's misadventures through the storyline here.