Tracey Ullman refers to Max's single with Art of Noise, Paranoimia, released earlier that year, and his adverts for Coca Cola, which were quite prevalent at the time in America.
Max briefly refers to Dr Ruth Westheimer in his world commentary, who he would go on to interview in the fourth episode of The Original Max Talking Headroom, less than a year later.
Max's world commentary in this episode is about America.