Sydney's remark to Cliff that he's giving her "soap opera delivery" gets a laugh because the actor, Michael E. Knight, portrayed Tad Martin on All My Children from 1983-2011.
Sydney says, "I don't want to sound like Barbie or anything." Valerie Bertinelli played Barbara (sometimes called Barbie) on One Day at a Time from 1975 to 1984.
Billy tells Sydney to "Be a single mom. Be Bonnie Franklin." Valerie Bertinelli played single mom Ann Romano's (Bonnie Franklin's) daughter Barbara on the long-running sitcom One Day at a Time (1975-1984).
When Sydney and Cliff are asleep, the tv newscaster is discussing "the Queen" and "Ann's divorce." Princess Ann of England separated from her husband Captain Mark Phillips in 1989, later divorcing in 1992. The anchorwoman states, "There's a catch. The Queen wants Ann to promise never to remarry." Princess Ann remarried Commander Sir Timothy Laurence within months of her divorce.