Chaneloween, in which Chanel (Emma Roberts) sends her social media followers Halloween presents and have them record their responses "to post all over social media to exploit it for her own gain," is a play on "Swiftmas," where Taylor Swift sent out Christmas presents to her fans in 2014 and taped their responses. The videos start out with the same typeface on a black screen, mention similar emojis and even have similar soundtracks.
This is the first part of the three-part episode Halloween special.
Pete (Diego Boneta) and Grace (Skyler Samuels) visit the former kappa woman dressed as Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003). Grace's father is played by Oliver Hudson, Kate Hudson's older brother.
Chanel (Emma Roberts) told Hester to dress as Ida Saxton McKinley (the First Lady of the United States from 1897 until 1901) for Halloween. Lea Michele, who plays Hester, went to "William McKinley High School" in Glee (2009), her and Ryan Murphy's previous TV show.
Gracie Gillam who played a minor role in this series as Mandy, has appeared alongside Skyler Samuels in The Nine Lives of Chloe King (2011) before the show was cancelled.