As an in-joke to the film 1776 (1972) , the high school is named John Adams High. William Daniels played John Adams in the film, and plays the principal here.


The 'rules' posted in the John Adams High School cafeteria are "No loud talking, no reading, no shooting".


In the beginning of the show, Shawn mentions he has a sister. This 'sister' helped with the "straightening" of Cory's hair in one of the episodes. However, later on in the show, we learn that Shawn doesn't have a sister.


In one episode, William Daniels mentions that Graduate, The (1967) was a great film. He played Mr. Braddock in that movie.


In Episode 3-17 The Pink Flamingo Kid, we find out that Shawn has a half brother named Eddie, who he protect Cory from when Cory tapes him with stolen goods. We never hear about Eddie again, or a brother of Shawn's till Jack enters the show in season 5 as Shawn's half brother.


In the series finale Cory talks to his little brother Joshua played by Daniel Jacob, earlier in the season Daniel Jacobs played the little boy standing in the hallway when Topanga and Cory move into there apartment in "The Honeymoon is Over"


In another nod to 'William Daniels' ' 1776 role of John Adams, the episode where Eric decides he wants to be a teacher, the immigrants recite the Declaration of Independence in the final scene. The term "inalienable rights" was replaced with "unalienable rights," the term that John Adams fights to be replaced in a memorable scene in 1776, a phrase Thomas Jefferson refused to yield on.