Hmm...it seems like recently there's been a combination of good stuff and bad stuff in each episode; here the idea was good (i.e. satire; unfortunately many of the things there are to comment on nowadays are already stupid and/or crude, so the show comes off as being the same, so I like to keep that in mind), but some people pointed out that the execution was a little lame. Maybe so, but Helter Shelter had a strong social commentary idea and its fair share of good jokes/sight gags, and though the meta-references weren't as subtle as in other episodes, that is hard to pull off when the episode is about the Simpsons on TV. I'll give this one an A.
Some previous episode references: 8F23: Burns and Smithers think Homer could sue for a lot because of an injury at the plant, and give him a token prize to prevent it BABF06: A fumigation tent is seen BABF19 and some others: The Simpsons are on TV! AABF23: Homer says "Now where's that kid with my latte?" (Ha, I wonder if they reused the sound clip a la "The Simpsons are going to Delaware!" ff.) 1F20: Marge admits that her hair isn't really blue 3F11: The Simpsons drive that old-timey car, like Burns does when he pulls up to Apu's new gas pumps in that episode DABF18: Marge's corset makes for a reprise of her ample chest 4F10 (and probably others): Morse Code used for a gag
Some other references: "Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific (Arena)" - if I'm not mistaken, that's the exact name of a brand of shampoo (less "arena"), and a funny idea for making fun of corporate-named stadia Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (maybe) - the hockey game is "Event 42," and the elevator with a faulty button is at street address 42. I thought it might be a coincidence the first time, but it seems like a writer had just been through the works of Douglas Adams. Life in Hell - "Mutt and Jeff" is another crudely-drawn comic strip, with gay main characters - hmm, I wonder if that could be like Akbar and _Jeff_. And some obvious ones: A Bug's Life - exterminator's name is A Bug's Death, with same logo/font Law and Order (and its spinoffs, Criminal Intent and Special Victims Unit) - L&O Elevator Inspectors Unit uses the same exact logo, location subtitle font, and "location moving" sound, though the real ones aren't nearly as stupid King of the Hill - The only thing they could have done to make it more obvious would be to throw the show's title in there, but as with other meticulously-done parodies I enjoyed the fake intro montage a lot.
Goofs: House off-model alert! (Just add it to the pile...) The cabinet Marge opens would face the back yard, not the side yard, so unless Flanders was trimming the hedge behind the Simpsons' house, I get to be anal and point this out. On the other hand, Homer's bathroom is directly above the kitchen, so that worked out well. Jimbo sounds more like Milhouse (they're both done by Pamela Hayden) when the bullies see Bart's first 1895 outfit...yes, it's nitpicky, but someone had to point it out.
Meta-reference corner (episode): -"We need a family that hasn't been on TV forever." Enough said, but hasn't this show been on longer than the Cosby Show was? -CBG calls the Simpsons "Our Favorite Family" - actually, he might consider them that, since Bart gives him a lot of business and they saved his life, etc. -Bart remarks that he's had enough crazy adventures near the end, but it made more sense in context than the "end of our series...of events" in DABF01.