A valid California phone number can clearly be seen on Debbie's cell phone caller ID (310-597-3781.) Many fans called this number, which turned out to be a live line to a prop phone on the set of the show. Some fans got a voice mail message telling them that they called the 24 prop phone and to leave a message. Others talked to live people, including production designer Joseph A. Hodges. Still others claimed that they spoke to stars Kim Raver and Carlos Bernard. Hodges later admitted in an interview that director Jon Cassar came up with the idea for the "fan phone" because the two of them often got bored scouting new shooting locations and wanted a chance to interact with the audience. Hodges further stated that they received around 80,000 calls on the line during the first week alone.