In court "Fred Wilk, Sr." (Richard Hale) testifies his address is RFD 3, Omaha, Nebraska. Rural Free Delivery (RFD) is a service which began in the United States in the late 19th century to deliver mail directly to rural farm families. In 1967, when this episode aired, the population of Omaha was about 330,000.
First post-castaway appearance by Russell Johnson following the CBS network's surprising, unexpected cancellation announcement of Gilligan's Island (1964) in April 1967. Johnson beat cast-mate Dawn Wells by two weeks when she guest stars on 'The Spores'. Both play 'against type' from their well-established "Gilligan" roles.
Their unemployment was near-science fiction-like because "Gilligan's Island" was a 'go' for its fourth season, to continue in its Monday 7:30 - 8:00 p.m. time-slot of its third season; BTW where it had been out ranking NBC's "The Monkees" in the Nielsens.
Twelve-year old oater "Gunsmoke" had been sent to 'Boot Hill', i.e., canceled by the head of programming. But in one of broadcast network television's legendary, behind-the-scenes tales, CBS founder William Paley's wife Babe raised a ruckus because it was one of her / their favorite programs, if not THE favorite, of the CBS line-up. That sentiment from higher-up trumped the programmer's plan. Because the western's longtime Saturday10:00 - 11:00 p.m. time-slot had been promised to perennial CBS sitcom star Lucille Ball's Desilu Studios' new p.i. hour "Mannix" - hoping to replicate the success of Desilu's freshman sensation, "Mission: Impossible" - another time-slot had to be found. "Gilligan's Island" became the sacrificial lamb when its Monday 7:30 p.m. was handed to James Arness and the Dodge City gang. The switch was fortuitous as "Gunsmoke" leaped to Number four in the Nielsens and by 1969 achieved Number two ranking for its 15th season - a remarkable turn-around for a decade-plus old show once deemed dead.
Twelve-year old oater "Gunsmoke" had been sent to 'Boot Hill', i.e., canceled by the head of programming. But in one of broadcast network television's legendary, behind-the-scenes tales, CBS founder William Paley's wife Babe raised a ruckus because it was one of her / their favorite programs, if not THE favorite, of the CBS line-up. That sentiment from higher-up trumped the programmer's plan. Because the western's longtime Saturday10:00 - 11:00 p.m. time-slot had been promised to perennial CBS sitcom star Lucille Ball's Desilu Studios' new p.i. hour "Mannix" - hoping to replicate the success of Desilu's freshman sensation, "Mission: Impossible" - another time-slot had to be found. "Gilligan's Island" became the sacrificial lamb when its Monday 7:30 p.m. was handed to James Arness and the Dodge City gang. The switch was fortuitous as "Gunsmoke" leaped to Number four in the Nielsens and by 1969 achieved Number two ranking for its 15th season - a remarkable turn-around for a decade-plus old show once deemed dead.
Mrs Wilks makes a quip to David after speaking on the phone to the Private investigator Brennan "This isn't Perry Mason" James Macallion who played Brennan, John Raynor who plays Fred Wilks and Richard hale Snr have all appeared in The TV show Perry Mason.
Jason Wingreen who plays the court clerk would later voice the iconic character of Boba Fett in Star Wars The Empire Strikes back in 1980, though uncredited, before it was replaced by the voice of Temura Morrison in 2004, who went on to play the character in the Disney Channel TV series, to fit in with the reveal in Attack of the Clones.
Vincent mentions that he and Gilman fought in Korea. Roy Thinnes served in the US military police after leaving college.