The role of the hapless stand-up comedian given his walking papers is played by Bernie Orenstein, this episode's writer and a co-producer of the series.
When Al Williams walks in the house, he says to Fred "Hey, what do you say Redd?" Calling Redd Foxx by his name instead of his character's name, Fred Sanford.
Lawanda Page is one of the club patrons when Billy Eckstine and the Zany's perform. She's seated with a gentleman at the front center table. The club is dimly lite to mask her presence.
Fred's calling the turkey Jonathan Livingston Turkey was a cultural reference to the popular book and film, "Jonathan Livingston Seagull."
When Fred asks Lamont "guess who's coming to dinner," and Lamont responds, "Sidney Poitier," the exchange is a cultural reference to the famous film "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" starring Sidney Poitier, Katherine Hepburn, and Spencer Tracey (for which Hepburn won her second of four Academy Awards).