Many people erroneously accuse the TV series "Columbo" of stealing the story for this episode. In fact Steven Bochco originally wrote a virtually identical episode for "Columbo" in 1973. However, Peter Falk did not feel the script was good enough and, as a result, it did not get made at the time. Bochco then used the story for this series. Years later, Falk changed his mind and made the original Bochco script into a Columbo movie in Uneasy Lies the Crown (1990)
The autopsy Doctor was played by same actor who played Dr. Morton on Emergency, which was still on the air at the time.
This is the only episode of the entire series in which John Schuck does not appear as Charlie Enright. He returns for the next and final installment, "Have You Heard About Vanessa?"
Rock Hudson and guest stars Lloyd Nolan and Jed Allan had nine years earlier been co-stars in Ice Station Zebra (1968).
Jed Allan and John deLancie worked together for three years in Days of Our Lives.