In this particular episode,
Rosie O'Donnell violated one of her own rules - no autographs for adults. For many years, especially in her stand-up routines, her belief and policy was that autographs should only be for children; in fact she, herself, wouldn't sign autographs for adults. During the segment with
Ron Palillo, she told Palillo that one of her staff members was a huge
Welcome Back, Kotter (1975) fan and she wanted to know if he would autograph some Kotter memorabilia for him. O'Donnell her crew member come out, from backstage, and he obviously was of young-adult age. A lot of fans noticed, knowing her policy, and O'Donnell personally addressed, and responded to, each person that wrote in about it.