This two-part episode originally aired as a special hour-long episode.
This is the only episode in which Barney Miller does not appear.
This two-part episode was the pilot for a potential spin-off series titled "Off Duty". Each episode was to focus on one of the detectives' home life. In the early version of this idea, Wojo and recurring character Det. Janice Wentworth played by Linda Lavin were to move in together. But by the time this episode was produced, Lavin was starring on Alice (1976) and Wentworth no longer appeared. Other episodes would have focused on Miller's family (who were featured in the first season but phased out), Harris and Dietrich as roommates, and Fish and his wife as foster parents to many kids. This latter part of the original version became the spin-off series Fish (1977). Moreover, Wojo said that Wentworth, reminded him of a hooker.
One of only a few episodes that showed scenes outside of the squad room.
Nancy is shown to be left-handed when she is filling in the crossword puzzle.