Screenshots of the opening scene between Ellen Farber (Liz Holtan) and Louis have become popular across the Internet with many people mistaking it for an actual interview.
For the TV host, Louis C.K. considered Joy Behar, Anderson Cooper, Sean Hannity, and Shepard Smith but was not able to reach any of them. When Greg Gutfeld expressed interest, C.K. was concerned because Red Eye w/Tom Shillue (2007) is a satirical show and he wanted the scene to take place on a more serious news show. Gutfield agreed to play himself as a serious host. The scene was filmed at Fox News' studios.
The picture that Louie masturbates to is of Loretta Swit as "Hot Lips" Houlihan from M*A*S*H (1972).
The scene in which Louie masturbates was originally filmed for the episode "Bummer/Blueberries". It was to take place immediately before he calls Janice for a date.