Norman Lear's shows were being produced at Metromedia Square in Hollywood. They needed more space for this show, so they rented studio space from KTLA. The KTLA studio was across Fernwood Street, so they started calling KTLA "Fernwood", which became the name of the fictitious town where the show is set.
One of the first multi-camera American comedies not to use a studio audience or laugh track. This is due to the soap opera-style approach.
Martin Mull, in an interview on Norm MacDonald's web-based show, NormLive, stated he came in and was interviewed for an hour by Norman Lear to be a writer on the show, and at the end Lear thanked him and said they didn't need any writers. Six months later he was telephoned and asked to come in and read for a part, stating he was not an actor.
Ranked #21 in TV Guide's list of the "25 Top Cult Shows Ever!" (May 30, 2004 issue).