In the DVD commentary, Aidan Quinn ("Michael") remembers that NBC's Standards and Practices department (the network censors) were a constant (in Quinn's words, "hovering") presence on the set. They regulated matters such as Quinn appearing in bed with D.W. Moffett ("Peter")--they would not allow the two to be seen together in the characters' bed, only for Quinn to be in bed while Moffett sat, fully clothed, on its edge. Quinn says in the commentary that the censors were not only adamant that the two men were never allowed to kiss, but also that any physical contact between them had to be "balanced" by Michael's contact with his parents.
Over 20 years after this movie was made, D.W. Moffett played Aidan Quinn's brother in an episode of Quinn's show The Book of Daniel (2006). Quinn says on the commentary track for this film that when the producers of "The Book of Daniel" were casting the brother role, they asked Quinn if he knew Moffett. Quinn told them he did, and recommended Moffett for the role, but deliberately omitted the fact that the last time they had worked together, they had played lovers for fear that the producers would then not want to cast them as brothers.
This was the first feature film about AIDS made either for TV or theater release.
Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman wrote 13 drafts of their teleplay before the script was finally green-lighted for production by NBC. They eventually won an Emmy for their teleplay.
Producer Perry Lafferty said that NBC lost $500,000 in revenue because clients were afraid to have their advertisements shown during the broadcast.