Jim Belushi admitted during publicity for this miniseries that he had absolutely no idea what the story was about. After reading the script several times and still failing to understand the plot, he simply showed up for filming each day and recited his lines. Critic Howard Rosenberg, panning the show in "The Los Angeles Times", described Belushi "sluggishly moving about in what appears to be a stuporous state of bafflement", though Britain's "Daily Telegraph" thought his distinct look of uncertainty was perfectly in keeping with the storyline.
Due to perceived similarities to Twin Peaks (1990), many reviewers referred to Wild Palms as "Twin Palms."
Senator Anton Kreutzer (Robert Loggia) and his religion New Realism are based on L. Ron Hubbard and The Church of Scientology.
Based on the full page comic strip, written by Bruce Wagner and illustrated by Julian Allen, published in Details magazine from 1990-1993.
The unusual looking police cars are 1963 Studebaker Avantis, a very rare classic car.