Before filming each day, Penelope Spheeris would hug each child actor to ensure closeness and trust in the group.
This film liberally borrows gags, situations, set-ups, costumes, and plots from many of the shorts that made up the original Our Gang (Little Rascals) movie series. Some examples: -
Hook and Ladder (1932): The gang as firefighters -
Hi'-Neighbor! (1934): Building the go-cart (a fire engine in the original), knocking over the pedestrian on the sidewalk. -
Anniversary Trouble (1935): The "hi/high-sign" (the only short in which it is prominently featured) -
Hearts Are Thumps (1937): The He-Man Woman Haters Club, the gang spiking Alfalfa and Darla's lunch, Alfalfa's "bubble song." -
Rushin' Ballet (1937): Alfalfa and Spanky in drag at a ballet recital. The costumes are exact duplicates of the originals. -
Mail and Female (1937): (once again) The He-Man Woman Haters Club, the love note, "1st Messenger" Buckwheat, and "2nd Messenger" Porky. -
Auto Antics (1939): The go-cart race -
Three Smart Guys (1943): Buckwheat and Porky catching one another's fishing hook and trying to (unknowingly) reel each other in.
During filming for the ballet scene, Bug Hall and Travis Tedford wanted to learn the choreography but instead were instructed to "goof off".
During the 20th anniversary photo shoot, Ross Bagley revealed he improvised the famous "We Got a Dollar" number.
Waldo says, "Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed" during the go-kart race. This is what Burt Ward as Robin says when the Dynamic Duo leaves the bat cave in the 60's Batman television series.
Ashley Olsen, Mary-Kate Olsen: as Darla's friends at her sleepover. Blake Ewing who plays Waldo had a recurring role on their show Full House (1987) as Derrick, a friend of their character Michelle.