The original concept of the series was that each episode took place in real time. A timer on the corner of the screen counted down from 22 minutes, pausing in the middle for one commercial break. The timer was discontinued after a few episodes. For the second season, the conceit was abandoned altogether in favor of a more conventional time structure, perhaps due to a combination of network pressure and the difficulties in planning and filming the action so that it appears to unfold in real time.
For the first season, 13 episodes were made but NBC only aired 10 of them.
Lauren Bowles, who played Ellie's sister Susan, is Julia Louis-Dreyfus' half-sister in real life. They have the same mom.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus successfully fought NBC censors to allow a scene where a man runs around his house completely naked in front of Ellie.