This is the first and only time that writers Arnie Rosen and Arthur Julian wrote for Lucille Ball. They partnered on the television series, The Carol Burnett Show (1967) in 1971 and 1972.
This is the first time Lucille Ball technically does not play a variation on her sitcom "Lucy" character. In the special's first half, her wig has a few streaks of gray in it and she appears to be padded to lend credence to Malcolm's lines about her sitting around on her "fat duff". Lucille Ball's personal hairstylist Irma Kusely is back to style her wigs. Here's Lucy (1968) prop master Kenneth L. Westcott, costumer Renita Reachii, production manager William Magginetti, and script supervisor Dorothy Aldworth are also part of the production.
Art Carney is the first man to play Lucille Ball's husband on television since Desi Arnaz in 1960. Although Art Carney never appeared on a Lucille Ball sitcom, a sewer worker bearing a striking resemblance to his "Honeymooners" character Ed Norton did briefly surface (pardon the pun) in 1964's "Lucy, the Coin Collector" (S3;E13). Carney's co-star Jackie Gleason made a wordless cameo appearance as bus driver Ralph Kramden on the second episode of "Here's Lucy" in 1968. Norton's wife, Trixie, was played by Jane Kean in the hour-long color "Honeymooners" of the 1960s and she guest-starred on a 1966 episode of "The Lucy Show." Trixie's best friend, Ralph's wife Alice, was played by Audrey Meadows, who guest-starred on "Life With Lucy" as Lucy's sister in 1986.
A drunken Malcolm (Art Carney) sings a few bars of "Oh, Promise Me" The song was sung by Vivian Vance in Lucy's Sister Pays a Visit (1963), which also starred Peter Marshall and was directed by Jack Donohue.
The hotel waterbed springs multiple leaks when Norma walks on it in her heels, giving Lucille Ball a chance to do some very "Lucy-like" physical comedy.