This episode is Sherry Stringfield's final appearance. She left before writers could write a storyline for her character to leave the series. Stringfield was the last original cast member to still be on the show at this point (although she left between 1996 and 2001). As of her departure, all main cast members from the first two seasons are gone (though Laura Innes, who joined in season 3, was a recurring guest star in season 2). With Stringfield's departure, Innes is the show's most senior main cast member. Stringfield returned for a guest appearance in the show's final episode in 2009.
Scott Grimes becomes a series regular in this episode after appearing as a recurring guest star for two seasons. Initially, he was only meant to appear in three episodes.