Before talking to Erma Bombeck, Producer Bob Shanks had already assembled a large and impressive cast, including David Hartman (who had starred in a TV western called The Virginian), Nancy Dussault (a television actress), Jack Anderson (a syndicated political newspaper columnist), Rona Barrett (her beat was Hollywood), noted comedian Jonathan Winters, and Geraldo Rivera. Erma's response? "I can't imagine all those people in the same country let alone on the same show. I think you're out of your mind."