The initials "T.J." in " T.J. Hooker " stand for Thomas Jefferson.
According to an interview he gave to Irish television programme 'The Late Late Show'. when William Shatner was first filming the series autograph hunters asked him why Captain Kirk was dressed as a policeman? Once it began to air they insisted he sign their autographs as TJ Hooker. Shatner stated this brought home to him the power television could wield over its audience.
The title for this episode was meant to be the title for the entire series, but a decision was made to focus on the TJ Hooker character, and the series was re-titled.
The Burger shack that is getting robbed near the end was filmed across the street from where Johnny Gasparini got washed off Lane Meyer's car in Better Off Dead (1985).