Dedicated to the memory of Law & Order (1990) star Jerry Orbach. Orbach had died on December 28, 2004, just days before the broadcast of this episode.
This episode alludes to the problems surrounding the design and construction of 173 Perry Street and 176 Perry Street in Manhattan. The twin-towered complex is shown at the beginning of the episode, with one tower partially obscured by D'Onofrio as he and Erbe look up at the other tower. Four years after the towers were supposed to have been completed, the buildings experienced many problems--including uncompleted construction, leaks, heating issues, and endless miscellaneous construction as individual owners (including Calvin Klein, Martha Stewart, and Nicole Kidman) continued to customize their individual apartments. Many problems presented in scenes of the episode (for example, the rain water cascading down the inside of a window) actually occurred. The buildings' problems generated much publicity and acrimony involving the condominium board, the developers, the contractor and multiple sub-contractors, the architects, and individual owners. The problems continued for years after the buildings were completed.
R. Ward Duffy has played three different roles over the course of the series:
- Episode 8.7 Folie a Deux (2009) - Hal Brooks
- Episode 5.11 Slither (2006) - Det. Geraldo
- Episode 4.10 View from Up Here (2005) - Detective Langford (as Ward Duffy)