The episode is directed by Nancy Walker who also plays the role of Rhoda's (Valerie Harper) mother in the show.
Lou (Ed Asner) walks into the newsroom with a large laundry bag slung over his shoulder, and Murray quips "Hey, shouldn't you be wearing a long red suit and going 'Ho ho ho'?" Asner ended up portraying Santa Claus at least eight times in movies and television productions (some live-action and some animated), most famously in Elf (2003).