In an interview, Sean Murray says that this is one of his favorite episodes of the show because we finally get to learn a little bit about McGee, and he becomes more of a main character.
When Tony introduces himself to Amanda, a woman that the NCIS team had under surveillance, he says his name is "Stringfellow". Stringfellow Hawke was the main character of the show Airwolf (1984), which was created by NCIS creator Donald P. Bellisario.
Tony tells Amanda that his Alma Mater made it to the Final Four, then lost to UCLA, which is Mark Harmon's Alma Mater.
When McGee and Dinozzo are talking about the movie The Stakeout, Dinozzo says it stars one of Martin Sheen's kids. Tony says it's Emilio Estevez. McGee then asked how an Estevez can be a Sheen. Then Tony says Martin Sheen isn't a Sheen. Martin Sheen's real name is Ramon Estevez.
Jamie Luner, Amanda Reed / Lt. Cmdr. Hamilton Voss, appeared previously in an episode of Reasonable Doubts (1991), another Mark Harmon show.