Warren Beatty produced this special solely to keep the film and television rights to Dick Tracy, the terms for which required the use of the character within a certain time frame to retain the rights. It has aired occasionally on Turner Classic Movies.
When asked to comment about Warren Beatty producing, directing, and partially writing the film Dick Tracy (1990), Tracy (played by Beatty) says, "He does have a high opinion of himself." Along with his other less-than-flattering comments about the film and its star (himself), he is playing a joke on himself, as he was notoriously known as the subject of Carly Simon's hit song, "You're So Vain."