This episode was based on the short story "Marionettes, Inc." by Ray Bradbury, which was first published in the March 1949 issue of "Startling Stories". It was previously adapted for two NBC radio science fiction series: "Dimension X" in 1951 and "X Minus One" in 1955.
The "Mike's Bar" neon sign which appears a few minutes into this episode was also used just a few episodes earlier in "The Jokester".
Although earlier episodes had touched upon fantasy, this is the series' first outright science fiction episode.
This episode takes place in August 1965.
Tom and Anne Smith were married in 1955.