The only episode in the entire series not to have a scene in Mayberry. The entire episode takes place in Hollywood, California.
This was not the first time Gavin MacLeod was involved with a movie about Andy titled 'Sheriff Without A Gun.' In 'TV or not TV' (Season 5, Episode 23) he was part of a phony film crew that showed up in Mayberry to make the movie, but they turned out to be a gang of bank robbers. This time he's a legitimate actor, playing the part of Andy in the movie.
Opie mentions Marineland in this episode. Marineland of the Pacific was a public oceanarium and tourist attraction located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula coast in Los Angeles County, California, USA. Architect William Pereira designed the main structure. It was also known as Hanna-Barbera's Marineland during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Marineland operated from 1954 until 1987, when it was purchased by the owners of SeaWorld San Diego. The new owners moved the popular killer whales and other animals to their San Diego facility and abruptly closed Marineland.
The calendar on the wall in the studio is the same February calendar used for Floyd's Barbershop.
All of the sites that the bus driver describes to the Taylors as they travel down the Sunset Strip were real, although many of them were over a mile apart.