This is the first episode of the show that Jack Dodson appears as Howard Sprague. He had one prior appearance as insurance salesman Ed Jenkins.
Irene Fairchild was the 4th of 5 nurses to appear on The Andy Griffith Show. The first was Mary Simpson, played by Julie Adams. The second was also Mary Simpson, played by Sue Ane Langdon, and the third was Peggy McMillan, played by Joanna Moore. The 5th and final nurse to appear in the series was Nurse Oakley in season 7, episode 15, "A New Doctor in Town." Irene Fairchild was the first nurse who was not involved with Andy Taylor romantically.
At the beginning of this episode, Helen Crump wears the exact same outfit she wore in the previous episode, "Baby in the House." A long sleeve green blouse with a tan skirt.
Betty Lynn's last appearance as Thelma Lou aired on January 10, 1966. Jack Dodson and Mabel Albertson's first appearance on the show as Howard Sprague and his mother Mrs. Sprague was in "The County Clerk" which aired on March 14, 1966. The Sprague house appears to be Thelma Lou's house just slightly remodeled. The set for Morelli's restaurant appears to be the same as the Mayberry Diner with slight modifications. Anytime the Morelli's Restaurant set is used whatever characters are dining there are always at the same exact table and they always have the special which is the pounded steak.
Fans have speculated over the years about who would have been the best mates for the main characters who remained unmarried. Although Howard almost marries the flighty Millie Hutchins, the general agreement is that Irene Fairchild, being tall (Dodson was 6'3"), attractive, intelligent, and even-tempered, would've been ideal.