By the time this episode aired, the series was running dead last in the season-to-date ratings (although Mulligan's Stew (1977), which ultimately was the lowest-rated show of the season, had not yet premiered). CBS, which had ordered and paid for 22 episodes, gave "Switch" another chance on Mondays to replace the departed Rafferty (1977), but the network was in a Monday-night slump for the only time in its history and ratings did not significantly improve. CBS dumped all of the Monday shows in January (moving Maude (1972) to a death-row Saturday night slot, canceling outright The Fitzpatricks (1977), which was in second-to-last place, and the troubled The Betty White Show (1977)) and effectively canceling "Switch." Ironically, the show enjoyed its best ratings ever when it got a third chance in a Sunday night time slot that summer.
The title refers to The Macuna of the eastern part of the Amazon basin. As of 1991 the entire population was estimated at 600 individuals.