Adjusted for inflation, the $185 hotel charges Bud must pay amount to approximately $1,620 in 2020 dollars.
The dessert that Bud and Nancy are served is Crêpes Suzette. In Bud's inimical fashion of demonstrating through language his lack of sophistication, in this instance mispronouncing a word, he adds an extra 'tee' at the end of the word.
The Barry McGuire, who plays debate teammate Frank Benson, is a magician and puppeteer in addition to actor. He's not to be confused with the Barry McGuire, singer/songwriter and sometimes actor, who's perhaps best known for his rendition of the folk/rock classic song "Eve of Destruction."
The car that Bud nearly sells to Norman Miller was the car he received as a graduation present in The Gold Turnip (1959). It is a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe convertible.
Jim Anderson states the first time we got to Chicago was through the debating team. Robert Young who plays this character was born in Chicago.