An early idea for an ending to this episode (and thus the finale of the show) was to have Tommy walk into a burning room and sit down in a chair effectively committing suicide. There was then planned to be an immediate cut to black. However after continuing with the show, writers and co-creators Denis Leary and Peter Tolan decided on the considerably less dark ending seen here.
This episode aired four days prior to to the tenth anniversary of 9/11.
Last episode of the series.