The visual effects on this Star Wars-themed episode were created by ILM, the company which did the visual effects on the Star Wars movies. The episode was filmed much earlier than usual and out of sequence, to accommodate Bob Newhart's schedule, and to give ILM time to create the effects.
Professor Proton's first appearance was S6 Ep22. This episode, where Leonard and Penny go to his funeral, is S7 Ep22.
Bernadette mentions watching the police drama Jake and the Fatman (1987) while growing up. Casey Sander, who plays Bernadette's father Mike, was a recurring character on the first season of that show.
In The Dead Hooker Juxtaposition (2009) and The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation (2009), Penny was shocked that she had already absorbed several Star Trek-related trivia without realizing. In this episode, the same thing happens with Star Wars when she recognizes several Star Wars-related references. Penny normally has trouble keeping both franchises apart, another sign that she keeps being pulled deeper into the boys' geek world.
This episode was taped on February 11, 2014, and broadcast on May 1, 2014, three days before Star Wars day as commemorated in the episode.