There was no screenplay for the episode until very late into production. Only the title, "Murder on the Rising Star", existed and was used to pitch the series to the executives. A last-minute scramble from the writers resulted in the screenplay that made it to the air.
At the very end of the episode, you can see Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict getting ready to enter the Triad arena. Right behind each of them is Anne Lockhart and Laurette Spang who are smirking at each other. This is because during an outtake, Anne and Laurette pulled a prank on Richard and Dirk by taking hold of their shorts from behind and yanking them upwards.
W.K. Stratton who plays Triad player and Viper pilot Lt. Barton also plays a pilot (2nd Lt. Casey) on the series Black Sheep Squadron (1976). Coincidentally, Jeff MacKay (Cpl. Komma in this episode) also plays a pilot (1st Lt. French) on "Black Sheep Squadron" (1976).
Patricia Stich (Zara) co-starred with Lorne Greene (Adama) on the short-lived private-eye series Griff (1973).
This episode was the first time that Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer do the three-way handshake. It was only repeated one more time in "The Hand of God", the final episode which was also the last time Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer were seen together on the series.