Ron Howard wasn't the only one with a family member in this TV Movie (his father, Rance Howard, played the Preacher); Don Knotts' real life daughter, Karen Knotts, had a small part also as Opie's Receptionist.
This is the first time Barney (Don Knotts) and Howard Sprague (Jack Dodson) appear together. They had both previously appeared in the premiere episode of Mayberry R.F.D., "Andy and Helen Get Married," but their characters didn't interact.
Ken Berry was asked to reprise his role of Sam Jones, but was forced to decline as he was already committed to Mama's Family at the time.
Final film of Aneta Corsaut.
Otis Campbell (Hal Smith) was the town drunk in the original series. In this reunion, he's sober, and is the town's ice cream man.