The fictional television show "Mr. Chompers" was based on author Jerry Stahl's experience writing for ALF (1986). The other television series was based on Stahl's experiences on Twin Peaks (1990) and Moonlighting (1985), and its star was apparently based on Cybill Shepherd.
Ben Stiller's mother Anne Meara co-starred on ALF (1986), on which the fictional show "Mr. Chompers" was based.
Charles Fleischer, best known for voicing Roger Rabbit, has the small role of Allen from "Mr. Chompers". According to the book, Permanent Midnight, Jerry Stahl wrote an unaired television pilot as a vehicle for Fleischer.
Ben Stiller and Jerry Stahl are still good friends to this day. Jerry was even Ben's best man when he married Christine Taylor.
Jerry Stahl: The real Jerry Stahl has a cameo as Dr. Lazarus. ("Lazarus" is on his name plate on his white coat.) Lazarus is a character in the Christian Bible whom Jesus brings back from the dead (John 11:1-46:1); likewise, Stahl was brought back from the brink of death after a severe heroin addiction.