This episode aired 13 months after the "Baby Jessica" incident, a similar story in which a young girl falls down a well. Eighteen month old Jessica McClure fell down her aunt's well in Midland, Texas in October 1987. Rescuers worked for 56 hours to free the toddler, by drilling a shaft straight down parallel to the well, then boring a tunnel across to the well, much in the same fashion Christy is rescued in this episode. The rescue of Jessica McClure was covered by media outlets from all over the world, and the photograph of Jessica being rescued won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988.
When Will stands under the sagging beam, it is reminiscent of Jimmy Dean's song, "Big John."
Then came the day at the bottom of the mine ...
Grabbed a sagging' timber, gave out with a groan
And like a giant oak tree he just stood there alone, big John ...
And with all of his strength he gave a mighty shove.