David Chase took over as show runner after writer Sandy Veith successfully sued Universal for stealing his concept. He had pitched Universal a show about an Italian-American doctor moving to the deep south. Universal then went to Brand and Falsey and asked them to create a show based on that premise, without admitting the concept's origin. Brand and Falsey quit the show in disgust when it was proven they had been duped into working with stolen ideas (they were never sued). Universal inexplicably brought in David Chase as show runner, despite the fact that he was public and vocal about not liking or believing in the show, and saying that he only took the job for the money; which explains the considerable drop off in quality after the fourth season and is the origin of the Phil Capra story-line toward the end of the show's run.
David Chase, who went on to create The Sopranos (1999), took over as the show runner starting this episode and would remain at the helm for the rest of the series.