This season premier episode was filmed in part during the previous season to accomodate Woody Harelson's summer filming schedule, which overlapped with the hiatus for "Will & Grace." This necessity created a great deal of contractual paperwork though all parties were happily accomodating.
Planet of the Apes and The Three Stooges are mentioned at the end of this episode. Sean Hayes went on to star in The Three Stooges (2012) and Woody Harrelson went on to star in War for the Planet of the Apes (2017).