John Hillerman was asked to read the part of Mr. Peacock. When he failed to show up for the reading, co-creator Jeremy Lloyd read the lines instead. He was immediately offered the role. When the pilot didn't sell, producer Garry Marshall instead offered Lloyd a part on his current series Happy Days (1974). Lloyd turned it down to pursue other projects.
Lorna Patterson's debut.
The title is a pun. The city of Boston is famous for beans, having become a favorite dish, going all the way back to Native Americans and Settlers. One of Boston's nicknames is "Beantown".
Beane's of Boston's Mens and Ladies Wear department is on the fourth floor of the department store.