FIrst episode with Gale Gordon's "John Wilson" character. It should be noted that John did not step into the role of his brother George "as if he'd always been the Mitchell's next door neighbor". In fact, in the latter episodes of this season and several times in the next (final) season, references are made to "the other Mr. Wilson", John "buying the house from his brother", and John's assertion that "I didn't live here last year".
Upon first the incapacitation and then the death of Joseph Kearns, the producers explained George Wilson's absence by having Mrs. Wilson state in the first of the two preceding episodes that he was going on a trip, and then that he had gone back east to settle an estate. Beginning with this episode, in which Gale Gordon essentially stepped into the same role as George's visiting brother John, a freelance writer, new opening credits were used for the first time since the first season, with Gordon's name replacing Kearns' name. Beginning the following season, Gordon would take over the role as if he had always been the Mitchells' next door neighbor, complete with his own wife played by Sara Seegar.