This was the only time Billy Wilder played himself in a scripted TV show. He jokingly acknowledges this when he leaves: "I'd better stick to directing."
The house painter mentioning a "colleague who cut off his ear" is of course a reference to Vincent Van Gogh.
The entire episode, including Jack's "Good night, folks," takes place in his living room.
After calling gossip columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, Benny considers calling Pierre Salinger, who was the White House Press Secretary.