The Warner Grand Theatre was called "The Castle of Dreams" by Jack Warner in its opening heyday of 1931, a title that inspired this special's dream sequence narrative.
The opening tune "I Felt Like a Gringo" is by Brian Whitaker's favorite band The Minutemen, a hardcore punk band from San Pedro where this special was filmed. Mike Watt, the writer of the song, personally gave Brian Whitaker permission to use it in his special after the two met outside a show in Hollywood.
Brian Whitaker never planned on becoming a comedian, having majored in film studies. The dream sequence of the sold-out show was shot in color and the real-life bookends in black and white as a tribute to "The Wizard of Oz."