According to a CNN retrospective on the show, the episode title Moon Over Uranus was tangentially inspired by the space program, but the double-entendre (Uranus/your anus) caused conflict between showrunner Steven Bochco and network censors at NBC. Just to gloat over winning the argument, Bochco proceeded to include the phrase in the title of the next two episodes as well. Sikking: We had (punning) titles on all of our shows. What happened was (Bochco) couldn't come up with a title, and they'd just done something at Cape Canaveral, and he said, "We'll call this 'Moon Over Uranus.' " And he sent it in and Standards and Practices called up, "No, no, no." Steven said, "Why do I have to change the title? The title is never broadcast. Nobody will ever see it." But (Standards) said, "You've been so successful, it could get an Emmy: 'And the winner is "Hill Street Blues" segment "Moon Over Uranus." ' We can't have that." And Steven said, "Good-bye." Haid: So the next one was called, "Moon Over Uranus, Part II." Sikking: The guy called up, he was screaming, "You can't put that on there." Steven said, "I can, too. Don't bother me." And the third one came out and Steven wrote, "Moon Over Uranus: The Final Chapter." Just to stick it in their ears. CNN adds: For the record, the actual titles were "Moon Over Uranus," "Moon Over Uranus: The Sequel," and "Moon Over Uranus: The Final Legacy." They all aired consecutively in Season 3. None won Emmys.
During roll call, a small plaster over an intravenous injection site can be seen on the back of Phil Esterhaus's right hand. This is because actor Michael Conrad, who played Esterhaus, was receiving treatment for cancer at the time. His battle with the disease, which would claim his life at age 58, is why he had much less screen time on the series thereafter.
This is the first episode in which Dennis Franz appears, playing the brutal and vicious undercover cop Sal Benedetto. After that character was killed off, Franz reappeared to play hard-edged, tough, but good cop Norman Buntz.
As in many episodes, in the hospital scenes the page "Mrs. Baker, please come to admissions " can be heard over the intercom.