During his ramblings after he has been shot, Cooper talks about keeping fear out of his mind. Kyle MacLachlan's first film with David Lynch was Dune (1984), in which he repeats the mantra "I must not fear, Fear is the mind-killer."
Hank Worden was a veteran character actor who appeared in several westerns, including One-Eyed Jacks (1961), after working as a rancher - a genuine cowboy. His most notable role was in The Searchers (1956) as Mose, a cowboy kidnapped by the Apache who has "gone native." Mose's erratic behavior bears a striking resemblance to that of The Waiter.
Director Steven Spielberg was interested in directing this episode before David Lynch decided to direct it himself.
First episode since the pilot to be recorded in Dolby Surround, as would all Season 2 episodes. All regular Season 1 episodes were originally mono, but have since been remixed into stereo also.