There are many similarities between this episode and A Medal for Margaret (1958) . Both plots have one of the main female characters feeling frustrated at her lack of accomplishments, so she trains with a wisecracking older man to learn a new skill. Then something happens at the last minute to prevent her from testing her new skill in a competition. Both episodes were written by Roswell Rogers.
The Joyce that Bud keeps mentioning is the girlfriend who made her last appearance in the series in Bicycle Trip for Two (1959). She was played by Roberta Shore, who appeared as Joyce a total of four times.