The voice of the Minerals Management Service junior employee with whom Will speaks on air is Jesse Eisenberg in an uncredited cameo.
In the "Making of" featurette on the DVD, Aaron Sorkin mentions that he asked if Jeff Daniels would need cue cards for his long rant during the opening scene. Apparently, Daniels said "no" and memorized the entire speech.
First pilot of an Aaron Sorkin show not directed by Thomas Schlamme or nominated for an Emmy.
The narrative takes place on April 20, 2010, the day that was the start of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. On the screens in the background there are images of a Space Shuttle landing. Space Shuttle Discovery touched down at Kennedy Space Center on the morning of April 20, 2010, marking the end of mission STS-131, meaning that images of that landing is exactly what would be expected in a news room for that day.
Sean Hannity was considered for the first scene, but it was decided that it would have to be done by "an actor".