Sandra Clark was never intended to be a regular character. She was added to the cast after testing positively with audiences.
For the second season, a storyline was considered in which Mary would become pregnant and deliver a stillborn baby. Marla Gibbs said the idea was scrapped because the outcome would have been too much of a downer for a sitcom.
One of very few television series set in Washington, D.C. that wasn't centered on politics or government.
Despite some rumors and controversy, Marla Gibbs said in an interview there was no feud between her and Jackée Harry.
Marla Gibbs, Hal Williams, and Helen Martin are the only cast members to appear in every episode of the series.