Steven Bochco originally wrote this script in 1973 for the third season, but it was not made because Peter Falk felt the villain was not interesting enough. A few years later, Bochco reworked the story for Affair of the Heart (1977). Falk apparently changed his mind by the time this episode was filmed.
Columbo makes a couple of references to having been in the force 22 years. It was indeed 22 years before this movie that the first ever Columbo movie was released.
Nancy Walker appeared as herself in this episode, albeit in poor health. She died of cancer two years later. At one point Lt. Columbo recognizes her as the actress from the "Rock Hudson Show", a reference to McMillan & Wife (1971), a series in which she regularly appeared and an episode of which contained the original version of this Columbo story. McMillan & Wife and Columbo were the two most successful of the four revolving NBC mystery series which ran for seven seasons in the 1970s.
Two of the "celebrity client" photos on the wall of Dr. Corman's office are of Nancy Walker and Dick Sargent, who appear in this episode.
Impressions during the poker game by John Roarke were of: John Wayne, Woody Allen, George Bush, Ronald Reagan, and Jack Nicholson.