Officially, this is the first "Disney Channel Original Movie". However, the channel had shown original movies over a decade earlier, such as Papa épouse maman (1986), Les femmes de Papa (1989), and Lune de miel à Hawaï (1989). Original movies made prior to the channel's 1997 rebrand were labeled as "Disney Channel Premiere Films."
Marshall mentions three movies that Harold watches including, Ghost (1990), Pretty Woman (1990), and Nuits blanches à Seattle (1993). Actress Meg Ryan starred in 'Sleepless' and was offered the female lead for the other two.