In this storyline, Patty McCormack portrays Sylvie, Joel's grandmother, who is Jewish, and Lawrence Pressman portrays Zoe's non-Jewish uncle Vernon 'Brando' Wilkes. In real life, the opposite is true, meaning Patty McCormack is not Jewish, portraying a Jewish character, but Lawrence Pressman is Jewish portraying a non-Jewish character.
The actors portraying Brick and his mother are just seven years apart in age.
Patty McCormack, who plays Joel's grandma Sylvie, is actually only 34 years older than him.