Patrick Labyorteaux reprises his role as Bud Roberts, a role he played in JAG, the show from which NCIS was spun-off. McGee asks about are Harm and Mac, also characters from JAG.
Bud Roberts previously appeared in season one's "Hung Out to Dry (2003)".
Bud Roberts previously appeared in season one's "Hung Out to Dry (2003)".
In the finale of JAG, set in the same universe, Harmon Rabb and Sarah MacKenzie toss a coin to see which of them leaves the Service, but the outcome isn't shown. Here, when McGee meets Bud Roberts he asks after "Harm and Mac" but Bud is interrupted before he can reply, thus preserving the mystery.
This is the first time Joe Spano has appeared in an episode in which Fornell's presence was not related to a current NCIS or FBI case.
There is only one reference to Tony DiNozzo, at the end of the episode. Bishop tells McGee, "If anyone could sit there [at Tony's old desk] Tony would want it to be you."
Sean Murray was also on JAG (1995-2005) as Danny Walden, Admiral A.J. Chegwidden's (John M. Jackson) love interest's son.