The actor portraying Maddie Kendall's ex-husband, Doug Kendall, is Brian Hallisay, who has been Jennifer Love Hewitt's actual husband since 2013.
The story of the kidnapping seems to be a homage to Steven Stayner who was kidnapped from Merced Ca in 1972. His kidnapper was Kenneth Parnell. When Parnell kidnapped another child Steven took him to the police and was returned to his parents. Eric Parnell in the show used the same story that the parents didn't want him anymore and gave the child to Parnell. The boy kidnapped was also taken from Merced was called Steven by his kidnapper.
Henry G. Sanders, who plays Athena's father in this episode also played her character Ramona Royale's father in season 5 of American Horror Story (2011).
The production code was 2LAY11.