Joe Frazier guest stars as himself in the episode. He was in Burns' ceremony for Homer's fake award. Al Jean said that it was hard for Frazier to say the word "excellence" right. George Meyer said that Frazier said it right after 20 tries. The episode was going to show Barney Gumble beating Frazier in boxing. Frazier was a world heavyweight championship before. Frazier's son did not want that part of the episode to be shown. He said that Frazier was a world champion, "and a world champion does not get knocked out. My dad has only been knocked down twice, and that was by George Foreman." Producers wanted Foreman to be in the episode, but they could not get him in.