Leo Gordon had played a semi-regular supporting character in seasons one and two of the original "Maverick" TV show: gambler Big Mike McComb. Gordon also later wrote a few episodes of the show. Margot Kidder had been Garner's co-star and onscreen love interest in the short-lived western TV series "Nichols", reflected in their meeting in "Maverick" when her character quickly hints that his character might want to marry her. Danny Glover's cameo appearance references Donner's "Lethal Weapon" film series starring Glover and Gibson as cop partners. Their meeting in "Maverick" sees them share a moment of recognition, complete with "Lethal Weapon" music, and as he leaves, Glover says Roger Murtaugh's catchphrase: "I'm getting too old for this shit."