The character of Gary Cahuengaand his backstory were originally pitched by Dave Goelz, based on his own childhood fascination with puppets and ventriloquist dummies. Goelz conceived that his ventriloquist Chick Fernando got stage fright just before a performance on The Ed Sullivan Show and fled town, leaving Gary behind in his box. His design and first name are based on Muppets Tonight director Gary Halvorson, which was done at the suggestion of Steve Whitmire. Halvorson received a replica of the character, without any of the facial mechanisms within, as a gift after the show. The character's last name is a reference to Cahuenga Boulevard, a major Hollywood thoroughfare.
In the scenes shot on location at a laundromat, Bill Barretta puppeteered Sal Minella instead of Brian Henson, who's voice was added later.
This show introduces the character Gary Cahuenga, even though he already appeared in The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (1997), Rick Moranis (1997) and the compilation The Best of Muppets Tonight! (1997). It was however filmed earlier than the other shows, in production order 205, the others being 206, 207 and 209. Obviously it was decided to start the season with the biggest guest star to grace the show (The Artist Formerly Known as Prince) instead of preceding it with this one.