The episode title 'The Happy Wanderer' is also the name of the album by Jonny Lang that Meadow has a poster of in her bedroom in the scene where she is practicing her music.
Continuing the frequent pattern of "Sopranos" cast members having relatives also show up in the series, Tony Sirico (Paulie)'s real-life older brother 'Carmine Sirico' appears as the nameless "Dealer" in this episode's first poker-game scene spouting a few words, all of them off-camera. It stands as the one and only TV or film credit of Carmine's acting career.
This episode features a very earnest appearance as Himself by Frank Sinatra Jr. His sister Nancy Sinatra would also play herself as a close mob acquaintance in a final-season episode of the series eight years later (Season 6, Episode 16, "Chasing It").
In this episode which runs 50 minutes, the word "balls" is used nearly 10 times, or once every 5 minutes.
The song played during the ending credits is "The Happy Wanderer," by Frankie Yankovic.