This show was inspired by a 2007 NYT article, "Taking Power, Sharing Cereal," about the living arrangements of Senators Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer and two other congressmen.
Senator Biggs is a retired UNC basketball coach. He is not based on legendary Tar Heels coach Dean Smith (a Democrat) or any other actual basketball coach, though his temper is similar to that of Indiana University coach Bobby Knight.
The last time cots were brought into the Senate cloakroom was during Senator Strom Thurmond's filibuster of the 1957 Civil Rights Act.
Senator Vern Smits (Bill Murray), carted off to jail by federal marshals of the Department of Justice, will be seen again in a later episode.
At the time Garry Trudeau wrote the pilot, the Senate had experienced only a tiny handful of "talking filibusters" (where senators take to the floor for hours) over the last 40 years. But by the time the pilot first aired, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky had filibustered for 13 hours straight and later in 2013 Senator Ted Cruz of Texas took to the floor for a marathon speech that lasted for 21 hours.