The pilot also starred Todd Field (who later garnered considerable acclaim as a film director) as Lookwell's sidekick Jason, Ron Frazier as his long-suffering "police contact" Detective Kennery (the technical advisor on Bannigan back in the day) and Ann Weldon as his housekeeper, Hyacinth. It was directed by E.W. Swackhamer, a veteran TV director with a particular track record for 1970s cop shows.
This show provides examples of:
- Adam Westing: Duh.
- Captain Obvious:Detective: We'll do what we can, sir, but this is the fifth lot to have a classic car stolen this week.
Lookwell: Sounds like a string of classic car thefts. You boys better check it out. - "Eureka!" Moment: Lookwell has several of these in the episode. Unfortunately, they all lead him in the wrong direction.
- Ice-Cream Koan: "You never waste time, Jason. Time wastes you."
- I Know Mortal Kombat: Lookwell thinks he can use his TV crime-solving experience to solve real crimes, but fails.
- Mandatory Line: Ann Weldon receives star billing but only appears in one scene, with a total of five lines (just enough to not be considered a bit part).
- Mistaken for Gay: Lookwell goes undercover at an auto painting shop he suspects is painting stolen cars, and makes a wink-wink offer to the shop owners to do any "...special jobs, that need...extra attention." They think he's asking for gay sex.
- Protagonist Title: Surname-type One-Word Title, in the vein of '70s cop shows which frequently followed this pattern.
- Shout-Out: The show mentions the detective shows Banacek and Mannix, as well as the non-existent Brannigan (starring Hugh O'Brian) and Bennigan (starring George Kennedy).
- Show Within a Show: Several.
- Bannigan, naturally. A three-season cop show from The '70s, clips from the series are seen throughout the pilot.
- Lookwell auditions to play a character named "Buzz McCool" on Happy Days: The Next Generation.
