[2] Gene Kelly, the guest star on the special, had last worked with Sinatra on the 1949 film On the Town.
[3] The television special and subsequent album, Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back, represented a return to performing for Sinatra, who had retired in June 1971.
[5][6] Commercials during the special marketed Magnavox products, including Odyssey, the first video game console.
[7] The song "Can't Do That Anymore" had originally been written by Ebb for his abandoned musical with John Kander and Dale Wasserman, Wait for Me, World!.
[8] Ebb found making the special a disheartening experience, and was upset by Sinatra's treatment of his employees and Kelly.