Although billed as a sequel, the teleplay includes several elements of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Huckleberry bristling at the Widow Douglas' attempts to civilize him; Tom being caught by Aunt Polly while eating stolen jam; Tom and Huck's mysterious disappearance alarming the town; Tom eagerly smoking Huck's corncob pipe and getting sick; a scary journey through perilous underground caverns; an elaborate scheme to save a slave, etc.
The film was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards in 1982 in the categories of editing, sound and art direction. Rascals and Robbers did not fare well in the Nielsen ratings, coming in 57th out of 64 shows the week it was broadcast.
CBS financed the film with a $2.2 million budget and it was filmed in Natchez, Miss.; the working title was The Further Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.