David Caruso was originally cast as Archie but was replaced shortly before filming began. The change was so sudden that publicity photos of Dennis Bowen as Archie credited him as Caruso.
Gordon Jump auditioned to play Mr. Weatherbee. He did not get that role but the producers liked his audition so much that they cast him as Mr. Andrews. But nobody notified Jump and he showed up for filming ready to play Mr. Weatherbee. When he was told of the error, he took a copy of the script and went off to a corner of the studio. In just a few minutes, he was prepared to play Mr. Andrews.
ABC ordered this pilot to be retooled. Another pilot titled The Archie Situation Comedy Musical Variety Show (1978) was made but it was not picked up either.
This pilot actually aired on December 19, 1976, and was re-broadcast in 1978 as part of the "ABC Saturday Comedy Special"