Like seen in this episode, the producers of the show had visited a cab company to talk to drivers in the early morning at the end of their shift. There, they saw cabbies with aspirations, giving them fodder for the show. Then, upon meeting a big booker, they learned he was only interested in being a driver, which led to the genesis of Alex Reiger.
A theater marquee in the opening scene shows Alguien voló sobre el nido del cuco (1975), in which Danny DeVito (Louie) appeared alongside future "Taxi" co stars Christopher Lloyd and Vincent Schiavelli.