This was the last series with which the legendary Desi Arnaz was involved with. Mr Arnaz was a lot more than just 'Ricky Ricardo'; he founded and headed Desilu studios with his (then) wife, Lucille Ball. Mr Arnaz was a leading innovator in television - both in front of and behind the camera. Amongst Mr Arnaz' many developments, is the 3-camera shoot - he originally created it as a way to let the cast of I Love Lucy (1951) get the reaction from a live audience, and as the series was filmed, the quality of the show on both coasts was very high (prior to this, kinescope - shooting a film from TV screen was the norm which left a much degraded image - for both West coast viewers as well as lessening the likelihood of syndication), and has the added benefit of looking just as fresh almost 3/4-century later. The 3-camera shoot's still the standard for any series which is shot before a live audience.
This episode was the last of the The Mothers-In-Law (1967). Prior to this season, series creator, Desi Arnaz was told by CBS they'd renew the series, but without the usual financial increase a series world receive (it was because of this, which caused Roger C. Carmel to leave the series after its first year). The studio where the series was shot - Desilu (which Mr Arnaz was no longer involved with at this time) was also in transition, having been sold in a stock-swap to Gulf and Western (then-owners of Paramount).
The only episode in which The Lucy Show (1962) regular, Mary Jane Croft (which was still shooting for another season) appeared in.
If you think all the women Valkyries sound the same, you're not imagining things; guest star, Marni Nixon (who's making a rare on-screen appearance) did what she's best-known for; she dubbed all of them.
Lew Alcindor is the birth name of Kareen Abdul-Jabbar.