This is Matthew Fox's first role.
The title is a reference to Shoeless Joe Jackson and his involvement with the Black Sox Scandal. Jackson was one of eight players paid off to throw the 1919 World Series. Writer Charley Owens used the phrase "Say it ain't so, Joe" as the headline to a tribute in the Chicago Daily News.
On the Sandpiper flight schedule board, the word "Boston" is spelled backwards.
At one point, Helen says she is 12 years older than Ty. In real life, Crystal Bernard is only five years older than Matthew Fox. Fox, who was playing a 17-year old, was actually 25 when this episode was filmed.