Second and final appearance of Pat Finley as a guest star, in the role of Twinks McFarland. She was previously in an earlier episode as Sparkie.
The title is from the common expression: A friend in need is a friend indeed. The expression may date back to the 3rd century BC when Quintus Ennius wrote "Amicu certus in re incerta cernitur" or "a sure friend is known when in difficulty".