Syndicated versions removed all references to Elton John and his song "Tiny Dancer". John was the first major rock artist to stage a show in the former USSR. Voice actors had to dub new nonsense lines to cover dialogue that featured lyrics to John's songs. Shout! Factory's DVD release of the series restores all references to John and the song, thus maintaining a running gag in the episode.
The immigration clerk is played by Sam Anderson. He is featured in three other "WKRP" episodes: Johnny Comes Back (1979) as Mason Noble, Secrets of Dayton Heights (1981) as Agent Berwick, and Rumors (1981) as DJ Rex Airheart.
On the wall of the immigration office is the "Weeping Indian" poster from the "Keep America Beautiful" public service announcements of the early 1970s. The actor in the PSA was Iron Eyes Cody, an Italian-American who claimed to be a Native American for most of his life.
The title is from the James Garner/Julie Andrews World War II romance The Americanization of Emily (1964).