Series creator Barry Kemp wanted Jerry Van Dyke for Luther Van Dam after having him rejected years earlier by CBS for the George Utley role on Newhart. ABC didn't want Van Dyke due to their perception that Van Dyke wasn't funny to which Kemp disagreed. ABC would only agree to Van Dyke if he auditioned for the role. Knowing how bad at auditioning he was Kemp told ABC that Van Dyke was on a months long tour as the opening act for Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, something Van Dyke was doing but in reality the concert dates were only for about a week. Kemp asked ABC if he could send them an episode of Coming of Age, another Kemp show, that Van Dyke guested on that displayed how funny he actually was instead of auditioning him. ABC loved Van Dyke's performance and agreed to his casting. Kemp then told Van Dyke to stay out of Los Angeles for awhile due to his little lie. Kemp proved himself right as Van Dyke would go on earn multiple Emmy nominations for his role as Luther.
