Robert Bloch had written an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft and Hazel Heald's short story "Out of the Aeons," about Ghatanothoa, a Great Old One from Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, that was not filmed. Alvin Sapinsley rewrote the adaptation as "Last Rites for a Dead Druid." Sapinsley's rewrite had nothing to do with the original story.
Bill Bixby was making his first of two appearances in "Night Gallery."
Jim Davis (Abe Bennett) played Jock Ewing in the first four seasons of Dallas (1978) from 1978 until his death in 1981 while Steve Forrest (Sam Dichter) played Wes Parmalee, a con artist who pretended to be Jock, in a story arc in the series' tenth season.