Mac did not wear a tie in the backdoor pilot, "MIA/NYC Nonstop," but does throughout Season 1 because after "Nonstop" was filmed, a real-life NY cop told the producers that someone in Mac's position would always wear one. Fast forward to the end of the season finale where Stella "helps" him with it...
Mac was originally supposed to have been seeing a therapist for his issues, but the character was dropped.
Disabled Character, Disabled Actor: Grant Albrect, who plays wheelchair-bound Dr. Leonard Giles in five Season 1 episodes (this being the first), has a spinal cord condition which leaves him reliant on crutches or a wheelchair himself.
The name "Mac Taylor" comes from two sources, both provided by Gary Sinise and approved by franchise creator Anthony E. Zuiker.
"Mac" is the nickname of both Gary's son, McCanna and the uncle he was named after, Gary's wife, Moira's, brother, Boyd McCanna Harris, who was a decorated Vietnam veteran who went on to teach at West Point and re-wrote the leadership manual for the United States Army, which is still being used at the time of this writing, in 2022. He passed away from cancer in 1983 at the age of 39.
Shout-Out: "Taylor" is a nod to his most recognized character, Lt. Dan Taylor of Forrest Gump.
The hospital the victim is taken to is called "Angel of Mercy." Later in the series, injured perps are taken to "Queen of Mercy," while victims and injured main characters all go to "Trinity General."
According to one of the special features on the Season 1 dvd box set, the final scene of this episode was the very first thing allowed to be filmed at Ground Zero. The cast and crew were given only a small window of opportunity in the middle of the night and instructed to behave respectfully and to be as quiet as possible, or else they would be asked to leave immediately. They fulfilled these requirements dutifully, and left within the time frame they were given. There is no dialogue, and the only sounds added to what would naturally be there are background music, the arrival of Mac's taxi, and the shutting of it's door upon his exit.
