Johnny Green (Derek) was actually caught smoking a Marlboro cigarette by a Focus on the Family executive. Green was nearly fired but show producers persuaded Focus on the Family otherwise because they invested so much into the Derek Cryder character. Because of this Derek's character changes as the series progresses from evil to good.
The setting of the series goes back and forth between Southern California in the Van Nuys area or in suburban Indianapolis with the snowfall in "Twas the Fight Before Christmas" and Nick talking about getting Colts-Bills tickets in the finale "Beauty and the Least".
On his Facebook page, when asked about a modern reboot on one of his posts, Bill Myers (Creator/Producer) replied that while there is an outline for a modern revival of the series, he referred to as "McGee 2.0", the copyright holders, Tyndale House, keep rejecting the idea for reasons unknown. The premise was that it would follow a now grown-up Nicholas Martin and his daughter, who finds a drawing of McGee in the attic of their family home, with the same premise as the original but set in a modern world.
Joe Dammann (Nick) has said that none of the cast members were Christian but acted "Christian" on the set whenever Focus on the Family members were present. Dammann also appeared in a brief short about the US constitution produced by CCM singer Carmen. Dammann is an atheist.
Joe Dammann says he ignores the criticisms of Evangelical Christians and critics Todd Friel and John MacArthur who are against Christian entertainment though Dammann is an admitted atheist.