The series was originally intended to be set in Seattle, but city officials asked the producers to change so as to not give their town a reputation as a crime scene. Thus, the fictional city of Cascade came into being. The only remnant of Seattle was an undeleted reference to the Seattle Supersonics in the pilot episode. The Cascade basketball team became the Jaguars in later episodes.
Garett Maggart was cast as Blair before Jim's role was assigned. He screen tested with a few of the Jims in the running but once Richard Burgi came on the scene it was pretty much decided. They had instant chemistry.
Originally cancelled by UPN after the third season finale "Sentinel too". Fan response after the airing of the finale prompted UPN to give the series half a season to end the series properly.
Jim Ellison: Every little light blinds me. When somebody flushes a toilet down the other end of the train, it sounds like Niagara Falls in my head. One minute I'm hot, the next minute I'm freezing.
Blair Sandburg: Oh, hey. Notice how the war chant of the Yanomamo headhunters finds its pulse in the cellars of Seattle. I'm sure your dad used to say that stuff all the time about the Stones. "Hey, hey, turn that jungle music down."