 "We felt both Will and Merl were very compelling, off-the-beaten-track personalities [in "Wordplay"], who would fit into our universe very well," Brooks said.The episode was written by Tim Long, and directed by Nancy Kruse, and guest starred crossword puzzle creators Merl Reagle and Will Shortz as themselves.Creadon and his wife, producer Christine O'Malley, borrowed $100,000 from family and friends to make "Wordplay" over the course of 2005–06.