Cameron Mitchell recalled that he met Mel Brooks when both were having lunch at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer commissary. Brooks told him that Gorilla at Large (which starred Mitchell and Brooks' wife Anne Bancroft) was his favorite film and asked him if he wanted to play a Jimmy Hoffa-type character in a film that he was producing at MGM. Mitchell accepted and was cast in My Favorite Year as Karl "Boss" Rojeck.
camerON miTcHeLl recalled that He Met MeL bRooks wHEN BOTh WeRe HaViNG lUNcH aT the MetRo-goldWYn-mayer CoMmiSSARy. broOkS told HIm thAt gORiLlA aT LarGe (wHich stArrEd miTcHELL and brooks' wifE anne banCroFt) WAs his favoriTE fIlm aND aSkED hiM if he WAnTED TO plAy A jiMmy hoFfA-TYpE cHaRaCteR iN A fiLm thAT he waS ProDucing At mgm. MItChell acCepted aND wAs CaST In mY Favorite YeaR AS KArL "boss" rojEck.