Sometimes Jean-Pierre's eye patch covers his left eye, at other times his right eye.
Paul Norell plays Croissant, a variation of his usual character Falafel. Both characters are named for traditional foods in the countries where the characters are from.
An exchange between François and Marie involves the line "The peasants are revolting," which can mean either that they are rebelling or that they are unwashed. This joke was popularized by Groucho Marx' stage act in the 1930s, but may be much older.
The title "Les Contemptibles" is based on the 1862 epic novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. At one point, Jean-Pierre says "We are more or less miserable," pronouncing the final word in French.
This is the second consecutive episode where Michael Hurst and Robert Trebor appear together, a rare occurrence in the series despite the prominence of their characters Iolaus and Salmoneus. Ironically, here they are playing different characters, as Jean-Pierre and François.