Mission Impossible: This Blog Will Self Destruct in Five Seconds...
Welcome to the A to Z Bloggers Challenge and welcome to my blog, Classic Television Shows! I'm glad you're here. If you enjoy what you see, please leave a comment. I love chatting with my readers!
Today we are discussing one of my favorite television shows when I was a child. My sisters and I created drew computers on typing paper and taped them on the wall (computers back in the day were as big as entire rooms) so we had research equipment for our spy activities. We had dozens of friends on our block and a huge park at the end of the street, so we had a wide area for our spy territories. Playing Mission Impossible was fun because it was pure action. The show didn't develop the characters very well, which left us plenty of freedom to develop our own spy characters, but I was always the sneakiest and the smartest. Of course, now that I've written this down I'm sure one of my siblings will send me a message to argue this point, therefore, this blog post will self destruct in five seconds...
The cast of Mission Impossible in 1970.
That is one of the most interesting aspects of Mission Impossible. Besides the fact that it was one of television's first action series, it had barely any character development and was a bit slim on the dialogue, as well. It was pure action. Perhaps the violence (low key by contemporary standards) and occasional exposure of cleavage was a bit much for children, but the action was fun, fun, fun!
Great Characters Considering There was Little Character Development!
Mission Impossible was an hour-long adventure/spy television show that aired from September 17, 1966 to September 8, 1973, so it had a fairly long run as far as television shows in the 1960s is concerned in spite of the fact that it came in on the tail end of the spy/adventure television craze (according to some views, but I believe there will always be a market for these shows).
The interesting thing about the action on this show is that the focus on action over characters set it apart from all the other spy/adventure shows of the time, such as Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Wild, Wild West. (Oh yes, I'll get to those eventually! They certainly were favorites, too!) In Mission Impossible, the plots are complicated enough for a two hour film and yet, the characters manage to complete their missions in 48 minutes (subtracting for commercials). This, of course, explains the focus on action and lack of attention to character development.
Barbara Bain who starred as Cinnamon Carter on Mission Impossible, was also married to Martin Landau, who starred as Rollin Hand, the master of disguises on the show.
There are other aspects of this show that were "firsts," and some interesting trivia involved with this show. For instance, this was the first appearance of Martin Landau with his wife, Barbara Bain. Landau plays Rollin Hand, master of disguise for the I.M.F. (Impossible Missions Force) and Barbara Bain plays Cinnamon Carter, the show's femme fatale.
Leonard Nimoy replaced Martin Landau on Mission Impossible in the show's fourth season.
Landau's involvement in Mission Impossible is also a curious classic television bit of trivia intermingled with actor Leonard Nimoy. Landau was offered the role of Dr. Spock on Star Trek at the same time he was offered the role on Mission Impossible. He wisely chose Mission Impossible, which lasted much longer. Five years later, Landau was making more money than the show's star, Peter Graves, and he was replaced on Mission Impossible with...Leonard Nimoy!
Peter Graves as Jim Phelps in Mission Impossible.
Peter Graves starred as Jim Phelps, the leader of I.M.F. Graves is the brother of one of my all-time favorite actors, James Arness, and changed his name so both actors would receive the attention they deserved for their individual talent. (Okay, maybe there was some sibling rivalry there. Who knows?) Graves was a star before he left high school. He was the state champion hurdler and had his own orchestra. However, he had his heart set on becoming the next Gary Cooper. When he left for Hollywood, big brother Jim chased after him and tried to convince him to go home, but Graves was a stubborn young fella! He landed his first film role within a year and made 30 years and three television series in his lifetime.
Then there is Willie Armitage, the I.M.F. muscle man played by Peter Lupus, who was also a former Mr. Indiana and Mr. Hercules--yes, he was well-cast for the part. He was 6'4 and 220 pounds, but he also had a personality that made his character seem human--he was more than a hunk. After Mission Impossible ended, Armitage became an author of health books.
Greg Morris stars as Barney Collier in Mission Impossible.
Greg Morris is another interesting character in this show when you place the show in its cultural perspective. Morris plays Barney Collier, an electronics expert who creates the gadgets and gimmicks. In fact, he was televisions first electronics genius! However, Morris was also a talented and intelligent actor. He was not the "token black man," a phrase often so unfairly used during the 1960s when a black actor was hired on a show. Morris was hired because he was the right man for the part, and the producers made this clear from the start. In promotions and media discussions about the show, Morris was praised for his talent as an actor, and not for the color of his skin.
So, what is I.M.F.?
Good question, if I must say so myself. I.M.F. stands for Impossible Missions Force. Assignments for I.M.F. agents are delivered on audio tapes that self-destruct (love that plot device!) The messages are sent from an unidentified government agent who seems to know Jim Phelps because the messages always ends with, "This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim."
The assignments generally involve saving the life of an unidentified European diplomat. Each member of the team is a specialist of some kind. Barney Collier's expertise is electronics; Rollin Hand is a master of disguise; Willie Armitage hauls the heavy spy equipment (lucky thing all of our equipment when I was a child was drawn on typing paper!); Phelps is the organizer, the leader; and Cinnamon Carter is a fashion model who skillfully leaves the top buttons of her blouse undone.
Barbara Bain and Alf Kjellin in Mission Impossible.
The show used a tremendous amount of fancy gadgets, a fact highlighted in the contemporary film versions starring Tom Cruise. The show also made use of spinning camera shots; snare drum music; and a skilled use of tension that continuously builds to the climax like a well-written novel. In fact, one plot device used often to increase the tension is a ticking clock. Another is dripping water.
They also used a lot of scams, which may have inspired films such as The Sting, which was released the same year the show ended. One of my favorite "stings" was "The Sting," which aired in 1971. In this episode the operators must convince a hit man that he received a heart transplant with a heart that belonged to a priest, then subtly convince him that his personality is changing due to the priest's heart.
The Beginning and the End of Mission Impossible
The creator of Mission Impossible was Bruce Geller who, like supernatural televisions Rod Serling, was considered a Hollywood whiz kid. He sold his first script at 23 and by 35 he wrote, produced, and directed dozens of TV shows, two off-Broadway musicals, and won nearly as many awards as the shows he created. In 1965, Geller wrote a screenplay that was rejected, but he had faith in his idea, and a fascination with action shows. He approached Lucile Ball and Desilu Studios who backed the show, then sold it to CBS. Geller won an Emmy for Dramatic Writing the first year Mission Impossible was on the air.
Peter Graves in Mission Impossible.
So, what was the problem? An exciting show, hot actors, action, action, action--what went wrong? Money, and not from the place you would expect. Not from the star of the show, Peter Graves. In 1965, Martin Landau was a hot commodity with numerous films and television shows on his resume. When he was first offered the role of Rollin Hand he demanded--and received--$4000 per episode for a yearly contract, which gave him the freedom to up the ante if the show took off in ratings. In 1969, Mission Impossible was #11 in the Top 25 and Martin Landau's per episode salary was $11,500, $4500 more than the star of the show, Peter Graves. Surprisingly, CBS believed he was worth the money, Paramount did not.
Martin Landau in Mission Impossible.
They replaced Landau with Leonard Nimoy and the ratings went down, though not by much. Eventually, however, the actors and writers lost interest, believing they were running out of story ideas. Peter Graves felt it was best to leave the show with a good reputation and completed his last mission on September 8, 1973.
Awards, Revival, and Films
Peter Graves and Martin Landau both received Best Actor Golden Globe Awards for the original Mission Impossible and the actors, crew and show received an additional 14 wins and 36 award nominations. Clearly, it was possible with viewers and critics.
In 1988, Mission Impossible was revived with Peter Graves leading a completely different cast. This version lasted until 1990 and won two Prime Time Emmys.
Tom Cruise at a Mission Impossible press conference in 1996. Photo by Hendrike.
In 1996, Tom Cruise revived the Mission Impossible story as the producer of a blockbuster film. He has now produced four films in this series: The 1996 version of Mission Impossible; Mission Impossible II released in 2000; Mission Impossible III released in 2006; and Mission Impossible--Ghost Protocol released in 2011. According to an article on Wikipedia, Tom Cruise revealed in a 2011 interview that he will most likely make a fifth Mission Impossible film soon.
- Javna, John. Cult TV. St. Martin’s Press. New York: 1985.
- Mission Impossible. Creator: Bruce Geller. Perf. Peter Graves, Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Greg Morris, Peter Lupis, Leonard Nimoy. Desilu Productions (1966-1968), Paramount Television (1968-1973). Running Time: 50 min.
- Winship, Michael. Television. Random House. New York: 1988.
Leave it to Beaver: Classic Family Fun!
Welcome to day twelve of the A to Z Bloggers Challenge! I hope you're enjoying the adventure back in time to the early years of television! Today we'll discuss yet another one of my favorite family sitcoms, Leave it to Beaver! Leave it to Beaver was a bit before my time, but I watched the re-runs and loved the show!
Jerry Mathers as Beaver Cleaver in Leave it to Beaver.
Some actors spend their lives tending bar in Hollywood restaurants waiting to be discovered. Jerry Mathers walked into a department store with his mother and shortly after he'd learned how to walk and talk he was already a Hollywood "pin-up" boy--literally. A department store owner saw his cute freckled face and used his photo for the cover for the stores calendar. Six months later, in 1954, he debuted on the Ed Wynn show. In 1955 he was cast in Alfred Hitchcock'sThe Trouble with Harry. Mathers appeared in two more films before 1957 when he was cast as Beaver Cleaver in Leave it to Beaver. Jerry Mathers was a not-so-typical all-American boy. He was an overnight sensation. Promoters, producers, directors, and viewing audiences across America were crazy for the kid from the time they first saw that cute face on the department store calendar.
Meet the Cleavers (or the actors)
Of course we must start with Beaver! Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver (Jerry Mathers) lives with his parents and older brother in the town of Mayfield. When Jerry Mathers auditioned for the role he was a bit fidgety. The producers asked if he was nervous and he said, "No, but I gotta go to my Boy Scout meeting!" That sealed the deal. They were looking for an all-American boy who caught frogs, rode his bicycle with his friends so he could be home in time for dinner, and spoke respectfully to his parents. They found the right boy in Jerry Mathers.
Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers who played Wally and Beaver in Leave it to Beaver.
Wally Cleaver (Tony Dow) is Beaver's older brother. He grew up in Hollywood, but like many young actors (John Wayne's protege Gail Russell) Dow just wanted to have fun with his friends. He wasn't in Hollywood seeking stardom, he was just being a kid. Sometimes that attitude brings out the best in a child during an audition. Dow's friend auditioned for a show and Dow promised to be there for moral support. He was a bit too supportive--he got the part! When Leave it to Beaver ended, Dow became a regular on daytime soaps. He even starred in a very important commercial for McDonalds Restaurants (he married the woman who gave him the role!)
Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont as Ward and June Cleaver in Leave it to Beaver.
Hugh Beaumont stars as Ward Cleaver, the well-intentioned father who works hard as an accountant, but is eager to advise his sons. He sometimes makes mistakes. He is human, and that's why we like him. Beaumont had a side career as a Methodist minister. On the show, Beaumont is married to June (Barbara Billingsley), the perfect mom for the, well, average family! I am well-familiar with Billingsley as she was a regular in detective dramas and B-movies. In spite of her obvious acting talent, Billingsley was convinced she was cast in the role because the producers felt sorry for her as her husband recently died. Clearly, she was cast because she was the perfect mom for Beaver. The line you hear her speak most often in the show? "Ward, I'm worried about the Beaver..."
Jerry Mathers as Beaver in Leave it to Beaver.
I just have to include this story! I read it in John Javna's Cult TV. When Jerry Mathers auditioned for the role, he was asked to cry, but struggled with the request. Hugh Beaumont, also auditioning for the role of Beaver's father, took Mathers aside and quietly suggested that if he cover his face with his hands and laugh it will sound the same as crying. According to Jerry Mathers, he went home that night and prayed that Hugh Beaumont would get the part of Ward Cleaver, and he did.
Trouble, Trouble, Trouble
Part of the appeal of this show is the fact that they really are average. They are not too perfect, in spite of the fact that Barbara Billingsley is always shown cooking dinner in a dress with pearls (she wore the pearls because she had an indentation in her throat that she thought looked bad on camera). When Ward comes home from work, the first words he generally hears from his wife are, "Ward, I'm very worried about the Beaver."
Tony Dow, Barbara Billingsley, and Jerry Mathers in Leave it to Beaver.
The phrase Beaver hears most often from his brother, Wally, is, "Boy, Beave, are you gonna get it..." Beaver is subjected to a tremendous amount of family advice, particularly from his brother, but the most touching advice the Beaver hears comes from his father who tells him, "I don't care what kind of trouble you may get into in your life, you don't ever need to be afraid to come to your parents and tell them."
Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow as Beaver and Wally in Leave it to Beaver.
Beaver attends Grant Avenue Grammar School, which means he is in school with students from kindergarten age through eighth grade. Beaver is in the second grade when the show begins and his brother, Wally, is in the eighth grade, and naturally feels a bit of responsibility toward his younger brother.
In the episode, "The State Versus Beaver, which aired on March 26, 1958, Ward helps Beaver and his friend, Larry, build a homemade race car (powered by a lawn mower engine), but he also provides them with a long list of restrictions, including restricting them from riding the vehicle in the street. Of course, Beaver and Larry break just about every rule, including driving the car in the street. Beaver is afraid to tell his parents and convinces Wally to appear as his "guardian." Beaver receives a ticket and appears before a judge in traffic court. The judge agrees to "sponge off" the record, but Wally does tell his father about the incident. When Ward asks Wally why Beaver didn't come to him in the first place, Wally replies, "he didn't want you to feel bad 'cause you got a kid like him." Aww. This episode goes straight to the heart, and of course Beaver is given the "talk" about always telling your parents, no matter what you do.
So, who are these trouble-making co-conspirators?
Wally and the Beaver both have best friends, and if truth be told, the two boys and their friends manage to find equal amounts of trouble, but we'll start with Wally's friends.
Ken Osmond plays Eddie Haskell, Wally's best friend in Leave it to Beaver. Osmond later joined the Los Angeles Police Department and was shot in the line of duty, saved by his bullet-proof vest.
Perhaps the most famous of their friends is Eddie Haskell (Ken Osmond), who is Wally's best friend. He is Wally's foil. Classic good versus bad. Where Wally tries (but sometimes fails) to do the right thing, Eddie inevitably tries to do what he knows is wrong. He is known as a two-faced wise guy, but Wally, remember, is a very forgiving person. (Believe it or not, Ken Osmond, in his adult years, joined the Los Angeles Police Department and was decorated for valor when he was shot in the line of duty, saved by his bullet-proof vest.) The reason Eddie is fun to watch because he's so obnoxious! And, because he brings out the best in Wally, highlighting Wally's ability to forgive. I like that in Wally.
Wally is also friends with Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford (Frank Bank). Lumpy is big, a bit slow, and according toleaveittobeaver.com, Beaver refers to the Eddie Haskell/Lumpy Rutherford team as "Creeps Incorporated." In the real world, though, Frank Bank eventually became a successful stock broker in Palm Springs, which only goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover, or its on-screen character!
Beaver's best friend is Robert "Rusty" Stevens (Larry Mondello). Rusty of course has red hair, hence the nickname, and a nice spread of freckles to highlight the hair. He is a bit whiny and always munching on something, most often an apple that he has pulled out of his pocket.
Kid Talk
Beaver, Wally and his friends were known for their "kid talk" on the show. Since the emphasis was on presenting them as average American kids (note the contrast between the carefully dressed and cleanliness of Ward and June to their dirty, dusty sons), then of course they are going to come up with their own form of kid slang.
Wally and Beaver both use the word "gyp" when they've been cheated out of something. Of course, in contemporary television the word would not be used as it is a hurtful form of expression implying that gypsies are thieves, but this is not something that ever would have occurred to Wally and Beaver. They also talk about "messing around," which is a phrase I still use to explain that I'm not really doing anything important.
Some of the more interesting terms are "hunka," which means a large serving, generally of desert. They also use words that were popular in the 1940s with gangs, which is an interesting cultural observation, words like "rat" and "wiseguy." Some of Beaver's favorite words are: crummy; creep; grubby; goofy; and his favorite phrase when he is feeling frustrated or receives some form of punishment is "oh, gee whiz."
Popularity of Leave it to Beaver
Leave it to Beaver had solid ratings, consistent ratings, and yet, it never made it into the Top 30. This could be because of the competition in the time slot--during its first season it was up against The Defenders and in its final season it competed with Perry Mason, and in the 50s, shows about law and order were as popular as shows about families. Nevertheless, critics called the show charming and sincere. Variety compared the series to Tom Sawyer.
Family time for the Cleavers in Leave it to Beaver.
Leave it to Beaver ran from October 4, 1957, to September 12, 1963. During that time, the show received two Emmy nominations, both in 1958 for Best New Program Series of the Year and Best Teleplay Writing for the pilot episode "Beaver Gets Spelled." Years later, in 1984, Jerry Mathers received the Young Artist's Former Child Star Special Award and in 1987, Ken Osmond and Tony Dow both received the Young Artist's Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award. Ken Osmond was also nominated in 2005 for TV Land's Character Most Desperately in Need of a Timeout Award! Leave it to Beaver did make Time Magazine's list of "The 100 Best TV Shows of All-Time" and the show placed at number 74 on Bravo's list of "100 greatest TV Characters."
Jerry Mathers as Beaver in Leave it to Beaver.
If I had to name one reason why I am a dedicated fan of Leave it to Beaver it would have to be the undeniable fact that the characters are real--they are flawed. They make mistakes, and, well, golly gee, Leave it to Beaver is just plain fun.
Postscript: Regarding my comment about the word "gyp." According to my most trusted word origin source,World Wide Words, it is widely believed to come from gypsy, but the word actually originated in the U.S., so the author of the page questions the racist connection.
Sources:
- Applebaum, Irwin. "The Gang." leaveittobeaver.org. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
- Javna, John. Cult TV. St. Martin’s Press. New York: 1985.
- Winship, Michael. Television. Random House. New York: 1988.
Kung Fu: Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting!
Welcome to day eleven of the A to Z Blog Challenge. Today's topic is the 1970s television phenomenon Kung Fu. Kung Fu aired on ABC from October 1972 to June of 1975 and never once made it into the Top 25 shows, but it was nominated for two Golden Globes and was undoubtedly a cult TV favorite for children and teens in the 1970s. Kung Fu had everyone Kung Fu fighting!
David Carradine starred as Caine in Kung Fu from 1972 to 1975.I believe Kung Fu was popular with the masses for a number of reasons. First, the art of Kung Fu was popular at that time. Chinese American martial artist Bruce Lee, instructor, philosopher, filmmaker and actor dominated Hollywood with his powerful on-screen presence and intense physical appearance and performances. Just as skinny teens in the 1950s wanted to be Charles Atlas, the man who never allowed anyone to kick sand in his face, young men in the 1970s wanted to be Bruce Lee, who played Kato in The Green Hornet, fighting crime, kicking butt and asking questions later. The emphasis, of course, was taking care of oneself, and defending the oppressed.Caine's ChildhoodKwai Chang Caine (David Carradine), the star of Kung Fu, is the child of a Chinese woman and American sea captain. He is raised in a Shaolin temple to be a monk, but in the pilot episode he is forced to flee his temple family when he kills the Chinese Emperor's nephew, an act of revenge for the murder of his mentor and elder, Master Po (Keye Luke), a man of peace who was shot with a gun, an issue that Caine often struggles with throughout the show. Caine manages to escape to America where he searches for his half brother, Danny Caine, in the American West while constantly on the run from Chinese government agents.
Keye Luke plays Master Po in Kung Fu.In each episode, Caine flashes back to his childhood experiences growing up in the temple and the teachings of Master Po as he searches for answers to his current problems (young Caine is played by Radames Pera). In these flashbacks, Master Po refers to young Caine as "Grasshopper." The fact that Caine is Chinese and in the Old West is a problem in itself as the Chinese were forced to endure tremendous prejudice, particularly when they were hired by the railroads to work for lower wages. Caine does not limit his use of Kung Fu to defend the Chinese, though. He will protect anyone who is threatened or in danger. Unfortunately, this means he is constantly on the move to avoid retaliation.
David Carradine as Caine, a man of peace, in the television cult show Kung Fu.Life in the West is even more difficult for a man raised to be a monk as Caine's life quest is to find peace. He lives for truth and goodness. He is patient and shows great humility. He will only kill if forced to defend himself or someone who is victimized from death, only with great reluctance. In the words of David Carradine, quoted in Cult TV, "Caine has a great "reverence for all life." It is these qualities that made him so appealing to the Flower Children of the 1960s and early 70s. Kung Fu was also positive education for children in the 1970s because Caine fought for the weak, the victimized, the oppressed, and he always won. More importantly, Caine taught children self-control and the advantages of living a peaceful life.
David Carradine and Chief Dan George in Kung Fu, 1973.In fact, I believe Caine was adored by children who developed a Kung Fu style of communication in the 1970s. Schoolchildren across America would reply to their friends and parents by placing their palms together in front of their chest and saying, "Of course, Master." The appropriate way to respond to a question was to ask a question. "Do you hear the wind, Grasshopper? Do you hear the water rushing in the stream, Grasshopper? That is your answer." Everyone was a "Grasshopper." Kung Fu talk was great fun! As a teen, I had a secret crush on Caine. I never missed an episode of Kung Fu. If Caine were a man, I would marry him. (Insert sigh here.)David CarradineDavid Carradine, who plays Caine in the show, comes from a family of famous film and television stars. His father, John Carradine, made a career out of playing mad scientists in Hollywood horror films, but he also made appearances on numerous television anthologies, such as Love, American Style, Night Gallery, and even played a preacher in an episode of Kung Fu.
John Carradine, father of David, Keith, and Robert Carradine, in a trailer screenshot from Blood and Sand. John Carradine started the Carradine acting dynasty.John Carradine had three sons: David, Keith, and Robert, all famous actors in their own right. Not surprisingly, the equally skilled actress Martha Plimpton is his granddaughter, daughter of Keith Carradine. Each of these actors has their own style and appeal, and are equally successful in film and TV. When the producers chose David Carradine for this role, they not only chose a star with the perfect personality and skill to carry this role, they also cast his family name.The Mystery of the Origin of Kung FuIn her memoir, Bruce Lee: The Only Man I Knew, Bruce Lee's wife, Linda, claims Paramount stole the idea forKung Fu from her husband. In fact, she presents such a convincing argument that I feel uncomfortable listing Warner Brothers on my source list!
Actor, director, instructor, and Kung Fu expert Bruce Lee.Bruce Lee first mentioned his idea for a remarkably similar show during a 1971 interview with Pierre Berton. He said that he wanted to play a warrior in the Old West, but he was having trouble convincing Paramount or Warner Brothers to buy the show. The show was eventually produced by Warner Brothers, who denied any connection with Bruce Lee's suggested project and also denied rumors that Lee was their original choice to play Caine. Tragically, Bruce Lee died in 1973, when the series was at its peak.Sources:- Javna, John. Cult TV. St. Martin’s Press. New York: 1985.
- Kung Fu. Creator: Ed Spielman. Perf. David Carradine, Radames Pera, Keye Luke. Warner Bros. Television. Running Time: 60 min.
- Winship, Michael. Television. Random House. New York: 1988.
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