US TV

In a way that almost seems like I plan these things, this week we’re going to explore two trends I mentioned not so long ago: “Me, too!” and “More please!”

Back in the 60s, spies were the rage in both the UK and the US. Pre-eminent on TV in the US was The Man from UNCLE, with other shows like I, Spy vying for attention. Top of the pile in the UK was The Avengers, originally starring Ian Hendry and Patrick Macnee, but soon dropping Hendry for a bevy of feminist action heroines including Honor Blackman as Cathy Gale and Diana Rigg as Emma Peel.

Of course, success breeds “Me, too!” and “More please!” and soon networks in both the UK and the US were looking to replicate the successes of these shows.

Cue the obvious Avengers/Cathy Gale knock-off, the judo-performing Honey West, and The Man From UNCLE spin-off The Girl From UNCLE and their relatively average 60s title sequences.

Continue reading “Old gems: Honey West (1965-66)/The Girl From UNCLE (1966-67)”