Shark Bytes

How can something like this ever jump the shark with the exception of the movie 26 years later? Given the time frame that it was made it is more timeless than Mod Squad or the others of that genre. It's a shame that they didn't have Culp write the movie. He definitely deserves more credit. I'm so glad they played it straight. Watching the d.v.d.s has gotten me through some rough personal times with their humor, comradery and music. Thanks for the salve on this weary spirit, and bringing laughter back to this weary soul.

I thoroughly enjoy the show. During the entire 3 year run, they only had maybe 3 days off. Leonard allowed for different backround music for each show. This was unheard of at the time. When you think about the time that it originally aired, you have to consider the importance of Martin Luther King. Culp has my deepest regard along with Richard Widmark who saw beyond color. This gives the shows a timeless quality despite the lack of modern gadgetry that can withstand today. Realize that they did their own stunts by choice if not outright stupidity. Culp actually choreograghed quite a few of them. My hats are off to both of them. They were far more than what Hitchcock calls "cattle".

Loved this show. The chemistry between the two wonderful, witty men is second only to Starsky and Hutch - the best tv example of beautiful friendship.

"I Spy" never jumped, in my opinion. The chemistry between Robert Culp and Bill Cosby was incredible, and the location photography was spectacular. And that opening theme song is one of my all-time favorites. It gives me goose bumps every time I hear it!

Never jumped! I've been watching, as an adult this time, episodes from all three seasons, and it's just as good toward the end as the beginning. I started watching, first off, "The Robert Culp Collection," the two DVDs of the seven episodes he wrote (and directed one, "Court of the Lion," his directorial debut for any medium.) Now that I can watch non-Culp episodes on American Life Network, I'm learning more and more about the series and the two main characters. Listening to Culp's commentaries on the two discs is enlightening; as others have pointed out, he's very candid and very detailed. The things this man remembers from 35 years ago is amazing! I know he and Cos still enjoy a very close relationship (I personally think they're soul-friends), and hearing him talk about their initial meeting and subsequent encouragement of one another, pre-production, is great. At one point in the commentary, Sheldon Leonard calls Culp and says "They want to replace Cosby." Culp basically says, They'd better find a replacement for me too (and this was before they'd even started filming!) Apparently the two took to one another almost instantly. Culp helped Cos along with acting in those early days, sensing that Cos had some great potential, and it shows as the series progresses. Kelly and Scotty were bestest friends, and so were Culp and Cos. They even had (or have, rather) their own language, and often go into such dialogue. Their own wives couldn't understand them and would get upset because the two would close everything and everyone out. Any way, I digress. My point is that chemistry came through in the show. Culp said his scripts were the only ones they had almost zero ad-lib on, they did them verbatim. That's how well he knew the two characters. The two got a bit of a rep of being loose cannons, not following the script, which Culp said may've later affected his finding work post-series (he said Sheldon Leonard seriously thought he was crazy, and would tell people such at Hollywood gatherings.) Sure, some eps were better than others, but I haven't seen any single defining moment when the series even approached the ramp. It got better and better with time, and like Culp, Leonard and many in here have commented, the fact the show did NOT resort to fancy Bond-like gadgets, but were just two guys with brains, brawn and guns, made the show special. It's wonderful that we can watch this classic, all over again, on DVDs and re-discover what an unusual and unique series it was for the mid-60's. Oh, one thing about this that amazes me... how SEXUAL it was for back then! There's one scene where Kelly walks in front of Cos, wearing only a towel (and it's obvious that's ALL he's wearing), then changes into sweatpants behind Cos in the locker room. The only thing blocking the full show was Cos. Now, for today, that's no biggie, but back then? Whew, no wonder the ladies loved Culp (as do I... and Mom had a bit of a crush on him too!)

Undoubtedly my favorite show of all time! Such subtle humor mixed with a great plot, lots of action and wonderful acting... can't ask for more. So many great guest stars (remember Gene Hackman in the episode with Jim Backus?) but my personal favorite was the episode with Boris Karloff, "Mainly on the Plains."

I Spy never jumped. My favorite episode was the Trouble With Temple featuring the multi-talented Carol Wayne.

The show never jumped. One other note though, when it was announced a full one third of NBC's affiliates refused to air it because it starred Bill Cosby. NBC's reaction was, well, we're doing it anyway. I can't imagine a network today taking that kind of a stand.

Never, 'ever' jumped the shark! Everyone should hear about the wonderfulness of the show. Of all the TV shows ever made in the US, this 'must' be in the top 20 of all time. The chemistry between Culp and Cosby was the stuff that legends were made of. They didn't need high tech spy gadgets, they didn't need expensive special effects, they didn't need cheesy material or cheap jokes. These two guys faced bad guys with their wits, guns, and fists. Two guys that constantly facing tough odds and coming out on top, battered and bruised, but still on top. They were laid back on their down time, intense and focused on the job, and incorruptible as agents. They were the best in the field. Their talents complimented each other and together they were incredible. They broke racial barriers on TV and were ahead of their time, equal partners and friends in all sense of the word. They were (and still are) a joy to watch. I'm enjoying them on DVD and going through them all in sequence. Each is as good as the next. The music was spine tingling and highly emotive. The silhouetted agent against a white background with names of cities changing. The plunking of a tennis ball in the background is silenced as Kelly replaces his tennis racket with a gun. The mood changes and the gun shots rip through the music and violins scream the theme. Very moving! The scenery was spectacular and different every episode, giving an international flair like no other program can. The guest stars were wonderful. Granted the 'movie' "I Spy Returns" wasn't great, but it gave us a nostalgic taste of what it was like. They don't make adventure/espionage shows like this anymore and that's a shame. Few people have the vision that Sheldon Leonard had for a great show. And I guess the cost of such a program is now prohibitive. If you get a chance to see a few episodes, don't miss it, you won't be disappointed.

The one spy show that didn't have an once of camp. No laser watches, no shoe phones, no phony gimmicks, Nothing. Just two guys, with guns, making it across the world trying to do the best they can for their country. Sometimes it was humorous, sometimes it was sad, sometimes they even got to question the reasoning of their government (imagine that!!) but it was always done a wit that was never seen until that time, and I'll be damned surprised if something even remotely close ever comes on the air again.

Never...the reunion movie was okay, but not great. Still, a lot better than most of the other stuff out today. I wish Robert Culp and Bill Cosby would do more together.

I Spy never jumped. The storylines were ahead of their time. They even went on a mission to Vietnam. My favorite episode is when the faceless men from Las Vegas tracked Kelly and Scotty to Kelly's uncle's house. They had great chemistry.

This show never jumped the shark( even though the 2002 movie was terrible and they even got the character names mixed up, come people do your research you get payed a lot of money to get these things right).Anyways I remember watching it in the early days of Nick at Nite. The show was very cool and way ahead of it's time.I was a great spy show without all the gadgets but what they didn't have in high tech toys they made up for with lots of cool bravado and savoir fare. It was a great and classic spy show Scotty(Cosby)was the brains and Kelly(Culp) got the girl.

Never jumped, but I have to add a few points. When the show premiered about one-third of the network's stations refused to carry it because it starred an African-American. Sheldon Leonard and a number of other people had to fight to keep it on the air. Also, the show DID use stunt doubles. In interviews Bill Cosby told a joke on himself when he explained that even though the double was only shown facing away from the camera, you could still see it wasn't Cosby because he lacked "a football butt."

Remember, this is 1965: Admitted: These guys didn't have stunt doubles in their fights. They're hitting and kicking each other like wimps, but, for some reason, you forget that after a while. Further: They are so cool about racism, you have to be proud of what they're doing. So far, in eight episodes, Cosby's character is called "boy" only twice by idiots, and, once, he is suggested to shine shoes. Cosby's character, Alexander Scott, is a Rhodes scholar and master of languages, and he's Culp's best friend and the one voice of authority in the show when Culp falls short. When the dumb racist comments come to Scott, Kelly and Scott just ignore it as being less than worth attacking, and whoever makes that comment ends up getting his comeuppance. Sheldon Leonard produced the thing. Cosby was in the midst of his record five (or six)-in-a-row Grammy run as "Best Comedy Album" and a pretty big deal but a pretty young guy out of Temple. Cosby did a routine about how ooooooold Sheldon Leonard was. That's where the comment "He was there before there was...uh, air" comes from. Once again, this is 1965. Sheldon Leonard was a great character actor in gangster movies and would not die for another thirty years. Sorta like Abe Vigoda, I guess. Another thought: The opening sequence is a bit weird, where the first credit is Sheldon Leonard, followed by Culp and Cosby, and then the screen splits, with Culp's eyes looking down upon the series action. The real star there is the theme. It starts with a simple and quiet electric guitar followed by a coloratura-soprano violin (probably a heated-up Moog) lead shriek that just raises your blood from the bottom of your back. Bass doesn't get to play, here--pure and screaming tweeter. Admit it, guys--this show is not in "Never Jumped" for the same reason "Your Show of Shows" isn't--not enough votes. Stick it in the Hall of Fame--you;ll sleep better in the morning.