Mission: Impossible

:This article is about the American TV series which aired from 1966 to 1973. For information on the more recent movies of the same name, see . For the games based on the franchise, see .

Revivals

In 1980, media reports indicated that a reunion of the original cast was in the planning stages, for a project to be called Mission: Impossible '81. Ultimately this project was delayed into 1982 and 1983 (with the working title suitably updated) before being cancelled altogether.

Related Topics:
1980 - 1982 - 1983

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In 1988, the American fall television season was negatively affected by a writers' strike that prevented the commissioning of new scripts. Producers, anxious to provide new product for viewers but with the prospect of a lengthy strike, went into the vaults for previously written material. ', for example, used scripts written for an aborted Trek series proposed for the 1970s. The ABC network decided to launch a new Mission: Impossible series, with a mostly new cast (except for Peter Graves who would return as Phelps), but using scripts from the original series, suitably updated. To save even more on production costs, the series was filmed in Australia; the first series in Queensland, and the second series of episodes in Melbourne. Costs were, at that time, some 20 percent lower in Australia compared with Hollywood. The new Mission: Impossible was one of the first American commercial network programs to be filmed in Australia.

Related Topics:
1988 - Trek - 1970s - ABC - Australia - Queensland - Melbourne - Hollywood

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Despite the recycling of scripts, the new series was a hit and ultimately lasted for two years; the writers' strike was resolved quickly enough that only a few episodes were actual remakes.

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In one episode of the original series, one mistake caused "Cinnamon" Carter (Barbara Bain) to be exposed and captured by the villains, and Jim Phelps prepared a plan to rescue her. Another episode had Willie caught by the 'bad guys' at the beginning and the episode revolved around how to rescue him. But in most episodes, his schemes worked to perfection. This formula was largely repeated in the second Mission: Impossible series of the 1980s, though the writers took some liberties and tried to stretch the rules somewhat. One episode of the later series featured the only occasion in which a regular IMF agent was killed on a mission and subsequently disavowed. The 1980s series also had IMF agents using technology that nearly pushed the series into the realm of science fiction, such as one gadget that could record dreams.

Related Topics:
1980s - Science fiction

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The revived series included special appearances by several 1960s-70s IMF veterans, including an appearance by Greg Morris as Barney; Morris' son, Phil Morris, played Barney's son in the new series.

Related Topics:
Greg Morris - Phil Morris

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