Man from U.N.C.L.E.

A little after James Bond hit the silver screen, American television followed in kind with all kinds of televised spy shows (I Spy, Get Smart, Mission Impossible, and The Saint). The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was among the first. It was a good show and very 1960's-mod - or should I say GROOVIER than most spy shows of it's day. It was Mike Myers, SNL alumni and creator of the Austin Powers' character that made off with the mojo of the hip Man From U.N.C.L.E., as well as OUR MAN FLINT (James Coburn vehicle). You might be interested to know that Ian Flemming himself, creator of James Bond, actually contributed to the creation of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. You can read more about it here at this The Man From U.N.C.L.E link. This was a series that the Finlayson kids gathered around to watch on the old black and white Zenith, located in the back bedroom where all my sisters (Jennie, Irene and Cindy) inhabited. I believe U.N.C.L.E. aired on Friday nights (NBC). I was disappointed when the show was canceled, but something wild and adventurous came along that quickly stole our attention - The Wild Wild West. It was a quirky cowboy/secret-agent fusion series that quickly captivated all of our attention. Hurry up mom - the shows coming on - get the Jiffy Pop going!

Robert Vaughn played the suave agent Napoleon Solo, and David McCallum played his partner, the more reserved and enigmatic Illya Kuryakin. Both reported to their pipe-smoking supervisor Mr. Alexander Waverly, played by Leo G. Carroll.