Watch I Spy
- 1965
- 3 Seasons
-
7.1 (1,972)
The TV series I Spy detailed the adventures of Kelly Robinson (played by Robert Culp) and Alexander Scott (played by Bill Cosby). Working undercover as a traveling tennis player (Robinson) and his trainer (Scott), they were actually top-level secret agents dispatched by the Pentagon to combat spies and covert operatives around the globe. Airing on NBC from 1965-68, I Spy could be described as a byproduct of the spy craze initiated by the James Bond films of the early to mid-1960s. Episodes were filled with the requisite amounts of action, beautiful women and offhand quips that typified the spy genre. However, the series eschewed flashy gadgets and over-the- top villains in favor of a grittier approach to the spy game. I Spy marked the first time an African-American actor received equal billing with a white co-star in a US television drama. Known as a stand-up comedian, Bill Cosby was hired for the role of Alexander Scott after series creator Sheldon Leonard saw his performance on a talk show. Ultimately, the strong chemistry between Cosby and Culp made the issue of race a non-issue. While many TV shows used stock footage of exotic destinations, I Spy actually filmed on location for several episodes each season. Athens, Hong Kong, and Tokyo were among the international backdrops used during the show's three-year run. Composer Earle Hagen also wrote an original music score for every episode, which was unprecedented for a TV show at the time. I Spy remains a favorite of TV fans and can still be seen in syndication and on DVD. Episodes run 50-51 minutes and are presented in 4:3 format with mono sound.
