Mission Impossible

Mission Impossible invaded CBS on September 17, 1966 and ended its run in September 1973 after 171 episodes.

The cases of Impossible Mission Force, which was a top secret government organization that was trained to handle dangerous and highly sensitive international assignments, was depicted week after week on these 60 minute episode.

The execution of these assignments required delicate timing.  At the beginning of each show, the leader of the IMF would receive a tape recorded message of the assignment and an envelope of pictures related to it. The tape would conclude with "Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it, is . . . As always, should you or any member of your I.M.Force be caught or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds."

The assignments involved would be disrupting a foreign adversary who is creating problems for the U.S. or the world. All the activities were complex and required split second timing which made the show very interesting.  It required electronic gadgetry and disguises.  The elaborate plans were developed by the leader of the group, Daniel Briggs, the first season and Jim Phelps from then on. Barney Collier was the electronics expert and Rolland Hand was the expert of disguise.