Episode Guide - Season One

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 1
1965- 1966

Copyright 1995-2023 Carl Birkmeyer
No portions of this episode guide can be reproduced without my explicit, written permission.

Mr. Big
Airdate: Saturday, Sept. 18, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Mel Brooks and Buck Henry
Director: Howard Morris
Carl's Rating: ****

The black and white pilot introduces Maxwell Smart, Agent 86 of CONTROL. A top-secret spy agency, CONTROL is called on to battle KAOS whose Mr. Big has stolen Professor Dante's Inthermo ray. KAOS will use it to destroy the Statue of Liberty unless the US pays $100 million. Max and Fang, his canine assistant, join forces with the lovely Agent 99 to track down Mr. Big. They first go to a novelty company where they discover Mr. Big's hideout on a fake garbage scow because no seagulls are around the fake garbage. Max, Fang and 99 invade the fake scow and defeat Mr. Big's plot.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* Director Howard Morris had a long and distinguished career as a comedic actor and director, including playing Ernest T. Bass on The Andy Griffith Show.
* Needless to say, this is the first appearance of Fang, the Cone of Silence, and many catchphrases.
* Zelinka was named after famed comedy writer Sydney Zelinka, who worked with Leonard Stern on The Honeymooners and Sgt. Bilko. According to Buck Henry, Zelinka was offended, not honored, by the tribute.
* This is the only episode of Get Smart to be in black and white.

Characters:
* Mr. Big was played by Michael Dunn, who also played a recurring villain on The Wild, Wild West.
* Professor Dante was played by Vito Scotti, who was in every sitcom in the 60's.

  Catchphrases:
* "The old garbage trick."
* "And loving it."
* "Would you believe seven coast guard cutters are converging on this boat?"

 

  Diplomat's Daughter
Airdate: Saturday, Sept. 25, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso
Director: Paul Bogart
Carl's Rating: ****

Eight blonde women have been kidnapped from the Cramley Hotel, where blonde Princess Ingrid is staying. Believing KAOS is trying to kidnap the princess, Max and 99 are assigned to protect her. Princess Ingrid would rather see the DC nightlife, especially Max's bedroom. While touring nightclubs, they end up in the clutches of master villain The Craw (Not the Craw, the Craw), brilliantly played by Leonard Strong. By going over the underpass, or it is under the overpass, Max escapes the Claw's metal clutches and winds up having to dance his way to safety. 

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* The Craw (next to Siegfried) is probably the best known of all KAOS agents.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that. " - The first utterance of this classic catchphrase, it's actually used twice in this episode.
* "The old picture in the keyhole trick."
 

  School Days
Airdate: Saturday, Oct. 2, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Stan Burns and Mike Marmer
Director: Paul Bogart
Carl's Rating: ***

CONTROL's spy school has been infiltrated by KAOS. To find the imposter, Max and Fang go undercover as students, while 99 poses as an instructor. There are three students suspected of being imposters - Dimitri, Grillak, and Zukor. Max must verify that Dimitri speaks a rare East Himalayan dialect, that Zukor has unusual handwriting, and that Grillak has a heart-shaped birthmark. Max finds himself all wet when attempting to eliminate them from the suspect list and he and 99 get captured and tied to a bomb. It is only by Fang's skilled intervention that they aren't blown to bits.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* This episode features the classic Happy Birthday to Fang bit. If you watch it closely, you'll see that they had to do the shot in slow motion because Fang couldn't meet his cue properly.
* One gaffe in this episode is that even though they mention that all three suspects are left-handed, Zukor twice writes with his right hand.
* It's one of the few episodes without Ed Platt.

Characters:
* Bob Karvelas makes his first appearance as an extra, hiding in a grey wig as an old lady at the pool.

  Catchphrases:
* "And loving it."
* "Would you believe I can break eight boards this thick?"

 

  Our Man in Toyland
Airdate: Saturday, Oct. 9, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Stan Burns and Mike Marmer
Director: Don Richardson
Carl's Rating: **1/2

KAOS is secretly using Bower's Department Store to smuggle secrets out of the country and this time they've got the plans to Project Skyblast. Max poses as a shopper and 99 a perfume saleswoman in order to discover KAOS' plan. 99 gets captured, but not before discovering that KAOS is using the talking Polly Dolly to get the secrets out of the country. Max and Fang find 99 and Fang is sent to get Polly Dolly to the Chief and help to Max and 99. Meanwhile, the store's owner, Herr Bunny, attempts to hunt them down in the store and keep KAOS' secret safe. Using the most dangerous weapons on the planet- children's toys, Max and 99 fight their way to safety.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* This features one of my favorite phones, the car cigarette lighter phone.

Characters:
* Bob Karvelas appears in his usual early role, that of a CONTROL agent helping round up the bad guys at the end of the episode.

  Catchphrases:
* "The secret frisk trick."
* "Sorry about that." - used twice.

 

  Now You See Him, Now You Don't
Airdate: Saturday, Oct. 16, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Arne Sultan and Marvin Worth
Director: Paul Bogart
Carl's Rating: **

Scientist Dr. Haskel appears at Max's apartment and convinces Max that he has escaped from KAOS with an invisibility ray that he has created. KAOS kidnaps first Dr. Haskel and then Max in an effort to extort $10 million from CONTROL for the ray's secret. Max meets several invisible KAOS agents before returning to his apartment to give KAOS the ransom money.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* This episode introduces many of the protective devices in Max's apartment, including the net, invisible wall, lamp switch that activates the desk drawer, and the seltzer bottle that activates the lamp smasher.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that Chief." - Its first usage with "Chief"
 

  Washington 4, Indians 3
Airdate: Saturday, Oct. 23, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso
Director: Richard Donner
Carl's Rating: ***

While on his three-week vacation Agent 43 is confronted by a group of rebel Indians. They demand the return of all Indian lands or they will fire their secret weapon on Washington. Max calls an all-out alert, though we're not sure if it's because of an Indian attack or because he doesn't get three weeks vacation. Once saturation bombing of Arizona is discarded as a plan, Max and 99 mount 'em up and head out to disarm the secret weapon. Max, disguised as a Papawahsee, infiltrates the camp. The Papwahsee is actually the Indian word for fiancee and Max is forced to romance Chief Red Cloud's daughter to fulfill his assignment. A jealous 99 raids the camp to prevent Max from kissing the daughter and tries to prevent the Indians from launching their secret weapon, a giant arrow.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* This is the first episode where you realize that 99 has a crush on Max. There was some doubt as to whether or not Barbara Feldon would remain with the series in its early days and so the romance did not begin until this episode, when they realized she would continue in the role.
* Director Richard Donner went on to become one of the most successful directors in Hollywood, helming the Superman and Lethal Weapon movies. This was Donner's first real try at comedy and Leonard Stern delights in ribbing Donner on how he shoot an inordinate amount of film in order to ensure that he had covered himself for any possible editing that had to be done.
* I had always heard this episode referred to as Washington 4, Redskins 3, which is a much funnier title, but nowhere near as politically correct.

Characters:
* Bob Karvelas appears as an Indian member of the War Council.

  Catchphrases:
* "That's the second biggest arrow I've ever seen."
 

  KAOS in Control
Airdate: Saturday, Oct. 30, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Hal Goldman and Al Gordon
Director: Don Richardson
Carl's Rating: **1/2

CONTROL is due to host a conference of six scientific geniuses, but just before it occurs,. KAOS manages to steal CONTROL's retrogressor gun.   The gun, which turns adults into children mentally, is taken by a KAOS mole who manages to retrogress the gun's inventor and the Chief. KAOS' goal is to turn the scientists into children, destroying the free world's greatest minds. Max takes over the conference and by knowing his history of Captain Kangaroo, defeats the mole.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* Another great appearance by the Cone of Silence in this episode.

Characters:
* Bob Karvelas appears wearing a fake moustache in the opening scene, as a CONTROL agent.
* Alma Sutton is played by Barbara Bain.

  Catchphrases:
* "Good idea 99"
 

  The Day Smart Turned Chicken
Airdate: Saturday, November 6, 1965
Writers: Pat McCormick and Ron Friedman
Director: Frank McDonald
Carl's Rating: ***

A dying cowboy comes to Max's apartment to reveal a plot to poison the Morovian Ambassador at a costume party that night. Max calls the Chief, but when help arrives, the dead cowboy is missing and there's no proof of his ever having existed. Max dresses as a giant chicken and attends the costume ball at the embassy in order to protect the ambassador, but it's not a costume party and there's no poison in the ambassador's drink. It's all a KAOS plot to convince everyone that Max is crazy and discredit his testimony in an upcoming court case.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* This episode is based on writer Pat McCormick's habit of wearing a chicken costume to parties. Really.
* In this episode, the Chief reveals his first name to be Thaddeus.
* The Chief also reveals that Max has worked on over 100 cases.
* 99 does not appear in this episode.
* When Max goes into his bedroom we see that there's a huge oil painting of 99 on the wall. I believe that this has to do with the effort by a sponsor to get Barbara Feldon removed from the cast (see Barbara's bio for more details). I think they wanted the picture to cement her value to the show and to give her an appearance in the show, even if it was via a painting.

Characters:
* Aunt Rose makes her first appearance in the show, this time as a member of the courtroom audience.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that Chief." - 2 times
* "Missed it by that much." - 1st usage.
 

  Satan Place
Airdate: Saturday, Nov. 13, 1965, 8:30PM
Writers: Stan Burns and Mike Marmer
Director: Frank McDonald
Carl's Rating: ***

Evil KAOS mastermind Harvey Satan kidnaps the Chief and holds him for a $200,000 ransom. Struggling to raise the money, Max is forced to deliver a ransom of only $600. CONTROL follows the KAOS agent picking up the ransom and they find him at Satan Place. Satan is preparing the Chief for mind-control surgery, which involves KAOS freezing the Chief. Disguised as a doctor and nurse, Max and 99 try to free the frozen Chief.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* This episode also sets a record for using the most different types of phones, with Max using six different phones in one scene - shoe, wallet, eyeglasses, tie, handkerchief, belt, and garter.
* The title of this episode is a play on words from the popular TV show and book, Peyton Place.

Characters:
* Rudolf is played by Len Lesser, who went on to fame as Seinfeld's Uncle Leo.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that Chief."
 

  Our Man in Leotards
Airdate: Saturday, Nov. 20, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Mel Brooks and Gary Belkin
Director: Richard Donner
Carl's Rating: ****

Dancer and rebel Enilio Naharana steals a new CONTROL drug, Immobilo, to use against the Ambassador of Pinerovia. Immobilo paralyzes people instantly and Naharana plans to use it to prevent the Ambassador from signing a treaty with the U.S. Disguised as dancers, Max and 99 try to foil a peach of a plot. Unfortunately, Max is not a dancer and he gets caught!   Keep an eye out for the bass drum sequence, which is one of the funniest bits in the entire series.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* Max kisses 99 for the first time at the end of this one, though it's cheating on his part because he has paralyzed 99 with Immobilo. It's the first time we see that Max might have feelings for 99.
* This is one of the rare episodes written by Mel Brooks, who was busy with The Producers.
* Max reveals that he was the three-time winner of the spy school's medal for the high jump.
* Because the episodes were not aired in production order this episode begins with the Chief introducing a new car to Max, but the car was already seen in Satan Place. Though in the episode it's introduced to Max as his new car, it becomes the Chief's car and isn't driven by Max afterwards.

Characters:
* Robert Karvelas makes his first speaking Get Smart appearance in this episode. He plays Saunders, the lab worker who reports that Immobilo has been stolen.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that." - The Chief to Windish.
 

  Too Many Chiefs
Airdate: Saturday, Nov. 27, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso
Director: Bruce Bilson
Carl's Rating: ****

Max and 99 must guard Tanya Lupescu, who has memorized KAOS' codebook. An attempt to hide her in a hotel fails, so CONTROL decides to hide her in Max's apartment. KAOS hires master impersonator Alexi Sebastian to kill Lupesco. Sebastian has successfully disguised himself as Johnny Carson and Max's Aunt Rose, so CONTROL has him listed as a 101 - shoot on sight. Sebastian disguises himself as the Chief and gets inside the apartment, but the real Chief shows up and Max is confronted by two Chiefs. Can Maxie pick the correct Chief?

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* I initially was hard on this episode because I'm not a fan of the "exact double" plot device. However, since this was the first one that used that device I shouldn't be so hard on it. In fact, the open is brilliant and the buttermilk scene is hysterical.

Characters:
* Bob Karvelas appears as the cashier at the hotel in the open.
* Victor French makes his first Get Smart appearance in this one, but he plays an insurance agent, not Agent 44. Director Bruce Bilson instructed French to totally collapse when hit, which so impressed the producers that French was hired to play Agent 44.
* Fang makes a brief appearance as well.
* Even though Hodgkins is credited, the scene with him was cut (not in syndication, but before its original airing).
* Aunt Rose appears, but only via a picture of a person Alexi Sebastian impersonated.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that."
* "Sorry about that Chief."
* "Sorry about that Max." - the Chief
 

  My Nephew the Spy
Airdate: Saturday, Dec. 4, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Arne Sultan and Marvin Worth
Director: Bruce Bilson
Carl's Rating: ****

While innocently buying shoes, Max stops in a shoe store that is a front for the KAOS Communications Center. Max returns to his apartment, unknowingly followed by KAOS Agent Victor, who wants to kill him, believing that Max discovered the KAOS front. Those plans are foiled by the arrival of Max's Uncle Abner and Aunt Bertha, who are unaware of Max's real job. Max must then capture Victor and find the Communications Center, all while keeping his relatives happy and unaware of his real job.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* Max shows off his invention, the Dial-a-Fact, in this episode.
* This is the only appearance of any of Max's relatives.

Characters:
* Victor is played by Conrad Janis, who went on to play Mindy's father in Mork and Mindy.
 

Aboard the Orient Express
Airdate: Sat., Dec. 11, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Robert C. Dennis and Earl Barrett
Director: Frank McDonald
Carl's Rating: ****

CONTROL couriers are being murdered on the Orient Express in order to prevent them from delivering the payroll to their agents behind the Iron Curtain. The Chief decides to send 99 as the next courier, but Max accidentally handcuffs himself to the payroll briefcase and must deliver it himself. Agent 44 is aboard the train and supposed to help Max, but he refuses because he hasn't been paid. To make matters worse, it seems everybody on the train has been to Tanganyika!

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* This is a parody of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express.

Characters:
* Johnny Carson has a cameo as the conductor.
* This marks the first appearance of Agent 44.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that Chief."
* "Sorry about that."
* "Would you believe I saw through it in only one minute?"
* "Would you believe the countess?"
* "The old spy in the dog suit trick."
 

  Weekend Vampire
Airdate: Saturday, Dec. 18, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso
Director: Bruce Bilson
Carl's Rating: **

CONTROL agents are being found murdered with mysterious puncture marks on their necks, leading to speculation that they are being killed by a vampire. The murders are only committed on weekends and the papers speculate that a "weekend vampire" is behind them. The investigation leads Max and 99 to the spooky castle of Dr. Drago. Drago is a disgruntled former CONTROL scientist, who was dismissed for "unauthorized experiments." Max and 99 disguise themselves as newlyweds to get into the house and discover the secret of Drago's coffin.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* In this episode, Max demonstrates an excellent knowledge of chess, which is odd because in an earlier episode he didn't know the difference between chess and checkers.

Characters:
* Arrick was played by Roger Price, a brilliant comedy writer and partner of Leonard Stern in Price-Stern-Sloan Publishing.
* Bob Karvelas is seen taking photos at the murder scene.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that Chief."
 

  Survival of the Fattest
Airdate: Saturday, Dec. 25, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Mel Brooks and Ronny Pearlman
Director: Frank McDonald
Carl's Rating: ***

Max is assigned to protect an Arab prince, who rules a country favorable to the U.S. The prince must be as fat as possible in order to remain in power, as his country's revenues are based upon his weight. Unfortunately, the prince is kidnapped by Mary Jack Armstrong, the world's strongest woman, who is determined to force the prince to slim down. Max goes undercover at the hotel and winds up in Mary Jack's reducing lair where he must free the prince before he loses any more weight.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* Writer Ronny Pearlman went on to help Mel Brooks write the vast majority of his movies.
* Max reveals that he was named "one of the 10 best dressed spies."
* The surprise of the episode is when the Chief reveals that he and Mary Jack were once lovers.

Characters:
* Professor Parker, my favorite CONTROL scientist, makes his first appearance.
* Bob Karvelas is, once again, an unnamed CONTROL agent wrapping up the criminals at the end.

  Catchphrases:
* "The old finger in the gun trick"
* "Would you believe the day after tomorrow?"
* "And loving it!"
* "Sorry about that Max" - The Chief.

 

  Double Agent
Airdate: Saturday, Jan. 8, 1965, 8:30 PM
Writers: Joseph and Carol Cavella
Director: Frank McDonald
Carl's Rating: ***

Max is assigned to become a drunken, broken agent in the hopes KAOS will try to recruit him. He is forced to drive away both Fang and 99 to make the plot work. First, Max goes to an underworld casino and attempts to lose all his money, so of course he wins every game he plays. He then gets drunk in a seedy bar, sends away Fang and 99 and hits the Chief with a bottle. KAOS finally believes that Max has turned bad and he receives his first assignment- kill 99.

Characters:
* Professor Parker is in fine form in the scene with the fly transmitter.
* Bob Karvelas is a roulette operator in the casino.
* Aunt Rose is a patron in the casino.
* Fang makes a brief appearance.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that Chief."
* "Sorry about that."
* "And loving it!"
 

  Kisses for KAOS
Airdate: Saturday, January 15, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writers: Stan Burns and Mike Marmer
Director: Gary Nelson
Carl's Rating: ***

CONTROL suspects art dealer Rex Savage is blowing up embassies with his artwork. 99 must go undercover as a society girl and romance Savage into giving her his fingerprints. Max is forced to play the role of 99's chauffeur and watch as Savage puts the moves on 99. 99 invites Savage to Max's apartment for an "intimate supper" and a jealous Max shows that he's the world's worst butler as they try and get the goods on Savage.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* This is the first episode where Max exhibits jealousy towards 99.
* I have no idea how they were able to get the Inflato-Girl bit through the censor
* I've always enjoyed the fact that Max's undershirt is monogrammed with "86."

Characters:
* Aunt Rose appears briefly as a person walking through Savage's gallery.
* Professor Parker shows off a great invention, the soup bowl camera.

  Catchphrases:
* "Would you believe 25 CONTROL agents are converging on this building?"
 

  The Dead Spy Scrawls
Airdate: Saturday, January 22, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writers: Stan Burns and Mike Marmer
Director: Gary Nelson
Carl's Rating: ***1/2

CONTROL is desperately seeking the location of the new KAOS communications center. Agent 46 finds a clue, but is murdered before he can deliver it to Max. In his death throes, 46 is able to scribble a coded message into nearby wet cement. Parker is able to decode The Dead Spy Scrawls and lead CONTROL to Mother's Family Pool Parlor. The Chief has Max learn to play pool in order to infiltrate the pool hall, but Max winds up wounding his instructor more than he sank balls. Unfazed, Max and 99 use a remote control cue ball to take on hustler and KAOS agent The Shark.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* The reference to pool great "Three Fingers Yarmy" is a nod to Don, whose real last name was Yarmy.
* The Chief reveals that playing pool is his hobby.

Characters:
* Leonard Nimoy has a part as a KAOS killer.
* Bob Karvelas made out with extra pay in the episode, appearing in two scenes in the pool hall and in the bus station scene when the informer talks to Max.
* Aunt Rose also appears in the bus station, looking at magazines.
* Professor Parker makes another great appearance.

  Catchphrases:
* "Would you believe I was the pool champion of the entire east coast?"
* "And loving it!"
* "Sorry about that Willie"
 

  Back to the Old Drawing Board
Airdate: Saturday, Jan. 29, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writer: C.F. L'Amoreaux
Director: Bruce Bilson
Carl's Rating: ****

KAOS has a new weapon to try and kidnap Professor Shotwire - Hymie, a killer robot that looks human. Hymie takes the place of Agent 91 and joins Max and 99 at a party for Dr. Shotwire. Max and Hymie bond at the party, but Hymie still kidnaps Max, 99 and Dr. Shotwire and takes them to KAOS. Hymie is ordered to kill Max and 99 but is torn by his feelings for Max.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* The pantomime scene with Max and Hymie is one of my favorite moments from the series.
* Producer Jay Sandrich stated that it was nearly impossible to cast Hymie and they saw dozens of actors and only Dick Gautier could play a believable Hymie.
* C.F. L'Amoreaux is actually actor Gary Clarke.
* Hymie was designed as a one-shot appearance, but proved so popular and humorous that he was brought back five more times.

Characters:
* Hymie, as you might have guessed.
* Agent 44 is in a grandfather clock.
* Aunt Rose is a guest at the party.
 

  All in the Mind
Airdate: Saturday, Feb. 5, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writers: Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso
Director: Bruce Bilson
Carl's Rating: **

Max is contacted by the secretary of a psychiatrist named Dr. Braam. She tells Max that the good doctor is actually working for KAOS and giving them the information he learns in his sessions with Pentagon officials. Unfortunately, before giving out more details she is drowned in a phone booth. Max goes undercover as a colonel with psychiatric problems and 99 goes along as his wife. They get caught snooping and manage to break free from Braam, but they unfortunately hide in a phone booth that starts to fill up with water.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* This is one of Barbara's least favorite episodes, as the water-filled phone booth was not fun to film. Bruce Bilson tells a great story about the filming of this scene in his interview in the wonderful DVD box set.

Characters:
* King Moody has a small role as KAOS Agent Markovich in this episode.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that Chief."
 

  Dear Diary
Airdate: Saturday, Feb. 12, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writers: Stan Burns and Mike Marmer
Director: Murray Golden
Carl's Rating: **

Retired Agent 4, Herb Gaffer, contacts CONTROL from his home in Spy City so that he can turn over to them a diary he kept during his career as a spy. Unfortunately,  The Gaffer is kidnapped before he can turn over the diary. Max and 99 then team up with several retired agents to search Spy City and find the diary. Their only clue is the phrase "birds of a feather flock together."

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* Agent 8, played by Burt Mustin, is the Chief's best friend.
* According to historian Ed Howard, the mansion used to portray Spy City is actually the Burton Green Estate in Beverly Hills.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that." - 3 times, once by Herb Gaffer.
* 'The old shoe switch." - said by 99.
* "Would you believe ten killers with machine guns?"
 

  Smart, the Assassin
Airdate: Saturday, February 19, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writer: Budd Grossman
Director: Bruce Bilson
Carl's Rating: ***

Every day Max and the Chief get together to play chess at the Regency Club, and every day Max loses. KAOS decides to take advantage of this by kidnapping Max and brainwashing him to shoot the Chief when he says "checkmate" that night. The brainwashing is only good until midnight but if it works Max will kill the Chief and take all the blame for a KAOS act. The mission gets off to a bad start for KAOS as they attempt to help Max escape and he foils every attempt. Max finally escapes and has his nightly game with the chief. However, Max has picked that day to study chess strategy and he prolongs the game until it ends just at midnight.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* The Cone of Silence makes an appearance.

Characters:
* Bob Karvelas is briefly in the background at the Regency Club.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that Chief."
* "Sorry about that."
* "The old time bomb in the roll trick."
 

  I'm Only Human
Airdate: Saturday, Feb. 26, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writers: Stan Burns, Mike Marmer, Pat McCormick, Ron Friedman
Director: Murray Golden
Carl's Rating: **

Fang's poor attitude has gotten him retired from active duty and he now works a desk job, checking in evidence and burying it. When animals from Washington Animal Spa begin killing their owners, Max makes the Chief send Fang undercover, accompanied by a CONTROL parrot. The parrot blows Fang's cover and KAOS sets a trap for Max, 99, and the Chief. Unless Max comes up with a plan, Fang will activate a bomb and kill all three CONTROL agents.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* This episode closely parallels the real fortunes of the animal actor playing Fang, who was so poorly trained that using him became impossible.
* It's another Cone of Silence episode!
* 99 reveals that she speaks German.
* Both Max and Fang have toy rubber ducks.

Characters:
* Bob Karvelas appears twice, as a CONTROL agent with a dog in the beginning and arresting the bad guys at the end.
* Lab guy Carlton appears for the first time.

  Catchphrases:
* "Would you believe?"
* "Would you believe using nothing but sheer brute strength I will rip these chains from the wall in one minute."
 

  Stakeout on Blue Mist Mountain
Airdate: Saturday, March 5, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writers: Stan Dreben and Howard Merrill
Director: Murray Golden
Carl's Rating: ***1/2

KAOS agents are bring in an atomic bomb, piece by piece, and taking it to a hideout on Blue Mist Mountain. 86 pretends to be a KAOS agent and takes the final piece to the mountain, where he must try and deactivate the bomb. Fortunately for the free world, Max didn't wear his bow tie that day.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* Max reveals that the number for his shoe's private line is 306.

Characters:
* Aunt Rose has two parts, as someone walking down the street in the open and as an airport patron.
* Bob Karvelas plays a KAOS agent in the cabin.
* Ted Knight of The Mary Tyler Moore Show fame plays a KAOS agent.
* Agent 44 is seen in a sailor's duffle bag and as a normal agent at the end of the show.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that Chief."
* "Would you believe a Jolson medley?"
 

The Amazing Harry Hoo
Airdate: Sat., March 12, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writers: Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso
Director: Gary Nelson
Carl's Rating: ****

Max and 99 are trying to find the new number one man in the KAOS communications link. Following the agent, they are forced to endure Brunch in Acapulco while they fly to San Francisco. Before they can question him, he's killed in his hotel room. Legendary Hawaiian detective Harry Hoo joins Max in tracking down the murderer. That presents two possibilities - agent was killed by 1 smoker and 50 non-smokers, or he was murdered by our old enemy the Craw!

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* Moment please! Joey Forman, who played Harry Hoo, was a friend of Adams and Don Rickles. Forman later appeared in The Little Black Book and The Nude Bomb.
* Hoo is a parody of Charlie Chan.

Characters:
* Aunt Rose is a sidewalk diner in the open.
* Leonard Strong reprises his role as The Craw

  Catchphrases:
* Though not a catchphrase, this is the first time we are treated to one of Max's regular bits. The Chief warns that KAOS is trying to get a hold of the plans to the TK800. Max then goes on saying things like "not the TK800." It's followed by, "just one question Chief. What is the TK800?"
* "Sorry about that." Two times, once by Harry Hoo.
 

  Hubert's Unfinished Symphony
Airdate: Sat., March 19, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writers: Stan Burns and Mike Marmer
Director: Gary Nelson
Carl's Rating: ***

Musician and CONTROL agent Hubert is murdered before he can tell CONTROL who the new Mr. Big is at KAOS. Max pretends to be a music critic to solve the murder, but not before he forces the Chief to wear the portable Cone of Silence. Max also reveals a long-time dream of being a concert pianist.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* Max reveals that he flunked out of Spy Music School.
* This is the first episode that 99 shoots (and apparently kills) someone (thanks Antje!).
* 99 reveals that she can sing, play the violin and also the harp.

Characters:
* 44 appears inside a cello case.
* Professor Parker has a very brief appearance in the lab.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that Chief."
* "Sorry about that" - twice.
* "Would you believe I once listened to Beethoven for three straight weeks?"
* Though not a catchphrase, this is the first time that we hear something that would become one of Max's regular bits. He is about to fight a KAOS agent and taunts him by saying "I'm used to dealing with gorillas like you." When Max's attack fails miserably, he puts his arm around the agent and says something like, "I hope I wasn't out of line with that crack about a gorilla."


 

Ship of Spies, Part I
Airdate: Sat., April 2, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writers: Leonard Stern and Buck Henry
Director: Bruce Bilson
Carl's Rating: ****

KAOS has stolen the plans to the nuclear amphibian battleship and hidden them on the freighter Evening Star. A KAOS informant is about to give Max all the details when he's killed. The only clue is a clip-clop noise he makes as he walks. Max and 99 book passage and search for the clip-clop noise, which everyone on the ship seems to make. Agent 44 is also on-board to give them a hand, as well as help with planning a banana theft.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* This episode won an Emmy for outstanding comedy writing.
* There are so many brilliant scenes in this episode that it's hard to single out one, but I love the Yankee Doodle Dandy bit in the beginning.

Characters:
* Robert Karvelas' CONTROL agent character is called Larabee for the first time.
* Professor Parker has a brilliant appearance.
* 44 appears outside of Max's porthole.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that Chief."
 

Ship of Spies, Part II
Airdate: Sat., April 9, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writers: Leonard Stern and Buck Henry
Director: Bruce Bilson
Carl's Rating: ****

Max and 99 continue their search for the plans that aren't plans. After investigating all of the spies on the ship, Max ends up asking Captain Graumann for help, which turns out to be a big mistake.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* The deck chair scene in this episode is a wonderful example of Don and Barbara's skill at physical comedy.
* 99 reveals that she can speak fluent Chinese.

Characters:
* 44 appears inside a ship funnel.
* Larabee appears at the end of the episode.

  Catchphrases:
* "The old gun in the peg leg trick. That's the second time I've fallen for it." This is the first time "that's the second time" accompanies "the old...trick" catchphrase.

 

  Shipment to Beirut
Airdate: Saturday, April 23, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writer: Arne Sultan
Director: David Alexander
Carl's Rating: ***

KAOS is using clothes designer Richelieu to smuggle secret plans out of the country and one of the models tries to sell information about it to Max. When Max shows up at the boutique, somehow the model has become a mannequin. Furious that Max spent a ton of money and didn't get any information, the Chief takes Max off the case. 99 then goes undercover as a model (against the Chief's orders) and Max disguises himself as a mannequin in order to break the case.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* 99 reveals that she was a model before joining CONTROL.

Characters:
* Aunt Rose is a customer during the fashion show.

  Catchphrases:
* "Good idea 99."
* "Sorry about that" - twice.
 

  The Last One in is a Rotten Spy
Airdate: Saturday, May 7, 1966, 8:30 PM
Writers: Stan Burns and Mike Marmer
Director: David Alexander
Carl's Rating: ***

Max is contacted by a member of the Russian swim team who has a list of KAOS agents and wants to use the list as currency to defect. Unfortunately, Max can't remember her name so he has to go undercover as a swimming trainer to discover the defector. 99 and the Chief join him as they attempt to ferret out the potential defector.

CONTROL Insider's Report:
* The scene by the pool when Max has to retrieve the message from the bottom of the pool shows just how vital Ed Platt was to the series. Without saying a word, his look drives that scene forward and makes it work perfectly.

Characters:
* Aunt Rose can be seen in the background at the pool in the last scene.
* Alice Ghostley plays the head of the Russian swim team.

  Catchphrases:
* "Sorry about that Chief."
* "Sorry about that" - five times, once by Greco and once by the Chief.
* "Would you believe I once trained a girl to swim across the English Channel four times?"
* "Would you believe Hong Kong?
* "And loving it!"

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

All of the screen captures on this page were taken from Time-Life/HBO's DVD release and are copyright HBO.

 

Copyright 1995-2008 Carl Birkmeyer
No portions of this episode guide can be reproduced or used on another web page without my explicit, written permission.


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