Wed 6 Mar 2013
A TV Series Review by Michael Shonk: SEARCH – The Hugh O’Brian Episodes (1972-73).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV mysteries[17] Comments
SEARCH. NBC, 1972-73; Leslie Stevens Productions in association with Warner Brothers. Creator and Executive Producer: Leslie Stevens. Cast: Hugh O’Brian as Hugh Lockwood, Burgess Meredith as V.C.R. Cameron.
Little changed from the pilot TV Movie PROBE, which I reviewed here earlier on this blog. Inspired by the success of NAME OF THE GAME (a series Leslie Stevens produced and Tony Franciosa co-starred), SEARCH featured three agents. This post is about Hugh Lockwood. Future posts will examine the worlds of Nick Bianco (Tony Franciosa) and C.R. Grover (Doug McClure). Head of Probe Control V.C.R. Cameron (Burgess Meredith) was the only character to appear in all 23 episodes.
Hugh O’Brian played Hugh Lockwood, Probe One, the top agent of World Securities Corporation. Lockwood was a TV James Bond, cool, witty, irresistible to all women, a former astronaut with a planetary size ego. Assisting Lockwood was Probe Control, a group of computer techs of various specialties monitoring the actions and needs of the field agent. This made Probe Control the ultimate legman.
Probe Control was and remains my favorite part of SEARCH. The technology and the humans that ran it made this series different from any other TV detective show at the time. Leslie Stevens (OUTER LIMITS, GEMINI MAN, BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY) had created a good premise, the hero with technology as a sidekick.
V.C.R. Cameron was in charge of Probe Control and answered to the World Securities Corporation Board of Directors lead by Dr. Barnett (played by Ford Rainey or Keith Andes). We learn more about V.C.R (or V.C.) in an episode with Doug McClure so I will take a deeper look at the character during the post about the Grover episodes.
However, the Lockwood episodes offered Cameron’s sole contribution to comedy relief. Once Lockwood solved a case with the girl of the week he usually followed James Bond’s example and ran off to enjoy some quality time with her, while Cameron would frustratingly attempt to stop him.
70s TV was run by the star. Hugh O’Brian and others objected to the important role Probe Control played in the pilot TV Movie. So the role of advance technology was reduced and the potential of the characters that made up Probe Control was basically wasted, but imagine this series done today in the era of large casts such as CSI and NCIS.
The computer and the PI had been introduced before with CBS’ MANNIX and the audience rejected the machine. It was 1972. Roger Moore had not yet become James Bond, and there was still a fear that machines would replace man. So not surprisingly Lockwood began to drift away from gadget happy James Bond and closer to Mannix and the other TV detectives of the era.
Lockwood got knocked out almost as often as he got the girl. Usually, Probe Control would helplessly watch as Lockwood was unconscious and in serious danger. Yet, some such as Hugh O’Brian thought Probe Control made the hero too powerful. The discussion about SEARCH begins around the 7:23 mark.
Sadly, instead of increasing the power of the villains and giving the episodes the Bond villain it needed, it reduced the very part of the series that made it different, Probe Control.
EPISODE INDEX:
Produced by Robert H. Justman. Probe Control Cast: (recurring) Ron Castro as Carlos, Ginny Golden as Keach, Byron Chung as Kuroda, Albert Popwell as Griffin, Amy Farrell as Murdock, Tony DeCosta as Ramos, and Cheryl Stoppelmoor (Cheryl Ladd) as Amy Love.
One note about the series titles, they appeared on screen as:
Search:
Episode Title
“The Murrow Disappearance” (9/13/72) Written by Leslie Stevens Directed by Russ Mayberry Guest Cast: Capucine, Maurice Evans and David White Recurring Cast: Ford Rainey as Dr. Barnett, Angel Tompkins as Gloria Harding. *** Probe is hired to find a missing government agent who has access to top secrets. Lockwood begins his search at a private club outside Washington DC where the missing man was a member.
I enjoyed the interaction between Lockwood and Probe Control. This episode was heavy with gadgets and batter between Lockwood and sidekick Probe Control.
What I remember most from the series was the relationship between Gloria Harding and macho Lockwood. Yet despite how memorable the character of Gloria Harding was, this and “The Gold Machine” were the only series episodes Angel Tompkins appeared.
“Moonrock” (10/4/72) Written by Leslie Stevens Directed by William Wiard Guest Cast: Jo Ann Pflug, Ann Prentis, and George Pan Recurring Cast: Ford Rainey as Dr. Barnett *** While under Probe’s protection, a moon rock is stolen. Not just any moon rock but one of pure carbon (raw diamond).
This episode with its over the top macguffin needed an equally over the top villain. Instead too much time was devoted to the chase and not enough time establishing the villain. The episode was worth watching just for the delightful stylish scenes where Lockwood charters a 747 with full crew so he and the gratuitous girl of the week can continue to chase the killer who now has the rock.
“The Bullet” (11/1/72) Written by Judy Burns Directed by William Wiard Guest Cast: Ina Balin, Malachi Throne and Alan Bergman *** Lockwood is sent in to help a scientist, who had invented a poison bullet, defect to our side.
The story makes for an above average spy drama until it all falls apart in the last act. Once Lockwood is shot with a poison bullet the action turns stupid, highlighted by a near death Lockwood making it through four miles of an Eastern Europe city with the state police chasing him, so he can get to the unguarded section of “The Wall.” MISSION IMPOSSIBLE fans laughed at the naive simplicity.
“The Adonis Files” (11/15/72) Written by Jack Turley Directed by Joseph Pevney Guest Cast: Bill Bixby, Deanna Lund Matheson, and Victoria George *** Private secretary to a famous celebrity is kidnapped for $5 million. A secretive private foundation that hopes to make the celebrity an US Senator hires Probe to act as go-between.
Average 70s action episode but with a better than average twist at the end.
“Flight To Nowhere” (11/22/72) Written by Brad Radnitz Directed by Paul Stanley Guest Cast: Linda Cristal, Anna Cameron, and Don Dubbins *** When a search for a missing cargo plane flown by an old friend of Lockwood fails to find the pilot, Lockwood demands Probe continue the search.
I called this the MANNIX episode. When Cameron refuses to take the case, Lockwood loses it and screams at Cameron that he is becoming like the machines. Our hero races off on his own to find his friend. For no reason, someone tries to kill him. Probe joins in but used sparely. As a viewer who likes the characters at Probe Control more than Lockwood, I found little to like about this episode other than Anna Cameron, who played the girl of the week.
“The Gold Machine” (12/20/73) Written by Leslie Stevens Directed by Russ Mayberry Guest Cast: Marian McCargo, Kurt Kasznar, and Mark Lenard Recurring Cast: Angel Tompkins as Gloria Harding *** Lockwood needs to find a lost gold mine. Gloria has managed to be in the right place at the right time to be Lockwood’s girl of the week.
The search for the gold mine is entertaining and more important than it sounds, but it was the relationship between Lockwood and Gloria that made this episode fun to watch. While Gloria is less than thrilled with the dangers of being around a field agent, she does enjoy the typical Lockwood’s romantic escape with the girl of the week after the case is solved.
“Suffer My Child” (3/8/73) Written by Norman Hudis. Directed by Russ Mayberry Guest Cast: Mel Ferrer, Dianne Hull, and Dabney Coleman *** A young daughter of one of Wall Street’s most powerful men is kidnapped.
This episode is a good action mystery with plenty of suspects to supply a twist or three. Probe Control and the computers are more heavily involved than usual. Lockwood’s dislike for computers is expressed more here, even after the computer saved his life, that ungrateful human.
After fifteen episodes were filmed, Leslie Stevens and Robert H. Justman (STAR TREK, ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN) were replaced. Executive story consultant Anthony Spinner (DAN AUGUST, CANNON) took over as showrunner and producer. The change was visually noticeable. Since O’Brian did only one episode in the Spinner’s period, I’ll wait to examine these changes in my next post that will look at the Tony Franciosa episodes.
Produced by Anthony Spinner. Probe Control Cast: Tom Hallick as Harris and Pamela Jones as Miss James.
“Countdown To Panic” (2/7/73) Written by Judy Burns Directed by Jerry Jameson Guest Cast: Ed Nelson, Anne Francis, and Howard Duff. Recurring Cast: Keith Andes as Dr. Barnett *** A scientific experiment conducted by World Securities for the US Navy goes wrong. One of the victims with a fatal contagious virus escapes. Lockwood is assigned to find the man, an old friend from his days in the astronaut program.
The episode itself was entertaining for 70s action drama with an overused plot, but humorless and more like an episode from the Quinn Martin factory than the escapism fun of the Stevens’ episodes.
NEXT: SEARCH – The TONY FRANCIOSA Episodes.
Recommended reading: TV Obscurities: http://www.tvobscurities.com/articles/search
The Rap Sheet: http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2009/06/search-me.html
Warner Bros. Press Releases: http://probecontrol.artshost.com/publicity.html
March 6th, 2013 at 11:03 pm
I remember how disappointed I was when in the midst of the season, they changed the Probe Control setup. As I recall it was differently lit, less hi-tech looking, and most of the people manning the consoles and providing on-the-spot help for the agents when they needed a translation, info, or whatever, just disappeared. I think one remained, and all the others were replaced by one other bland guy (I believe that was ‘Harris’). The one feature that distinguished the show and they downplayed it! I think they even recast Dr Barnett near the end of the run, also not a good move. I remember the actors too for some reason: Ford Rainey was Dr Barnett, but then Keith Andes did the part for one episode. Pointless.
March 6th, 2013 at 11:26 pm
david gideon, you have a good memory considering the series aired forty years ago, but TV does that to you.
The next post I do (Steve will have it soon) does examine the shift from Leslie Stevens to Anthony Spinner. Suddenly, Probe Control went from red to blue. All the Probe Control techs were replaced by Harris and Miss Jones. Andes did two episode as Barnett, both for Spinner. The changes did benefit Tony Franciosa’s ex-cop character, but was a bust as far as what it wanted to do.
Basically, SEARCH was ahead of its time. The audience tried it and rejected it.
Hope you enjoy the coming posts about Franciosa and the Doug McClure episodes.
March 6th, 2013 at 11:40 pm
“…you have a good memory considering the series aired forty years ago, but TV does that to you.”
I’ve never put the thought together exactly like this, but truer words were never spoken.
I wish I could say it were true for me about this series, but I don’t believe I watched a single episode. I knew about it when it was on, but if I had the TV on at the time, it was another channel. My loss. I think I would have liked it.
March 7th, 2013 at 10:14 am
#3. Steve, if I had to guess I would say most of the regulars here were watching CANNON.
March 7th, 2013 at 12:05 pm
My only memory of the show is that I bought the first paperback novelization — and still have it. No, I’ve never read it. Why should I?
March 7th, 2013 at 12:30 pm
#5. Because the poor little paperback has suffered years of rejection and feeling unloved. I can hear the whimpering from here. Please Randy, be brave, read it, let it at last to accomplish its purpose in life.
March 7th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
#4. Michael, I’m sure you’re right about CANNON. I didn’t watch it regularly, but back then if it was a PI show that was on, I watched it. I even watched BARNABY JONES, but evidently SEARCH was too far out for me.
March 7th, 2013 at 2:45 pm
I don’t think I recall this show at all, but O’Brian’s “explanation” of why it didn’t work — that the deck was stacked because the good guys had too many gadgets at their disposal, thus inspiring viewers to sympathize for the villains — has to be one of the lamest I’ve ever heard. Maybe they just didn’t like Hugh.
What strikes me as particularly interesting about this show, based on Michael’s write-up, is the emphasis on technology combined with the involvement of Leslie Stevens. If I had to pick one recurring theme of The Outer Limits, it would be a distrust of technology, which was remarkable at a time when much of America was completely enthralled by the rapid advancements of science and technology.
March 7th, 2013 at 4:17 pm
#8. David, it is hard to pinpoint when the TV public accepted the computer. I recently watched a CALLAN from the early 70s that was very pro-man and anti-computer. The computer was going to take man’s jobs. There are points in this series when the hero accuses Cameron (Burgess Meredith) of becoming like the machines.
Stevens credits go from THE VIRGINIAN to BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY. He did both THE INVISIBLE MAN and GEMINI MAN after this, so maybe he was changing his opinion about technology just ahead of the public.
STAR WARS was still five years away. So science fiction was a genre out of favor on TV. But it seems a genre Stevens embraced beginning with SEARCH.
March 7th, 2013 at 4:31 pm
I think we will always have a love-hate relationship with computers and technology. Viewers don’t see to have any problem with the gadgetry we see in the Bond films, but of course there have also been some great films about the dangers of technology, like 2001 and Terminator (plus TV shows like The Outer Limit’s “Demon with a Glass Hand” and of course the reimagined Battlestar Galactica).
I wonder what makes Hugh O’Brian such an expert on why the show failed. Did you ever hear an actor say, “The show failed because viewers didn’t like me”? O’Brian basically had one success that I can think of, and that was early enough in the evolution of TV that viewers didn’t have a lot of other choices. But since this was the early 70s, maybe he had access to research that said viewers were offput by the technology.
I do think that the era of Bondmania was ebbing at this point, which also could have had something to do with the show’s failure to catch on.
March 7th, 2013 at 5:35 pm
#10. My guess from the interview I read at the link for WB Press releases was O’Brian was the star and thought he was sharing too much with Probe Control.
Originally, he was to star in most of the episodes. The original order was for 15 episodes. He did seven of the 15. Franciosa did four and McClure did four.
The show got picked up for a final eight episodes but Stevens was out and Spinner in. O’Brian did only one. Franciosa did four and McClure did three.
If the show had been a success I suspect O’Brian as “the star” would have done more than eight.
The changes would have answered his complaints but the changes failed too. I will examine the ratings and it was obvious the audience checked out all three stars with near equal interest and rejected all with equal strength. That had to be hard on O’Brian’s ego.
March 9th, 2013 at 3:40 pm
One of the questions I still seek an answer is what happened to Angel Tompkins where she went from co-star with press releases to appearing in only two episodes.
March 10th, 2013 at 11:01 pm
Michael, what makes you think that Tompkins diminished role was anything other than a reflection of the changes made to boost ratings?
March 10th, 2013 at 11:50 pm
#13. David, because she was gone before the ratings were a major problem. I give the rating details in the Tony Franciosa review. In “Moonrock” the first episode to finish in the bottom twenty, she was all ready gone (Cameron says she has a cold) and replaced by Ann Prentis (who for some reason had the final s in Prentiss drop in the on screen credit) who played her inexperienced cousin. After that neither Gloria or her cousin are mentioned until she pops up in “The Gold Machine” and then she was gone again.
I know she was part of the massive change when Spinner took over. The Spinner change happened after the first group of episodes had been filmed.
I know why she was not in the other two agents episodes, she was love interest for Lockwood. But she should have been in more episodes with Stevens’ Lockwood.
She had posed for Playboy, but I believe it was around the time of the pilot movie. If that had been the problem she would have been dumped before the series started.
March 11th, 2013 at 8:47 am
Maybe off filming Little Cigars or The Don Is Dead? At one point she was supposedly writing an autobiography, though it looks like it never came to fruition.
March 11th, 2013 at 9:55 am
15. David, it was the rumored autobiography that got me thinking about the question. I wish she or someone connected to the series would tell the behind the scenes story of what happened to SEARCH.
The Robert Justman interview at Emmy.archives is a disappointment. When ask what happened to SEARCH, he said Leslie Stevens didn’t have enough time. No doubt, referring to the change at midseason but he politely said nothing more. Those interviews are nice but many are cursed by poor memory or a lack of open and honest answers.
March 11th, 2013 at 2:49 pm
I do believe this is THE Angel Tompkins on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/angel.sag1.
Perhaps you can ask her yourself.