Search (TV series)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Search" was a TV series that aired in 1972-1973. [1] The show aired Wednesday nights on NBC at 10 pm ET, from September 1972 to August 1973. It ran for 23 episodes, not including the two-hour pilot film originally titled Probe. When picked up for series production, the title had to be changed because Probe was the name of an existing PBS series.
The show was created by Leslie Stevens (The Name of the Game, The Outer Limits), and produced by Robert Justman (Star Trek). The high concept was described as "science fiction in today's world" and the episodes featured many high-tech elements which are considered common in current science fiction shows.
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[edit] Premise
The series centered on "World Securities Corporation," an international high-tech private investigation company that employed field operatives -- the elite of whom were aided by implanted audio receivers and who carry Scanners, tiny video camera/telemetry units which can be attached to tie tacks or other jewelry. The most common method was to wear the Scanner on a ring, enabling it to be discreetly aimed.
Each episode featured one of three primary agents on a particular investigation, which often had political or organized crime elements.
[edit] Probe Control
Probe agents reported to V.C.R Cameron Burgess Meredith, the "director" of the investigations, who ran Probe Control, a center patterned on the NASA Mission Operations Control Center. "Cam" was the leader of the expert team who monitored and provided the agent with intelligence.
On-duty experts included a computer hacker, a translator fluent in several languages, and a doctor.[2] Additional experts might be called in as needed.
[edit] Probe hardware
Each field agent is outfitted with a miniature scanner disguised as a piece of jewelry, which can be magnetically attached to special cuff links, tie clips, or pendants. This device continuously monitors the agent's progress, transmitting audio, video, and physical telemetry to Probe Control.
These images were stabilized and rotated to permit real-time observation by a team of specialists at Probe Control who analyze the data, consult databases worldwide, and immediately provide information covertly to the field agent via a subcutaneous ear piece implanted in the agent's mastoid process. The agent can respond to Probe Control either audibly or by tapping out code with a dental implant, even when they don't have their scanner operating.
[edit] Cast
- Hugh O'Brian as Hugh Lockwood (Probe One),
- Tony Franciosa as Nick Bianco (Omega Probe), handling organized crime assignments
- Doug McClure as Christopher Robin "C.R." Grover (Backup Probe)
- Burgess Meredith as V.C.R. "Cam" Cameron
- Angel Tompkins as Gloria Harding
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[edit] Probe Field Agents
- Hugh Lockwood, Probe One - Lead Operative
- Nick Bianco, Head of Omega division, which specializes in organized-crime cases.
- C.R. Grover, Standby Probe - emergency backup agent.
[edit] Probe Control staff
- V.C.R. Cameron, Director of Probe Control Unit 1
- Gloria Harding, Senior Technician monitoring pulse, respiration, and temperature
- Albert Griffin, Linguist and Code-breaker; former chief translator at the United Nations
- Kuroda, telemetry and electronics specialist
- Carlos Lobos, technician
- Amy Murdock, Medical Doctor
- Ginny Keach, Data Specialist
The name "V.C.R Cameron" was a "secret" pun -- at the time, the video cassette recorder was an advanced technology which had not yet become widely available.
[edit] References
- ^ "Search Episode Guide". Classic TV Archive. Retrieved on [[2006-11- 28]].
- ^ "Search Plot Summary". Internet Movie Database (IMDB). Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
[edit] External links
- Probe Control - website about the TV series.
