Written By: Ken Hulsey
The Avengers is an interesting enigma in the history of fantasy and science fiction television. What began as a straight forward detective show, in which the main character Dr. David Keel (Ian Hendry) and his raincoat clad secret service stereotype John Steed (Patrick Macnee) teemed together to avenge the death of Keel’s sister (That’s why it’s called The Avengers), slowly mutated into James Bond inspired show about alternate realities and power mad super villains. Added to the mix were three ass kicking super vixens and enough sexual innuendo to choke a horse, a formula that turned The Avengers from run of the mill to timeless cult classic.
In its post crime drama hey day The Avengers was a very slick and sexy bit of entertainment indeed. When Hendry left the show to pursue a movie career the powers that be took a chance and hired Honor Blackman to play the infamous blonde in black leather Cathey Gale. For the first time in TV history there was a woman playing the strong handed lead where males had been the norm. Gale was sexy, strong and smart. Her black leather costume (designed because she kept ripping her skirts during martial arts stunts) soon became an image that defined the show. Her chemistry with costar Macnee was uncanny and the new scripts based on the popularity of 007 helped the shows popularity soar.
The lure of the big screen would soon claim another victim when Honor Blackman was chosen to plat Pussy Galore in the James Bond epic Goldfinger. In stepped Diana Rigg as the cat like Emma Peel. This new character teamed with even more surreal storylines penned by Brian Clemens and Albert Fennell took the show into even a more successful direction. The show was now shot in color and the producers took full advantage of the new medium. In came stories about toy shops that were atom bombs, cats were murders, and every little village had a maniac bent on world destruction. It painted a twisted picture of an otherwise normal world. It was a risky path to take, but it worked and audiences fell in love with this tongue and cheek style that never took itself too seriously. I’m sure that the ever sexy Emma Peel didn’t hurt the shows ratings either.
The chemistry between Macnee and Rigg was even more electric then it was with Blackman. Together they were the perfect “Odd Couple”. Steed with his bowler hat and umbrella side by side with Peel in her Catwoman attire made for quite a duo. Old guard versus new sexuality. Proper etiquette versus in your face butt kicking. It was the perfect dichotomy. Steed was everything that the old generation stood for. The ultimate gentleman dressed in fine tailored suits with a snooty personality. Of course he could beat you up as well, but he would be polite about it.
Mrs. Peel was the ultimate hip chick. Her clothes were to die for. Her car was an awesome Lotus Elan. She was the definitive heroine for the 1960s’. Her quick tongue could chop you down to size and if that didn’t work she would beat the crap out of you. Consider her the direct inspiration for Xena, Aeon Flux and Alias. Emma was doing it way before it became the norm. To sum it up Peel was hot with a capital H.
The Avengers defined cool in the age of cool and it was never afraid to revel in its own absurdity. It was slick, inventive and imaginative. It too defined sexy in the age of sexy. It’s influences can been seen both on the big screen and on prime time. The Avengers will forever live on as an eclectic icon of television much to the delight of fans of beautiful badass women around the globe.
THE AVENGERS (1961 - 1969)
ABC Weekend Television
Produced By: John Bryce, Brian Clemens, Albert Fennell, Julian Wintle
Written By: Jeremy Burnham & Sydney Newman
Cast:Patrick Macnee as John Wickham Gascone Berresford Steed
Honor Blackman as Dr. Catherine 'Cathy' Gale (1962-64)
Ingrid Hafner as Carol Wilson (1961-62)
Ian Hendry as Dr. David Keel (1961-62)
Douglas Muir as One-Ten (1961-62)
Rhonda Parker as Rhonda (1968-1969)
Diana Rigg as Emma Peel (1965-1967)
Jon Rollason as Dr. Martin King (1962)
Julie Stevens as Venus Smith (1962-1963)
Linda Thorson as Tara King (1968-1969)
Runtime: 161 - 60 Minute Episodes
Country: UK
Language: English
Color: Black and White / Color
Sound: Mono
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