Well I have made it through almost every episode on Box Set 3 and I'm enjoying it immensely! I think I have 3-4 eps left to see them all. It's amazing after all these years how absolutely captivating I Spy is! When I pop a DVD in I literally can't take my eyes off the TV. I want to get Box Set 2 next. Also been watching some eps on AOL but a lot of the best ones there don't work for me

Here are just a few questions on my mind. Sorry if these have all been discussed before. I've been trying to read back through all the previous posts (and I love all the many pics that you guys have posted!), but I've only made it thru about 15 pages so far.

1. I read somewhere that a few times Scotty calls Kelly "Hoby" on the show in reference to the character he used to play (is that pronounced Hoe-bee?) Does anyone know of an example of this?

2. I was thinking that in one ep I recently watched, Scotty asks Kelly if he is "disgruntled" and Kelly says something like, no he's just gruntled, and then in another ep, Scotty asks him what all the "gruntles" are about - am I hearing things or was this just one of their clever word plays?

3. Are you happy or unhappy that they never made a final episode of I Spy because the series was canceled unexpectedly. If they had made a final episode, how do you envision it? What would the plot be and what would Kelly and Scott say to one another? Would they have flashbacks of all the best scenes? Personally I think it's better that they didn't make a final ep because this way they can just continue on in our imaginations forever as the world's coolest spies (I don't really count the reunion movie).

4. I also have another brief memory of a scene I saw years ago -Kelly is being questioned about something he is accused of doing and he busts out of a room and tries to escape. Scotty goes after him, but rather than trying to catch him he catches up to him and gives him a gun and they head off together. Can anyone place this?

5. I also wonder why I Spy filmed so many eps in Mexico? In the context of the Cold War, the 60's, etc., I wouldn't think that Mexico was really a hotbed of espionage activity. I can understand Europe of course because of its proximity to the Soviet Union and the Eastern block countries, and Japan because it was close to communist China and everything that was going on in SE Asia. But why Mexico?

Well, that's it for now I look forward to reading your replies!

Becca

I had to chuckle when watching "The Name of the Game" because there was a Gilligan's Island episode that I've seen about a million times with the same basic plot, Gilligan as human prey. I wonder if it was made before or after the I Spy episode? And then to see Jim Backus in the Happy Birthday episode - lol!

1) Robert Culp portrayed Texas Ranger Hobias (Hoby: Hoe-bee) Gilman in the TV series: Trackdown (1957-1959). So, yes, Cosby is referring to his previous character.

5) Tonia (Leslie Uggams) has sympathies to the Communist Party and becomes
involved with Scott. In the scene you reference: Kelly is accused of Tonia's murder and Scott pretends to believe Kelly is guilty. Kelly escapes, is found by Scott who assures him he knows he is not guilty and offers him a gun with the retort: meet you at the pass.

6) Mexico because it ain't that far to go. Just south of the border and less
expensive than overseas travel and filming.

Happy to have you as part of the Forum.

Thanks Herbie, I am thrilled to be here. Thank you for your answers. Offhand do you know an episode example of when the "Hoby" nickname is used?

I thought it might be Tonia but couldn't be sure without seeing it.

Thanks again!
Becca

Try One of Our Bombs Is Missing and Child Out of Time.

Regards—

I'm not going to cheat and look it up in the book - but if memory serves:

Maybe "Pinwheel" too. I seem to think Kelly had a Western gun holset on in that episode, and was practicing fast draw - and Scott may have called him Hoby.

Something in the back of my head is telling me there were three instance during the series where this happened.

But, best of all - not really a Hoby thing, but a cowboy thing - when Kelly and Scott have to hike up the side of a mountain in "There Was A Little Girl," and Kelly, wearing Western boots, complains that he's without appropriate foot attire for mountain climbing. Scott teases him: "You're the one who wanted to look like a cowboy."

This and all the Hoby references were, of course, ad libs.

MC.

Thanks very much for the replies, you've given me something extra to look forward to

Becca

I have one question for the American experts:
what does the expression "American Princess" mean in America?
I read that on page 313 from I SPY companion book.
Thanks.

Hi Stefan,

Here's the excerpt that Stefan was referring to in Marc and Linda's book:


Eric Mull and Joseph Than, who had written "The Lotus Eater," were given the green light to write a script called "An American Princess." When Friedkin and Fine, two Jews, informed Mull and Than, two Germans, what "American Princess" meant in America, they immediately changed the title to "An American Empress." It was to be shot in San Francisco.


O.K. Stefan - The complete term is "Jewish-American Princess" .... think "Paris Hilton-like" (except that she's not Jewish).


... and here's Wikipedia's definition

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish-American_princess


It's a term usually said in jest, and applies to a spoiled, over-indulged young girl. (Kathy in "There Was A Little Girl" would fit the mold, too - except she's wasn't Jewish, either. So I guess the title "American Princess" could cover plenty of pampered people! )


As always,
Tatia

(No, no! Well ....... maybe ...... with just a touch of "princess-ness" here and there )




....

Thanks, I heard it last night watching One of Our Bombs is Missing - in a very funny segment where Scotty is talking about his history of bad luck

Becca