History Series / MissionImpossible

* GhostStory: An early episode quickly turns into this.

* Greg Morris as Barney Collier, a mechanical and electronic genius and reverse AirVentEscape artist -- the casting of a black actor as this highly accomplished character in 1966 was revolutionary, although the producers insisted race had nothing to do with their decision.

* AirVentEscape: occurs so often in the series it almost qualifies as a cliche.

** Early seasons also featured a ritual in which Briggs or Phelps were shown selecting the personnel for the mission. With the fifth season this was declared redundant (as he invariably chose the same people)[[hottip:*:Although its been suggested by fans that it is possible that Briggs/Phelps DO use other people on missions that don't require our team's skills, we just don't see those "episodes".]]and this sequence was dropped. It made a one-time return in the first episode of the 1988 revival.

* ItsPersonal: A handful of episodes have Briggs or Phelps plotting a plan to right a wrong affecting someone close to them instead of a mission given to them by the Secretary. In one episode Phelps is kidnapped and the team members are blackmailed into helping his kidnapper commit a crime. Arguably the most "personal" of these comes in the '80s version, when [[spoiler: Casey, the new version's initial FemmeFatale, becomes the ''only'' regular in either version to be killed off. Note: not to be confused with Lynda Day George's Casey character from the original series.]] The "it's personal" aspect of the storylines is usually emphasized by there being no tape scene shown.

** Early seasons also featured a ritual in which Briggs or Phelps were shown selecting the personnel for the mission. With the fifth season this was declared redundant (as he invariably chose the same people)[[hottip:*:Although its been suggested by fans that it is possible that Briggs/Phelps DO use other people on missions that don't require our team's skills, we just don't see those "episodes".]] and this sequence was dropped. It made a one-time return in the first episode of the 1988 revival.

** Early seasons also featured a ritual in which Briggs or Phelps were shown selecting the personnel for the mission. With the fifth season this was declared redundant (as he invariably chose the same people) and this sequence was dropped. It made a one-time return in the first episode of the 1988 revival.

* ItsPersonal: A handful of episodes have Briggs or Phelps plotting a plan to right a wrong affecting someone close to them instead of a mission given to them by the Secretary. In one episode Phelps is kidnapped and the team members are blackmailed into helping his kidnapper commit a crime. Arguably the most "personal" of these comes in the '80s version, when [[spoiler: Casey, the new version's initial FemmeFatale, was the ''only'' regular in either version to be killed off. Note: not to be confused with Lynda Day George's Casey character from the original series.]] The "it's personal" aspect of the storylines is usually emphasized by there being no tape scene shown.

* CouchGag: Bruce Geller originally wanted each mission to be given to Briggs and Phelps in a different manner every episode (via nickelodeon, phonograph record, a card handed to him from another agent, a {{Drive-In Theater}} speaker, etc.). One of these early methods was a self-destructing reel-to-reel tape. The varying methods were continued until the third season when the tape became the standard and a ''Mission'' trademark. In the 1988 version, the spool tape is replaced with a self-destructing mini-CD player (the CD actually works like a DVD, playing audio and video, even though DVDs hadn't been introduced in real life yet).

** The self-destructing CDs seen in the 1980s revival series appear to act like DVDs - even though DVDs weren't introduced until the 1990s.

* FakeGunshot

* {{Ruritania}}: when it isn't a BananaRepublic.
* TheSadisticChoice: ''The Ransom''.

* CouchGag: Bruce Geller originally wanted each mission to be given to Briggs and Phelps in a different manner every episode (via nickelodeon, phonograph record, a card handed to him from another agent, a {{Drive-In Theater}} speaker, etc.). One of these early methods was a self-destructing reel-to-reel tape. The varying methods were coIntinued until the third season when the tape became the standard and a ''Mission'' trademark. In the 1988 version, the spool tape is replaced with a self-destructing mini-CD player (the CD actually works like a DVD, playing audio and video, even though DVDs hadn't been introduced in real life yet).

* CouchGag: Bruce Geller originally wanted each mission to be given to Briggs and Phelps in a different manner every episode (via nickelodeon, phonograph record, a card handed to him from another agent, a drive-in movie speaker, etc.). One of these early methods was a self-destructing reel-to-reel tape. The varying methods were continued until the third season when the tape became the standard and a ''Mission'' trademark. In the 1988 version, the spool tape is replaced with a self-destructing mini-CD player (the CD actually works like a DVD, playing audio and video, even though DVDs hadn't been introduced in real life yet).

Unique SpyDrama based around a semi-ad hoc covert operations team employed by the US Government for dicey missions needing [[PlausibleDeniability maximum deniability]]. The television series lasted from September, 1966 to March, 1973. A total of 171 episodes in seven seasons. It was the longest-surviving of the "spy-fi" genre of US and UK-made TV series of the 1960s.

There was a two-season Next Generation-style revival of the franchise in the [[TheEighties 1980s]] which was considered a continuation of the original series. An NES game was also developed. But a more successful revival occurred with a ''Film/MissionImpossible'' film series starring Tom Cruise, although it bears little resemblance to the tone and spirit of the original series. A TV series based on the movies is possibly being developed.

* XanatosSpeedChess: One of the ways used by the writers to resolve a commercial break cliffhanger.
* {{Zeerust}}: The ersatz future in ''The Freeze''; also, the slide rule in Barney's publicity photo from "Collier Electronics".

''Series/MissionImpossible'' was a thinking man's espionage program. Gunplay was kept to a minimum (with a few notable early-series exceptions when the series was still finding its rhythm), and the focus was always on outwitting and outmaneuvering the foe, who usually didn't know he was being targeted at all. The IMF were never dispatched for ''ordinary'' tasks that a simple JamesBond type could handle with a couple of explosions and a chase scene - they were called upon to accomplish their goals by outplanning and outthinking their opposition, often by playing mind games with them on such a scale that more than one may have been driven into madness. After the first season IMF operatives rarely killed anybody directly, but their targets didn't always survive.

When Hill became increasingly difficult to work with (as one of the few Orthodox Jewish actors in Hollywood, he was unwilling to abide by the show's production schedule, as it stipulated that he work on the Sabbath and after sundown of Friday when he was committed to being in prayer (source: The Complete Mission: Impossible Dossier by Patrick White)), he was gradually written out of the series; when he was replaced by Peter Graves as Jim Phelps in season two, the classic cast was set. Other cast changes followed; with Landau and Bain leaving at the end of season three, Landau replaced by LeonardNimoy, fresh from the recently cancelled ''StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' (which Landau turned down to do MI instead), and Bain by an assortment of leading ladies, none of whom had the same panache, culminating in a tragically miscast Lesley Warren as the waif-like Dana. An attempt was eventually made to invigorate the role by casting Lynda Day George as Casey, who was both the leading lady and the MasterOfDisguise, but by then the series was on its last legs.

''MissionImpossible'' was a thinking man's espionage program. Gunplay was kept to a minimum (with a few notable early-series exceptions when the series was still finding its rhythm), and the focus was always on outwitting and outmaneuvering the foe, who usually didn't know he was being targeted at all. The IMF were never dispatched for ''ordinary'' tasks that a simple JamesBond type could handle with a couple of explosions and a chase scene - they were called upon to accomplish their goals by outplanning and outthinking their opposition, often by playing mind games with them on such a scale that more than one may have been driven into madness. After the first season IMF operatives rarely killed anybody directly, but their targets didn't always survive.

** In at least one case, some alien artwork featured in an episode of ''StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' was actually the discarded protective styofoam piece that housed an [[MissionImpossible MI]] prop tape recorder spraypainted orange and green.

Unique SpyDrama based around a semi-ad hoc covert operations team employed by the US Government for dicey missions needing [[PlausibleDeniability maximum deniability]]. The television series lasted from September, 1966 to March, 1973. A total of 171 episodes in seven seasons.

When Hill became increasingly difficult to work with (as one of the few Orthodox Jewish actors in Hollywood, he was unwilling to abide by the show's production schedule, as it stipulated that he work on the Sabbath), he was gradually written out of the series; when he was replaced by Peter Graves as Jim Phelps in season two, the classic cast was set. Other cast changes followed; with Landau and Bain leaving at the end of season three, Landau replaced by LeonardNimoy, fresh from the recently cancelled ''StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' (which Landau turned down to do MI instead), and Bain by an assortment of leading ladies, none of whom had the same panache, culminating in a tragically miscast Lesley Warren as the waif-like Dana. An attempt was eventually made to invigorate the role by casting Lynda Day George as Casey, who was both the leading lady and the MasterOfDisguise, but by then the series was on its last legs.

''MissionImpossible'' was a thinking man's espionage program. Gunplay was kept to a minimum, and the focus was always on outwitting and outmaneuvering the foe, who usually didn't know he was being targeted at all. The IMF were never dispatched for ''ordinary'' tasks that a simple JamesBond type could handle with a couple of explosions and a chase scene - they were called upon to accomplish their goals by outplanning and outthinking their opposition, often by playing mind games with them on such a scale that more than one may have been driven into madness.

There was a brief revival of the franchise in the [[TheEighties 1980s]] (along with an NES game), but a more successful revival occurred with a ''Film/MissionImpossible'' film series starring Tom Cruise. A TV series based on the movies is possibly being developed.

* AdolfHitler: A number of ''Missions'' revolved around Hitler - or more specifically stopping his modern day followers - such as "The Legacy", "Echo of Yesterday", and "The Legend" in the original version and "The Fuehrer's Children" and a remake of "The Legacy" in the 80's update.
* AirVentEscape

* TheCaptain: Jim Phelps.
* CatchPhrase

* CouchGag: Bruce Geller originally wanted each mission to be given to Briggs in a different manner every episode (via nickelodeon, phonograph record, a card handed to him from another agent, a drive-in movie speaker, etc.). Eventually the producers settled on the reel-to-reel tape recorder with self-destructing tape which would go on to become a ''Mission'' trademark.

** Arguably What It Doesn't Say On The Tin, since episode titles weren't shown on screen.

* ItsPersonal: A handful of episodes have Briggs or Phelps plotting a plan to right a wrong affecting someone close to them instead of a mission given to them by the Secretary. In one episode Phelps is kidnapped and the team members are blackmailed into helping his kidnapper commit a crime. Arguably the most "personal" of these comes in the '80s version, when [[spoiler: Casey, the new version's initial FemmeFatale, was the ''only'' regular in either version to be killed off.]]

* LaxativePrank: Used in the first movie as part of a distraction to infiltrate Langley.

* LicensedGame: One for the NES. Notable because it apparently used a modified version of the NES ''MetalGear'' engine. And had little or nothing to do with the series' type of story.

* MasterOfDisguise

* NoNameGiven

* OnceAnEpisode: "This tape will self-destruct in five seconds."

* RuleOfThree: The 'Tape Scene/Dossier Scene/Meeting Scene' format.

* ShoutOut: The rejected IM Force photos were often cast and crew of the show, as well as one of show creator Bruce Geller.

* SpySpeak: At the start of every episode, Jim Phelps would hold a seemingly innocuous conversation that provided the signs/countersigns to be given the mission briefing.
* ''StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': Since both shows shared the Desilu/[[ParamountPictures Paramount]] soundstages, it should come as no surprise that WilliamShatner guest starred twice as a BigBad and GeorgeTakei as an IMF member. LeonardNimoy became an SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute of Martin Landau's character -- four years after Landau had turned down the role of Mr Spock for StarTrek's first pilot "The Cage" in 1965. Herb Solow was production manager for both shows.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: There were changes to the team almost every season.

* ThemeTune

* ThouShaltNotKill

** {{Lampshaded}} in the pilot of the remake. Phelps takes a moment to marvel at the mini optical disc player that replaced the trademark tape recorder of the original series, remarking to himself "Time does march on".

There was a brief revival of the franchise in the 80's (along with an NES game), but a more successful revival occurred with a ''Film/MissionImpossible'' film series starring Tom Cruise. A TV series based on the movies is possibly being developed.

Unique SpyDrama based around a semi-ad hoc covert operations team employed by the US Government for dicey missions needing [[PlausibleDeniability maximum deniability]]. With a few rare exceptions every episode followed the same outline: First, a prerecorded briefing informs the team leader, Jim Phelps, of the target, what needs to be done to him, and why. Second, Jim assembles his team and the viewer gets to see a selected but [[UnspokenPlanGuarantee mostly uninformative subset of their planning and briefing]]. Thirdly, the mission -- usually a [[TheCaper caper]] or [[TheCon con]] -- is executed, sometimes with real or bogus crises along the way. Finally, the team reassembles in a convenient panel truck and drives off as the target confesses, turns state's evidence, or slowly cools in a spreading pool of blood.

-->''"Good morning, Mr. Phelps..."''