Why did it last two seasons?
I am saddened that they did not continue. I loved the stealth based plot every single episode.
shareMy understanding was, the first season 1988-1989 used scripts recycled from the original 1966 series. The producers used this tactic as an end-run around the Hollywood writers strike at the time, in addition to filming the series in Australia, and was broadcast on ABC. The original series was on CBS.
Old time viewers like me loved seeing the stories re-told from a slightly different slant. New viewers not familiar with the old series were treated to brilliant scripts and acting. The second season 1989-1990 used new material. The story lines weren't all that good and rating dropped. Sorry to say, some of the second season stories were downright terrible. One notable exception was the episode entitled The Devils. That was a great original script!
A footnote to its renewal in 1989 for a second season, was the cancellation of another television series The Equalizer, starring Edward Woodward on CBS. Fans of The Equalizer (like me) complained to CBS with a letter-writing campaign to save the series, pointing out that the second season of Mission: Impossible (1989-1990) had lower ratings than The Equalizer.
That is my recollection. If anyone has different memories, please share.
One of the best episodes from this series was The Legacy. It was an episode using one of those re-cycled scripts from the original series.
The original episode starred Steven Hill as Dan Briggs. This re-make starred Peter Graves as Jim Phelps. It was completely new material for Graves!! How cool is that?!
Hi, Klondike6!
Regarding the Legacy episode plot that was used on both versions of MI, did it have Nazis in it?
Hi mariakelly-04164!
In the 1967 taped instructions, I believe it was worded that the "sons" of top Nazi officials were colluding to find the Nazi gold.
In the 1988 CD instructions, the word "grandsons" was substituted to account for the 21 year difference between the two versions.