I Spy premiered on NBC on September 15, 1965. Robert Culp played international tennis star Kelly Robinson, while Bill Cosby played his trainer, Alexander “Scotty” Scott. Their tennis careers were actually a cover for their dangerous work as American intelligence agents.
Unlike many spy programs filmed mostly on Hollywood backlots, I Spy took its stars around the world. Episodes were filmed in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Rome, Athens, Madrid, Mexico City and Morocco, giving viewers a colorful look at destinations many had never seen outside travel magazines.
The series also made television history. Cosby became the first Black actor to star in a leading role on a weekly American dramatic series. I Spy ran for three seasons from 1965 through 1968, producing 82 episodes. During each of those three seasons, both Cosby and Culp were nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Cosby won all three times.
What made the show especially enjoyable was the relaxed friendship between Robinson and Scott. They traded jokes and teasing remarks like old friends, but the stories could quickly turn serious. There were fewer fantastic gadgets than other television spies used, with more emphasis on danger, travel and the personal cost of espionage.
With its memorable Earle Hagen theme, international scenery and chemistry between its stars, I Spy became one of the most distinctive spy shows of the 1960s.
