Welcome
September 24, 1968
What's New?
- New photos (Peggy Lipton from 2015 (3/5/23)
- New photos (Peggy Lipton from 2015 (3/5/23)
- A re-edit of episode reviews and new links and added locations
- I have a Michael Cole website.
The Mod Squad had late 60's coolness, drama, electric organ music, a little comedy, and a lot of action, with very active stuntmen. But most importantly, this TV show showcased young, hip undercover cops who grew to be close friends and considered each other family.
The Mod Squad theme song is among my very favorites. I used to run around my living room and dance like I was escaping my own reality. I also enjoyed the closing credit music. It struck an emotional chord, and when it cut to a freeze frame, I longed to be a part of whatever they had, and wondered what they would do next. The Mission Impossible theme was the only other score that was at that caliber.
The concept of the show was to take three rebellious, disaffected young social outcasts and convince them to work as unarmed undercover detectives as an alternative to being incarcerated themselves. Their youthful, hippie personas would enable them to get close to the criminals they investigated. But as it turned out, the squad was made up of the most compassionate characters I've seen on television.
The show was groundbreaking, dealing with issues such as abortion, racism, the anti-war movement, soldiers returning from Vietnam, student protest, domestic violence, child neglect, illiteracy, slumlords, and the illegal drug trade. Most often, they were not arresting the young people, but the criminals preying on them.
Aaron Spelling, the executive producer, wanted to hire three attractive young people who could act, get along together, and be believable.
I think he succeeded.
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Pete Cochrane (Michael Cole) Michael Cole had filmed a Gunsmoke episode that attracted the attention of Aaron Spelling's casting director. Michael originally thought the premise of Mod Squad was a terrible idea. He rebelled against the role of becoming a cop who would "fink" on kids in trouble. But that was exactly what Aaron Spelling (executive producer) wanted...a rebel. His character, Peter Cochrane, was evicted from his wealthy parents' Beverly Hills home, then arrested and put on probation after he stole a car. Often used the expression, "I'm hip", and called Julie, "Angel". Pete was my first crush, before I knew what a crush was, and Michael's photos dominate my site. |
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Julie Barnes (Peggy Lipton)
"Julie" was the most difficult to cast. Spelling was looking for "a canary with a broken wing." Over twenty-seven actresses were tested. Peggy was under contract with Universal Pictures, and was able to get out of it to commit to Mod Squad.
Julie Barnes' character was arrested for vagrancy after running away from her prostitute mother in San Francisco. She had a colorful apartment with beads(!) I wanted beads just like hers.
Peggy Lipton was awarded a Golden Globe for her role in Mod Squad, andwas nominated multiple times for an Emmy.
Linc Hayes (Clarence Williams III)
Aaron Spelling asked Bill Cosby and Sammy Davis Jr. about who he should cast, and he received one answer; Clarence Williams. Aaron casted him as a getaway driver in another project to see if he could act. Clarence crashed the car, and admitted he had never driven before, but was desperate for the job. Aaron hired him.
Lincoln "Linc" Hayes came from a family of thirteen children, and was arrested in the Watts riots. He was infamous for his quiet stare and the expression, "Solid."
Captain Adam Greer (Tige Andrews)
Aaron needed a man who could create the police mod squad and, as Captain Adam Greer, serve as its contact with the police department. "We were lucky there," Spelling explains. "We got Tige Andrews." Having made frequent appearances on television in the 60s, he had been best known as Lieutenant Johnny Russo on The Detectives.
As Captain Greer, he slid into a parent figure for the squad. He was a mentor who was stern and lecturing, yet soft and witty. Adam Greer was a widower, who enjoyed fishing. Tige's passion and talent for art spilled into an episode
or two, and his art was often displayed.
Tige Andrews received an Emmy, a Logie Award, and a Golden Globe nomination for his role.