This show hosts all the flavors of the 60's with a background of jazz and psychedelic sitar, the height of contemporary design and decor, hair fashions and haute couture all mixed together to give renaissance to that most creative era... the 60's, complete with sit-ins, love beads, hippie vans, mini skirts, underground newspapers, and Holly Go Lightly glasses!
As a reviewer, crime shows are not necessarily my forte, but the era was the magnetizing attraction. The cars are as big as boats and you'll find a customized corvette and a painted hippie love bus to peak your interest. Familiar actors you might see are Louis Gossett Jr. (An Officer and a Gentleman), Della Reese (Touched by an Angel), Isabel Sanford (The Jeffersons) and Joan Van Ark (Knots Landing).
"The Teeth of the Barracuda" is the pilot episode and gives background to how The Mod Squad was created and "Forming the Squad" shows how Julie, Linc and Peter became the major undercover players further explaining this Aaron Spelling production created by former police officer Bud Ruskin.
"Friends of the Mod Squad" interviews Michael Cole and Peggy Lipton adding personal depiction to their roles; an especially interesting tidbit was that Peggy and Paul McCartney were friends. However, the absence of Clarence Williams III was painfully apparent and makes one wonder why he didn't participate in this added feature.
"Inside the Teeth of the Barracuda" presented by CBS DVD included social events of the premier period, 1968, i.e. the publication of San Francisco's Rolling Stones, City of Lights Bookstore, the Monterey Pop Fest, Summer of Love, and M.L. King's Mountaintop speech of April 4, 1968 prior to his assassination. Television giants and partners Danny Thomas and Spelling continue to rack up the Emmies with The Mod Squad as it runs from 1968 to 1973 when the hippie generation became a counter-culture of the past.
My favorite episodes were "My What a Pretty Bus" where the trio are pulled into a heist with counterfeit money and a love bus to pull it off! "Love" and "You Can't Tell the Players without a Programmer" features Pete returning back to the pomp and splendor of Beverly Hills. "The Guru" features an underground newspaper with a few uncovered secrets of their own, but exhibits sit-ins, flower children and even a little supposed police brutality.
I could just be swallowed up by this era and The Mod Squad epitomizes the people and emotions of the time. I found the shows campy, fun and entertaining. The plots were well-woven, but still crime shows to me. It was all the extras -- the wrappings that held my interest. I will definitely look forward to future releases of this so totally groovy 60's show!
