Tracey
I really liked Lee Merriweather when she made her 6 appearances in season 4. Why didn't she become a regular cast member?
That, Miss Lincoln, is simply my cat.
I liked Tracey also. I wouldn't have minded if she stuck around
shareWow! Where to begin? Lee Meriwether had a full two page write-up in "The Complete Mission:Impossible Dossier."
The issue was studio politics. Season three had just ended. Barbara Bain (and Martin Landau) had just left the series. The search was on for a new female lead.
Lee was told by Bruce Geller that she was hired for the entire fourth season. Greg Morris said the cast loved Lee, and were elated. Her first appearance in a non-Tracey role in the season-three, 2-parter "The Bunker" endeared her to the regular cast
Producer Douglas Cramer wanted Dina Merrill, who was hired for the season-four opening episodes (in two parts) "The Controllers" That's first in production order, not broadcast order.
Another executive Stanley Kallis was indifferent and agreed to hire both on an episode-by-episode basis.
To keep everyone happy, it was decided to go with a rotating female lead for the remainder of season-four, with Lee/Tracey having the most appearances.
Thanks I didn 't know that. I just figured she wanted to move on to other things or she wasn't that interested in doing the show. I thought she was very good.
shareI loved Lee Meriwether on Mission Impossible and wished she had stayed. She sure was a hell of a lot better than Lesley Warren. Don't get me wrong I think she's great, now. Back then she wasn't that good of a actress, she was learning her craft then. She seemed to bog episodes down. Plus she was way too young for the team.
Spenser with an "S", like the poet.
I know where you're coming from cind5. I don't want to turn this into a Lesley-bashing post, but her acting style at the time just wasn't a good fit with the series. She was more of an emotive, expressive actor. Her Dana character was required to be more restrained and reflective.
Lee Meriwether was a seamless fit after Barbara Bain left.
One of the problems I had with Lesley Warren is that the age difference between her and the rest of the team was too pronounced. I know that the producers most likely cast her to attract younger viewers to watch the show. But between the awful "trendy" wardrobe and having the entire fifth season becoming an endless "take your daughter to go spying with you" vibe, I just couldn't take her seriously.
Wherever you go, there you are.
Look what I started. Yes, Lesley Warren doesn't work as a member of the MI force in the 60's, but when they did it the 80's, she probably would have been great. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have killed her off.
Spenser with an "S", like the poet.
Cind5, I just got your post. Now that you've mentioned it, I can see that Lesley Warren would have been a better fit for the 1980s MI. I know that she can act (she did get a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for Victor/Victoria after all).
And to be fair, there are a couple of her MI episodes that I really like. My favorite season five episode is The Amateur. She did a great job in that one.
One of the problems I had with Lesley Warren is that the age difference between her and the rest of the team was too pronounced.
Would be interesting to see the cut scene where Jim recruits Dana for the team, and see if they covered that. share
Jimmy-128, actually would have been nice, but from I could figure out, the only agent I can remember who was recruited was Mimi,during season seven when Lynda Day George was on Maternity Leave.
BTW, do ever post on the All About Eve message board?
They did film a scene where Jim recruits Dana, but it was cut from the final episode.
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