A First: Early Avengers on U.S. Broadcast TV

Fans of mid 60s spy television are no doubt familiar  with the TV series from the UK, the avengers starring PAtrick MacNee and Dame Diana Rigg as John Steed and Emma Peel respectively.  What American viewers may not be aware of is the existence of earlier episodes going back as far as 1961. These episodes were not  telecast in the US because they were done live over UK television. The seasons immediately prior to their US debut featured Honor Blackman as Cathy Gale, before she left the series to become Pussy Galore and roll,around  in the hay with Sean Connery in Goodfinger.

Digital network CoziTV, seen as an adjacent channel on local broadcast stations, has purchased the entire Avengers series of repeats.  For the first time ever, these UK only episodes are being shown on American broadcast television. They are an interesting curiosity, shot entirely the studio with the exception of some external scenes, the budget is minuscule and the mood is much darker. The sense of humor isn't where it would be when the series moved to 35mm and big budgets in 1965. I don't think these episodes have the appeal of Mrs. Peel. The spark just isn't there. Still, they're not without enjoyment though they're so different they take some getting used to. Patrick MacNee isn't even the lead initially. It's Ian Hendry, the noted English actor. Another curiosity: the early episodes of the series are largely lost. This video explains.