Get Smart - Plot

Plot

The series centered on bungling secret agent Maxwell Smart, also known as Agent 86. His experienced female partner is Agent 99. Agents 86 and 99 work for CONTROL, a secret U.S. government counter-intelligence agency based in Washington, D.C. The pair investigates and thwarts various threats to the world, though Smart's incompetence invariably causes complications. However, Smart never fails to save the day, typically thanks to his own dumb luck and often to 99's skills. Looking on is the long-suffering head of CONTROL, who is addressed simply as "Chief."

The nemesis of CONTROL is KAOS, described as "an international organization of evil." KAOS was supposedly formed in Bucharest, Romania, in 1904. Neither CONTROL nor KAOS is actually an acronym. Many actors appeared as KAOS agents, including Tom Bosley, John Byner, Victor French, Alice Ghostley, Ted Knight, Pat Paulsen, Tom Poston, Robert Middleton, Barry Newman, Julie Newmar, Vincent Price, William Schallert (who also had a recurring role as The Admiral, the first Chief of Control), Larry Storch. Conrad Siegfried, played by Bernie Kopell, was Smart's KAOS archenemy. King Moody (originally appearing as a generic KAOS killer) portrayed the dim-witted but burly Shtarker, Siegfried's assistant.

The enemies, world-takeover plots and gadgets seen in Get Smart parodied the James Bond movies. "Do what they did except just stretch it half an inch," Mel Brooks said of the methods of this TV series. Devices such as a shoe phone, The Cone Of Silence and inner apartment booby traps were a regular part of most episodes. (See also: Gadgets section)

99's name is never revealed in the series. Even "99's mother" never refers to her daughter by name. Her name is not even mentioned at her wedding.

Max and 99 marry in season four and have twins (Zachary and Janie, though their names are never said ) in season five. Agent 99 became the first woman on an American hit sitcom to keep her job after marriage and motherhood.