“Would you believe…?"

Don Adams, Agent 86 of “Get Smart” fame died today. His show, with co-star Barbara Feldon as Agent 99, was entertaining, funny and incredibly clean. This AP article from the Boston Globe points out some things I didn’t know. For instance: Would you believe that Mel Brooks and Buck Henry were the original writers of the pilot and remained strong backers of the show? (That kind of explains the wacky humor, doesn’t it?) Would you believe that Don Adams became a Marine in 1941 but fell ill with blackwater fever on Guadalcanal and was shipped home to become a drill instructor? (Can you picture Don Adams as your DI? Nah, me neither.) Would you believe that “Get Smart” garnered four Emmy Awards and that Don Adams put three on his shelf? And who could forget some for the great gadgets Agent 86 used. Or would that be misused?

Thanks for the memories and smiles, Mr. Adams.

Update: There were other catch phrases that came out of "Get Smart" and that you would hear over and over again in school or at work:
"Missed it by that much."
"Sorry about that."