Search

Search was a TV series that aired in 1972-1973. The show aired Wednesday nights on NBC at 10 pm ET, from September 1972 to August 1973. It ran for 23 episodes, not including the two-hour pilot film originally titled Probe. When picked up for series production, the title had to be changed because Probe was the name of an existing PBS series.

The show was created by Leslie Stevens (The Name of the Game, The Outer Limits), and produced by Robert Justman (Star Trek). The high concept was described as "science fiction in today's world" and the episodes featured many high-tech elements which are considered common in current science fiction shows.

The series centered on "World Securities Corporation," an international high-tech private investigation company that employed field operatives -- the elite of whom were aided by implanted audio receivers and who carry Scanners, tiny video camera/telemetry units which can be attached to tie tacks or other jewelry. The most common method was to wear the Scanner on a ring, enabling it to be discreetly aimed.

Each episode featured one of three primary agents on a particular investigation, which often had political or organized crime elements.

Probe agents reported to V.C.R Cameron Burgess Meredith, the "director" of the investigations, who ran Probe Control, a center patterned on the NASA Mission Operations Control Center. "Cam" was the leader of the expert team who monitored and provided the agent with intelligence.

On-duty experts included a computer hacker, a translator fluent in several languages, and a doctor. Additional experts might be called in as needed.

Each field agent is outfitted with a miniature scanner disguised as a piece of jewelry, which can be magnetically attached to special cuff links, tie clips, or pendants. This device continuously monitors the agent's progress, transmitting audio, video, and physical telemetry to Probe Control.
Probe Scanner.
Probe Scanner.

These images were stabilized and rotated to permit real-time observation by a team of specialists at Probe Control who analyze the data, consult databases worldwide, and immediately provide information covertly to the field agent via a subcutaneous ear piece implanted in the agent's mastoid process. The agent can respond to Probe Control either audibly or by tapping out code with a dental implant, even when they don't have their scanner operating.
From: Wikipedia.org




Linked from nostalgia and retrospection posts:

• CLASSIC TV — S
• 1972 TV Guide Covers