The Wild Wild West. 1966. The Night of the Skulls

[PCIntern]

Jim and Artie, in their roles as Secret Service Agents, foil a plot by a sitting Senator to take over the federal government because he and his followers say that President Grant’s Administration is illegitimate.

Hmmm. Where have I heard this before?

[USALiberal]

1. Lounge???

[Scrivener7]

2. 1866?

[Mister Ed]

3. I'm guessing the episode aired in 1966. n/t

[PCIntern]

4. Right

And as far as whether it belongs in the lounge, I would stipulate that the notion of the violent overthrow of the government in popular culture is worth mentioning.

[Scrivener7]

5. Ahh. I thought "the wild west" was just a phrase to orient us to the time.

[harumph]

6. All the best plans come from outlandish 60's programs.

I'm not kidding. I sometimes think we're in an "Invaders" episode.

[EYESORE 9001]

7. Fortunately for us

the bad guys don’t have the intelligence to organize anything capable of succeeding - more like an episode of Scooby Doo.

[JHB]

11. But they have no pro-social values

[PCIntern]

8. Didja ever see the MAD Magazine parody of that show?

It was a riot…

And I know exactly what you mean.

[2naSalit]

9. The silver lining there is...

That we know how to thwart them just like in the teevee shows!

Just follow the script.

[ChazII]

10. One of my favorite television shows

when I was a child. Artie was my favorite character as he had clever disguises and wonderful gadgets for Jim to use. The series is better than the movie.

[John1956PA]

12. The title might be a turn on the 1962 novel "The Night of the Generals."

The novel was published in 1962 and was adapted to a movie released in 1967. The plot includes the Nazi generals' failed attempt on Hitler's life.