The 1966 Mission: Impossible television series originally aired on CBS. Created by Bruce Geller, the espionage drama premiered on September 17, 1966, and followed the Impossible Missions Force, a small team of specialists carrying out covert assignments for an unnamed government authority.
CBS broadcast the original series for seven seasons, ending its first run on March 30, 1973. The show became known for its elaborate schemes, disguises, disguisable technology, and the recorded mission briefing that warned agents their government would disavow them if they were captured or killed.
The original cast included Steven Hill as team leader Dan Briggs during season one, Peter Graves as Jim Phelps from season two onward, Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Greg Morris, and Peter Lupus. A common mix-up is confusing the original CBS program with the later revival, which aired on ABC from 1988 to 1990. The CBS series also supplied the theme and core concept later adapted into the Tom Cruise film franchise.