In looking back at all the sitcoms from the 1960s, especially the 'high concept' sort- like Gilligan's Island, The Addams Family, The Munsters, My Mother The Car, Bewitched, I Dream Of Jeannie, My Favorite Martian, Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies, etc., there were no really truly great examples; excepting, of course, Gilligan's Island.
All the high concept sitcoms depended upon, well, the highness, so to speak, of their concept. I mean, were Barbara Eden or Elizabeth Montgomery really indispensable in their roles as a genie and witch? Was Uncle Fester the reason anyone watched The Addams Family? No. All of the actors were replaceable. But, think about Get Smart.
First, it was written by the great comic minds of Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. Second, it spoofed the Cold War in such an outrageous manner that even The Prisoner would have been proud. Third, it specifically lampooned the then popular James Bond films of Sean Connery, especially with all its high tech gadgetry, as well as The Avengers and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Lastly, it had the great comic talent and timing of Don Adams.
Now, think of anyone else in the role, uttering such lines as, 'Would you believe....?' or 'Missed it by that much.' And that is the mark of greatness. Just as only Bob Denver could be Gilligan, only Don Adams could be Maxwell Smart (aka Agent 86- get the reference?)
Yes, there were solid supporting actors, such as Barbara Feldon and William Platt, as well as guest tar villains and co-workers, and the battles between Smart's CONTROL and the evil KAOS organization were hilarious. But, none of it works without Adams. Originally, Tom Poston was considered for the role. While Poston's a good comic actor, most notable in the Bob Newhart sitcoms, he was no Don Adams.
Yes, Get Smart was a great sitcom that worked in spite of its high concept roots, and all because of one man, Don Adams, who proved that great sitcoms are not necessarily premised on great comedy teams, but one great comic actor. And a good deal of great writing, of course.
