I Asked You Not To Tell Me That

Although not in the best conditions, this 1969 reprint of Get Smart fiction, stands as another example of TV product tie-in.

"Is not limousine," Boris said. "Is sight-seeing bus. I was on sight-seeing tour and I got separated from the group."

"I see," Max said. "That explains why you're down here in this hole." He turned to Blossom. "That explains everyting. Know what we've blundered into? A tourist trap!"

Even in print, you can still hear Don Adam's delivery accompanied by the de rigeur laugh track.

Get Smart (1965-1970), remains an outstanding television series which doesn't fail to hold its appeal in the more than 35 years since Max hung up his shoe phone.

For Nora, Get Smart has always existed as reruns and evokes memories of Sunday afternoon television on Channel 7 where two episodes would be shown back-to-back. It became such a regular event that she now boasts being able to recall plot and guest stars within two minutes of watching any episode.

Nick recalls the series first hand (just) and remembers reading the Get Smart comic strip found weekly in the innovative Gerry Anderson comic book enterprise TV Century 21. In the US, Max got eight full-length comics of his own.

Although Get Smart was developed in response to pop culture phenomenon James Bond, it also exists in the pantheon of greats in its own right thanks to the outstanding comic ability of Buck Henry and Mel Brooks.

One of the classic episodes The Groovy Guru, guest starring F-Troop's Larry Storch, what a guy - he even has his own My Space site) inspired moderately successful Australian band, The Sacred Cowboys.

Here's an extract from Get Smart and The Groovy Gurus and we dare you not to sing "Kill Kill Kill Thrill Thrill Thrill" by the end of it: