Mission: Impossible - Season 6

With the departures of Leonard Nimoy and Lesley Ann Warren after Season 5, Mission: Impossible was left in a situation similar to what it had faced at the end of Season 3, in need of a master-of-disguise/impressionist and a leading lady. Unfortunately, there wouldn't be a high-profile and available fan like Leonard Nimoy available to slip into the cast. 
One of the points Nimoy had brought up while trying to persuade Paramount in letting him out of his contract was that they'd get his massive salary off the books, since any actor hired to replace him would almost definitely be paid less. Paramount took that idea to the extreme, killing two birds with one stone and hiring Lynda Day George to replace both Nimoy and Warren. George (wife of actor Christopher George) would play actress Lisa Casey, and she would stay on for the rest of the series. (Note: She's never referred to Lisa Casey in the original show, simply Casey. Her full name was retconned when she appeared in the 1988 series, and the writers didn't want her confused with Casey Randall, a team member killed off a few episodes prior.)
While it's easy to say that Casey replaced both The Great Paris and Dana Lambert, the reality was that the show's structure had changed. Roles were blurred, and Barney ended up taking a lot of the disguised roles that Rollin/Paris would've played in the past. Peter Lupus, who had been clamoring to have bigger role in the show (and almost replaced as a result,) got what he wanted. The change to a four-person team meant that none of the Season 6 and 7 episodes were remade in the 1988 series. 
The show made the full transition to fighting domestic enemies in Season 6, after starting the transition in Season 5. Most of the season was spent fighting "The Syndicate," which appears to be a series of multi-ethnic crime families. The activities of the team were much less secretive, with many outside parties involved in several of them, with Casey even being unmasked during a trial. The cryptic promise by the secretary to disavow the team if anyone was killed or capture also went away. 
Keeping missions domestic not only kept costs down, it also gave the production more flexibility in shooting locations, although most of the scenes were still shot on the Desilu/Paramount lot. For example, while many scenes in previous seasons were shot in Griffith Park, those scenes were shot around generic looking locations, like the tunnel or in Bronson Canyon. Meanwhile, episode 12, "Nerves," actually shot its finale in the famous Griffith Park observatory. The new arrangement of the theme song introduced in Season 5 was gone, with the original arrangement of the theme song brought back, and creator/executive producer Bruce Geller lost his "cameo" as the hand that lit the match. 
The show as moved from 7:00 on Saturday's to 10:00 in hopes of finding yet another new audience, and whatever changes were made appeared to have worked, since the ratings actually improved. Although Paramount was more than ready to end the show and start reaping in syndication profits, CBS was happy with the show and ordered yet another season. 
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=Handguns=
== Colt Detective Special ==
The Colt Detective Special is a handgun frequently used in Season 6.
==Smith & Wesson Model 10==
Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolvers are seen throughout the season.
== Colt Official Police==
A Colt Official Police appears frequently on the show.
==Colt Model 1903/1908==
Johnny Brown (Peter Brown) is armed with a Colt Model 1903/1908 in "Blind" (S06E01).
==Astra 400==
The Astra 400 is a frequent handgun used by the IM Force and various characters.
==Smith & Wesson Model 36==
The Smith & Wesson Model 36 is a frequent handgun used by IMF agents and gangsters in the series.
==M1911A1==
The M1911A1 is another weapon seen in the series.
 
==Colt Thuer Derringer==
Vic Hatcher (Victor French) uses a Colt Thuer Derringer in "The Tram" (S06E03).
==Smith & Wesson Model 10 (snub-nosed)==
Various characters are seen with snub-nosed Smith & Wesson Model 10s throughout the season.
==Walther PPK==
Walther PPKs are used by several characters throughout the season.
==Beretta M1934==
In an continuity error, Kellog's (Frank Hotchkiss) Walther PPK turns into a Beretta M1934 in an insert shot in "The Visitors" (S06E11).
==Unidentifiable revolvers==
Hank Benton (Billy Dee Williams) pulls out an unidentifiable snub-nosed revolver while being held up by Jim and Willy in "The Miracle" (S06E06).
Security guard are armed with unidentifiable revolvers in "Encounter" (S06E07).
=Shotguns=
==12 Gauge Coach Gun==
A Coach Gun is held by Hank Benton (Billy Dee Williams) in "The Miracle" (S6E06).
==Remington 870==
Prison guards are armed with Remington 870s in "Nerves" (S06E12).
=Submachine Guns=
==Madsen M50==
The Madsen M50 continued to frequently appear in episodes in Season 6.
=Rifles/Carbines=
==M1 Carbine==
Police officers are seen armed with M1 Carbines in "The Miracle" (S06E06).
==J&R Engineering M80 Carbine==
A J&R Engineering M80 Carbine is seen throughout the season.
==M1 Carbine (mocked up as AK)==
"European People's Republic" paratroopers are armed with M1 Carbines in Universal underfolding stocks mocked up as AKs in "Invasion" (S06E09).
==M16/SP1==
American soldiers are armed with M16/SP1 rifles in "Trapped" (S06E22).
 
==Unidentified rifle==
Willy Armitage uses an unidentified rifle to stage a killing in "Underwater" (S06E08).
=Other=
==Unknown machine gun==
"European People's Republic" "troops" are seen with an unknown machine gun in "Invasion" (S06E09).
==M1 Bazooka==
An "European People's Republic" paratrooper is seen with what appears to be an M1 Bazooka in "Invasion" (S06E09).
==Zip Gun==
Larry Edison (Bradford Dillman) discovers his cellmate's (played by Jim Phelps) hidden Zip Gun in "Stone Pillow" (S06E16). It was hidden in his chess pieces, and uses one of them as a grip. It uses another chess piece as a pistol grip, has twin barrels and triggers, and appears to be chambered in .22LR. 
=Trivia=
==Bomb==
Willy tosses some sort of explosive at Martin Stoner (Lawrence Dane) and a disguised Casey playing his wife (Elizabeth Ashley) in "Encounter" (S06E07). It appears to be just a pyrotechnic charge, since Willy wasn't actually trying to kill them.
==Projector==
Barney's line thrower/projector shows up again in "Underwater" (S06E08).
==Dart Gun==
Willy uses a chrome dart gun to take down a target in "Invasion" (S06E09).
==Starter pistol==
In the prologue of "The Bride" (S06E15), Jim seeks out the tape a pool where swimmers are racing.
Category:Television
Category:Espionage