Barbara Feldon: Hidden Get Smart Memories, Don Knotts, Goldie Hawn, & Dean Martin

[TMC]

Step back into the world of 1960s espionage with the legendary Barbara Feldon! In this exclusive interview, the woman behind Agent 99 pulls back the curtain with host, John Cato, on the making of Get Smart and her extraordinary career in Hollywood’s Golden Era.

Barbara shares the surprising (and sometimes dangerous) stories you never heard on screen—from the technical secrets used to hide the height difference between her and Don Adams, to the terrifying moment a live lion on set caused a "period precaution" for the female extras.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Deodorant Crisis: How a 6-week commercial nearly got her fired in the second week of production.
  
• Working with Icons: Heartfelt memories of Don Adams, the gentleness of Don Knotts, and the "party every day" lifestyle of Larry Hagman.
  
• The Real-Life Spy Story: The chilling moment Barbara thought the KGB was actually trailing her in a trench coat.
  
• Behind the Scenes of Get Smart: The truth about the "Dreaded Office" set and why 99’s apartment was decorated in patriotic red, white, and blue.

Whether you are a die-hard Get Smart fan or a lover of classic television history, Barbara’s "dot in the circle" philosophy and her sharp wit make this an unforgettable conversation.

Hosted by John Cato, actor, voiceover artist, and moderator for over 20 years for the television and movie industry. John's background brings a unique insight and passion to the podcast.

• 0:00 — Introduction
• 1:08 — Don Adams: Timing, script doctoring, and their unique chemistry
• 3:00 — Get Smart Production: Hidden set secrets and lion mishaps
• 16:51 — Ed Platt: The operatic voice and gravitas of "The Chief"
• 18:53 — Finally getting under the Cone of Silence
• 27:22 — Origin Story: From Revlon commercials to Agent 99
• 32:11 — The Deodorant Scandal that nearly cost her the job
• 41:18 — The Don Adams Height Gap: Digging holes and "slouching" for the camera
• 47:43 — Staying Grounded: How therapy helped her survive celebrity
• 53:10 — The "Dot in the Circle" philosophy of self-identity
• 56:13 — David Niven: Hollywood charm and Winston Churchill stories
• 1:00:48 — The unique, vulnerable gentleness of Don Knotts
• 1:06:58 — A Full Circle Moment: Dancing with childhood idol Van Johnson
• 1:11:13 — Dean Martin: No rehearsals, no eye contact, just pure instinct
• 1:19:09 — Barbara Eden and the rare chance to act with other women
• 1:22:50 — Laugh-In: Navigating a "new species" of television
• 1:31:39 — Larry Hagman: Jacuzzis, bread trucks, and a sense of play
• 1:37:50 — Man from U.N.C.L.E. and working with Caesar Romero
• 1:45:18 — Alan Alda: Treating comedy like "Chamber Music"
• 1:56:41 — Real-life Espionage: A KGB scare and the trench coat irony