Mod Squad
Season 1, Volume 1
Starring Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III, and Peggy Lipton
Paramount Home Entertainment
Available Dec. 18, 2007

There was trouble in the city. A new generation was breaking the old rules, and the man was trying to take advantage of them. So the fuzz came up with a plan — find three youngsters who could communicate with the hippies and help bust people who were messing with them. That way, the streets could be safe for everyone to let it all hang out.

Captain Adam Greer found Pete, a rich kid who found himself on the wrong side of the law; Linc, a product of the ghetto that got caught up in a race riot; and Julie, a sweet young thing who found herself homeless and trying anything to survive. Pete, Linc, and Julie became”¦the MOD SQUAD.

Starting in September of 1968, the young people of America sat down on Tuesdays at 7:30pm to see how these three hip youngsters fought the scum that were trying to take advantage of the kids on the street, and at the same time not be hassled by the man and his rules.

Three young unknowns, Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III, and Peggy Lipton, played the Squad, while Tiger Andrews was cast as Captain Greer. The show was a big hit and forced the networks to take a closer look at programming for the youth of the era.

Now, the first 13 episodes of the Mod Squad are available on DVD, along with some good extras about forming the squad and the genesis of the first episode. While some of the references are hackneyed and corny in the cynical eye of 2007, this show has worn pretty well because of the casting and plots. Even if the outfits seem a bit forced, the trio seems quite plausible in their roles.

So, for all of you cats who want to relive your past and dig on Julie’s miniskirts, Linc’s afro, and Pete being the cutest hippie boy on TV, grab this 4-disc DVD set now. Solid.

Mod Squad Season 1 Volume 2 arrives in stores on March 11, 2008.