First off they recast James West, an iconic BLACK character as WHITE! I mean I understand a TV spin off like this couldn't afford a star like Willard Smith but come on! there are so many talented black actors that could've taken on the role I'm so tired of this blatant Hollywood whitewashing. The casting isn't the only outdated thing in this train wreck. The production values are TERRIBLE I mean it looks like the whole thing was filmed in the '60's or something! The first season is in black and white for peat's sake! Trying to make up for budget constraints by giving the series a 'retro' feel but at the same time losing the steam punk and socially progressive elements that made the original Film such a masterwork. And don't get me started on the theme song! they've traded in the incredible collaborative efforts of Kool Moe Dee, Rob Fusari, Stevie Wonder and Willard Smith himself for something that sounds more like it belongs at the beginning of the Brady Bunch! Last but certainly not least *SPOILER WARNING* there was not a single giant mechanical spider to be seen! very disappointing. Bottom line, save your time and just go and re watch the original movie instead.

I used to watch the "TV Land" channel all the time because they air and/or aired classic television shows like "Adam-12;" "Bonanza;" "Get Smart;" "Gunsmoke;" "Hogan's Heroes;" "The Andy Griffith Show;" and, other great classics...BUT, I don't ever remember seeing "The Wild Wild West" on there...EVER!?!? In fact, I haven't seen this show, at all, since the mid 1970s when I was in first and 2nd grade!?!? Over the years, I became increasingly eager to watch this once again, so, I went and bought the Complete Series. This is a deluxe set that also includes the two TV movies and a season/episode guide. I HIGHLY recommend this set for EVERYONE who likes this series, and, wishes for a refresher course in great, classic, action television! This is a fantastic show that is in a category all by itself - "Sci-Fi Western!" :) It's basically "James Bond - in the 1800s!" As with "Star Trek" TOS (another classic not shown on "TV Land"!?!?), this show also has TWO great characters who work together very effectively - James West and Artemus Gordon. They're two Secret Service agents who're unwavering in their pursuit of bad-guys and their loyalty to the United States; and, like James Bond, they always have a trick up their sleeves."The Wild Wild West" has Robert Conrad as James West who does all of his stunts and fight scenes (he reminds me of Bruce Lee in that he's short for a man, but, is built like a brick building; moves like lightning; and, has a body-fat count of...probably...1. Then, there's Ross Martin as Artemus Gordon who is a master of disguise, as well as a master of singing; playing musical instruments; speaking many languages; having even more accents; and, is the BS artist of the duo.Then, there's the Classic "Wild Wild West" villains. Those such as Dr. Miguelito Loveless (Micheal Dunn), and, his lacky, Voltaire (Richard Kiel - "Jaws" in the "Bond" films); Dr. Faustina (Ida Lupino); Count Manzeppi (Victor Buono); Mr. Singh (Boris Karloff - the classic Frankenstein 'monster'); and, many more.I have nothing bad and everything good to say about this TV show (except that there should have been more of it); and, "TV LAND" has a 'classic' TV channel that never played/plays it!?!?Getting off of the subject...in the cartoon introduction/opening credits, I wonder why James West looks more like Clint Eastwood from "A Fistful of Dollars" than he does himself!?!?As far as my 'opinion' of the "TV Land" channel"...if it was even 1/10 as good as it was in 2000-2002, and, aired "The Wild Wild West" at one time or another (among other GREAT-"CLASSIC" shows they never aired at all, like "Star Trek TOS;" "The Outer Limits;" "The Night Gallery;" and "The Twilight Zone," - REAL CLASSIC SHOWS); and, didn't air un- and non-classic shows as it seems to do now...I wouldn't have been negatively-critical of them.BOTTOM LINE - "The Wild Wild West" is a TRUE CLASSIC TV show that the kids and teens of today are missing out on, especially if they like great adventure, clever heroes, and, "Sci-Fi Westerns!" :)

If you think I am going to talk about the stories, the direction, the photography or even the acting, you, my friend, are mistaken. Robert Conrad, who looked like a guy who did 100 pushups every few hours just to break the monotony, did all his own stunts. And that was the show. You tuned in, got cozy with the notion of a bunch of special agents who had their own train (no planes in that era) and reported to the president directly, but really it was all about waiting for the fight scenes. (And the gadgets were something Q's great-grandfather might have thought up.) It was fun and it was reliable. Factoid -- Ross Martin was pushing 50 when this show was done. Not sure whose idea it was to cast Martin as second banana in a role requiring action and stunts, but this put even more pressure on Conrad to deliver the goods each week. And he did.

This is probably one of the best TV-Shows of all times. The actors are brilliant, the stories range from petty crime to world domination schemes and every episode you ask yourself: "What have they come up with this time?" No matter how trivial the plot seems to be, even a simple murder-chase turns into a story filled with hidden deathtraps and very unique methods of killing people. This show has something for everyone and I never ever met a person who didn't like the show... after he/she decided to watch it despite it being from the 60s and not featuring CGI-monsters or tons of blood or sex.They don't make things like this anymore, which is a shame. Not that todays shows are boring but... they can hardly be called unique anymore. I think there's no show out there that can be compared to The Wild Wild West, simply because it has spread its plot-wings so wide. And they actually pulled off the impossible - uniting several genres like western, action, crime, sci-fi, comedy, mystery and supernatural. Never again did it get this wild in the west and it probably never will.The chemistry between the actors was a major factor in the success as were the various villains. I think Michael Dunn and Victor Buono were mentioned by nearly everyone who reviewed and they are right. While you root for Jim and Artie, you cannot help and at least slightly cheer for the eccentric Count Manzappi and especially the genius Dr. Miguelito Loveless too. While you do not want to meet them in a dark alley, you still kinda like them.The movie with Will Smith was terrible. Every character was so... un-WildWildWest-ish. A great disappointment for those who actually knew the series beforehand.To all out there who still haven't seen this: You missed out great TV history. get the DVDs and watch it!