The Prisoner

PREMIERED June 1, 1968

THE SCOOP Folks who find Lost a little convoluted might get a migraine trying to follow the strange story of Patrick McGoohan's Number 6 (a character most fans considered a continuation of the actor's previous TV role in Secret Agent), who was being pumped for information while held captive in a picturesque village (the borders of which were patrolled by giant orbs known as ''rovers''). Perhaps The Prisoner's quirkiness — the role of Number 6's chief interrogator (Number 2) was played by a rotating lineup of actors — prevented the series from becoming a mainstream hit for CBS in its initial run, but a four-decade-long cult following certainly isn't a bad consolation prize. —Michael Slezak