T.H.R.U.S.H. - Sinister organization and nemesis of the good guys at U.N.C.L.E. on the spy spoof THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E./NBC/1964-68 and spin-off series THE GIRL FROM U.N.C.L.E./NBC/1966-67. Pre-production suggestions for the name of the group later to be known as T.H.R.U.S.H. (coined by Sam Rolfe) included ADDER, ASP, BRUTE, CRUSH, CONDOR, HAZARD, HARM, LUCRE, MAGGOTT, MEDUSA, PHANTOM, NOOSE, RAVEN, SCORPION, SCOURGE, SHARK, SMEAR, SNIPE, SPHINX, SPIDER, SQUID (Society for Quiet Unification through International Destruction), STIGMA, TARANTULA, THOR, THREAT, THRUST, VERSUS, VIRGO, WASP and ZEUS. Paperback novelist David McDaniel coined the now accepted acronym meaning for THRUSH "The Technological Hierarchy for the Removal of Undesirables and the Subjugation of Humanity" in the No. 4 U.N.C.L.E. paperback novel The Dagger Affair (Ace Books). The name T.H.R.U.S.H. was almost dropped when the "suits" at NBC got concerned over legal problems arising from the similarity of T.H.R.U.S.H. to the name S.M.E.R.S.H., the Soviet espionage organization featured in the James Bond novels. Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles was used as T.H.R.U.S.H. headquarters on episode No.8 "The Double Affair".

TRIVIA NOTE: In 1968 ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN (which replaced THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. program) featured a wild party skit on the very first episode with a cameo of Leo G. Carroll as U.N.C.L.E. head, Mr. Waverly. Disquised as a cart-pushing busboy Mr. Waverly whipped out his U.N.C.L.E. pen communicator and said "Mr. Solo, Mr. Kuryakin, come quick. I think I've found T.H.R.U.S.H. headquarters at last!" 

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