Wednesday, May 19, 2010

When Superheroes were Nice and Terrific on TV

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the U.S. broadcast TV networks have a proven track record of displaying sincerity toward each other. When Dallas became a blockbuster in the 1980s, every TV network jumped on the nighttime soap bandwagon. More recently, when CSI clicked with viewers, police procedurals began to dominate the network schedules (and still do). In 1967, the hottest thing on American TV was ABC’s Batman—and that brings us to the fateful 1967 clash between CBS’s Mr. Terrific and NBC’s Captain Nice.

Neither show really competed with Batman, since they didn’t benefit from a known character, lacked big name guest stars, and (wisely) avoided camp. Instead, they were sitcoms oriented toward a young audience and they competed exclusively with each other. In fact, both series were shown on Monday night (Terrific at 8:00 and Nice at 8:30); they even debuted on the same date of January 9, 1967.

Mr. Terrific starred Stephen Strimpnell as a milquetoast named Stanley Beamish who worked at a gas station. As explained at the start of each episode, government scientists—while trying to invent a cure for the common cold—accidentally created a pill that temporarily provides superhuman powers (e.g., ability to fly, amazing strength). The catch is that the scientists learn the pill only works on one human—Stanley. The Bureau of Secret Projects convinces Stanley to join it and he’s sent on missions under the guidance of Barton J. Reed (the reliable John McGiver). Once he swallows the pill, Stanley becomes Mr. Terrific, who wears goggles and dons a shiny silver costume. He has to flap his arms to fly. But his biggest challenge is that the pill lasts for only one hour (though booster pills can provide an additional 20 minutes). As you might imagine, Stanley loses his powers at the most inopportune times.

Over on NBC, William Daniels played Carter Nash, a police department chemist who accidentally discovered a superhero formula that could turn him into Captain Nice. Actually, Carter was a reluctant mild-mannered superhero (with a fear of heights), whose mother (Alice Ghostley) convinced him to become a crimefighter. Mrs. Nash even sewed her son’s costume (which kinda looked like patriotic pajamas with stars on the shirt and long red stripes on the white pants). Carter’s girlfriend was police detective Candy Kane (Ann Prentiss).

Created by Buck Henry, who struck gold two years earlier with Get Smart, Captain Nice was regularly thumped in the ratings by The Rat Patrol on ABC. Mr. Terrific didn’t fare much better and both shows were cancelled that May. Captain Nice has built a minor cult following over the years, primarily because of Henry and William Daniels (who would star in St. Elsewhere 15 years later and earn two Emmys as Dr. Mark Craig). Mr. Terrific’s Stephen Strimpnell never achieved such fame, but the Columbia Law School grad had a solid career on the stage.

15 comments:

  1. Rick, this is a delightful read! I've not heard of either one of these shows. Do you know if they've ever been shown in syndication? I wish more shows like these would be released on DVD or at least shown again on TV. Sometimes it seems unfair that some of us can't see cult series of yesteryear. Thanks for an informative write-up. I learn so much at the Café!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rick, like Sark I never knew about those shows. Buck Henry was a tremendously talented man, but I guess everybody has a clunker sometime. I agree with you, Sark. I wish TVland or some other channel would start showing some of the more obscure shows instead of their usual lineup. I adore Andy Griffith and Lucy, but I know every episode by heart, and some of the others stink anyway. Who needs more Green Acres? Let's see some Captain Nice and Mr. Terrific! Fun writeup, Rick. Oh, and your first sentence in this article is terrific! (As in Mr....groan)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rick, I'm in the same boat with Sark and Bec. I have not heard of these shows. But... I did enjoy learning about, Captain Nice and Mr. Terrific. Awesome review!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sark,, the "TV POWERS" want at least 100 shows in the can for syndication( Star Trek had less, but that's another story) so lots of shows are never seen again which is a real shame.I'd love to see He & She (Like that will ever happen)

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's true, Paul, but some of the quirky shows pop up on the smaller networks. Like TWIN PEAKS, which only had 30 episodes. Chiller TV runs that every so often. Maybe we should start an online petition.

    ReplyDelete
  6. These shows were before my time. Since they haven't ever popped up in syndication I've never seen or heard of them. It's strange how this happens. I loved watching Batman reruns when I was a kid, but I don't know if I would have enjoyed these. Thanks for informing (yet again) about another element of 60s pop culture for which I was unaware.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a terrific and nice way to start the day! I am not familiar with either show but I had a lot of fun reading about them. I also think I like Captain Nice's groovy outfit. I really enjoyed this post, Rick!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sark, sounds like a good IDEA. Rick, BTW Bill Daniels was also the "voice of Kitt "on Knight Rider, and was excellent on Boy Meets World.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for all the comments! CAPTAIN NICE actually played on WGN sometime around 1990 as part of a retro TV hour. According to web forums, MR. TERRIFIC played briefly on TV Land, though I don't remember that. In the 1980s, some independent stations ran a two-week package of old TV show episodes called TV AS IT USED TO BE. It was awesome...like a mini "old TV series" festival. One of the episodes was from Walter Matthau's TALLAHASSEE 7000, which I'd never seen before (nor since).

    ReplyDelete
  10. I watched one or two episodes of Captain Nice when I was a kid. At the time it was novel and funny. Thanks for reminding me of this quirky show.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anon, it was indeed quirky. Probably more likely to play on cable today than a major network. But, hey, back then, one could also watch the infamous MY MOTHER THE CAR.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Rick, I just ran over to youtube and lookd up a couple of, Captain Nice and Mr. Terrific! Clips. I have seen these TV shows. :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. If you know how to use usenet or other download sources, you can find episodes of Mr. Terrific.

    ReplyDelete
  14. A scientist both brave and bold set out to cure the common cold instead he found this power pill which he said most certainly will turn a lamb into a lion like an eagle he'll be flyin' solid steel would be like putty it would work on anybody.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I've never seen Captain Nice, but I used to watch Mister Terrific when I was growing up. It may never have gone into syndication in the US but we got lots of reruns of it in Australia. Forty years on I can still recite the opening, though I can't remember very much of the show itself.

    ReplyDelete