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.