WHEN the "BATMAN" TV Series hit the airwaves proving it to be a truly uniquely formatted, one of a kind series concept; there were naturally a whole sh*t-house full of imitators waiting in the wings. From the Saturday Morning Cartoons (NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, FANTASTIC FOUR, MIGHTY MITOR, SPACE GHOST, SPIDERMAN, THOR, HULK, SUB-MARINER, CAPTAIN America and IRON MAN) all filled the airwaves with comic book adaptations and comic-like character series.IT was inevitable that someone would choose the old "if you can't beat 'em, Spoof 'Em instead" route to the screen. In this case it could be argued that Producer William Dozier's BATMAN was already, at least in a sense, a Parody of the Super Hero/Costumed Crime-fighter Comic Book stories; a notion with which we cannot agree. The main reason we dare to differ is that like so much other Movie & TV produced output, the BATMAN Show had appeal on several levels. It's just that no one ever did it in such an off the wall manner.ANYWAY, we were confronted with not one, but two (count 'em Schultz, that's "2" different "Long Underwear Character" Spoofs. There was CAPTAIN NICE, and our featured production of the day, MR. TERRIFIC (Universal TV/CBS Television Network, 1967-68). Of the two, we personally preferred the MR. to the CAPTAIN; which isn't really much, as we would seem to be splitting hairs in finding any non-similarities. Doubtless we could also find both apologists and detractors for both THE MUNSTERS and THE ADDAMS FAMILY; even though there are so many obviously same type of premise, humor, gags and storyline employed in each.OUR STORY, IN THE PROVERBIAL NUTSHELL…………..Stanley Beamish (Stephen Strimpell) is a sort of meek, little, nondescript Auto Mechanic who runs a Service Station in Washington, in the District of Columbia. He is suddenly brought into the forefront of Public Attention when he takes a special super powers pill. It is dispensed by a Secret Governmental Agency and gives him Super Powers (Much like Superman's) for one hour.THE humor provided by the particular episodes was mainly of the obvious and "we knew that'd happen" variety; and this is not so bad. It is the principal type in most sitcoms and often is quite funny, when handled properly.THE Supporting Cast did a great job in providing the necessary foils and complications to the mostly spy involved spoofs. The cast was made up of Government Boss & Handler B.J. Reed (John McGiver), Fellow Mechanic Hal Walters, Harley Trent (Paul Smith), Gloria (Susan Seaforth Hayes) and the Ambassador ("Mr. Lucky", himself, John Vivyan) AS far as his being an agent of a Top Secret Governmental Bureau, 'the Bureau of Special Projects, it was a completely natural occurrence, Remember, this was not only the Superhero/Camp/Pop Art Era, but also the time of 007, Man From U.N.C.L.E., OUR MAN FLINT and GET SMART.WITH regard to his Super Hero pedigree, it's obvious that the creator and writers had more than just a passing familiarity with the Comic Book exploits of the Superhero/Costumed Crime-fighter as the various elements of the Mr. Terrific Origin were borrowed from several prominent comic characters of the Golden Era of the Superhero Stories; which was in full flower in that period just prior to World War II and for the duration, say from 1938-46.THE elements used are all clearly traceable to those from some of the many characters featured in the Joke Books of the day. Stanley took a pill that gave him the super powers of strength, flight, etc. for only one hour at a time. HOURMAN was secretly chemist "Tick-tock" Tyler, who was a feature in DC's Adventure Comics in the early 1940's. Timely (Atlas/Marvel) gave us CAPTAIN America, whose origin was as a prototype super agent via the use of a super drug injection (anabolic steroids?). Of course, there were some noticeable elements of Fawcett Publications' CAPTAIN MARVEL and of SUPERMAN, himself.BECAUSE the BATMAN Craze and its collateral Pop Art & Superhero interest revival was a mere flash in the pan, the Stanley Beamish/MR. TERRIFIC saga, as well as its near carbon copy, CAPTAIN NICE* (NBC TV Network, 1967-68) bit the dust and burned out after only one season. BOY Schultz, this American Public sure is one fickle bunch! NOTE: * The rival CAPTAIN NICE had William Daniels in the lead role, playing the part as if he were aping Paul Lynde. The origin and source of his amazingly similar powers was a liquid that he'd developed in his capacity as Carter Nash, Police Criminologist. The similarities mustn't be regarded as an act of plagiarism on the part of one or the other's writing staff; but rather as a case of inevitability.POODLE SCHNITZ!!

Mr. Terrific is a show with many fathers. Batman, whose campy TV show had been burning up the airwaves, naturally inspired copycats. Another DC comic book character was also a big influence - the mildly obscure 40s hero Hourman. Rex "Tick Tock" Tyler, a pharmacist, invented a drug called Miraclo which would give him super powers for one hour. Unfortunately, following all these formulas left the series very formulaic. His powers were the standard Superman set - he could fly, was bulletproof, and could lift houses. It was not a super hero show, though. Instead of super villains, the hero battled spies. His 1 hour power pill was almost guaranteed to wear off just as he needed his powers most, leaving him to find some way of getting at his 10 minute booster pill. Plus, there was Dick Gautier's character, a Lothario of a best friend, who had to both be kept in the dark and rescued on occasion, and the hero's mother - ditto. After cancellation, they combined a couple of the episodes into a made-for-TV movie. All the elements are there - the spies, the pill problems, the hero's friends. If you see the movie, you've seen the show. Not a bad program, fitting in well with the late Sixties brand of screwball comedy. If you like Gilligan's Island, or imagined Get Smart with super powers, you would like it. But you'd like The Greatest American Hero better. Same idea, better execution.

I was studying acting with Stephen Strimpell at the HB Studio in New York City when he got the offer to fly to Hollywood to do MR. TERRIFIC. He was a wonderful instructor and told me, "you don't need to study anymore, really. You need to go out and ACT. That's the best way to become a good actor." I took his advice and struck out on my own. But, not before studying with William Hickey ("Prizzi's Honor" "Hat Full of Rain"). Mostly, he'd observe my classroom scenes and then start talking about HIMSELF! He was not in the same class as Strimpell.Of course, since I knew Stephen, I watched MR. TERRIFIC religiously every week and thought it was cute, but a waste of good talent. Looking at Mr. Strimpell's film output surprised me. An actor THIS good, should have been used to better advantage by Hollywood.As a result, I auditioned and got many parts on the New York stage. For that, I am eternally grateful to Stephen Strimpell. My experience on stage will live with me forever.

The show is campy (with an animated intro in the Rocky and Bullwinkle style) that talks about the great scientific invention/pill that grants super human strength but only works on 96 lb weakling Stanley Beamish. The government uses Stanley to help solve problems when no other solution will do. Stanley, who works at the gas station with another fellow, is your stereo typical (and looks similar to William H. Macy). The show itself is campy and the transformation sequence (where Stanley takes his big white pill and then becomes Mr. Terrific) is insanely campy and was shown at least three times in the episode I watched. It was cute the first time, but it wore thin the second and third times. I wondered about the Batman influence as the government office (where Stanley reports for duty) looked suspiciously like the Commisioner's on Batman. I wondered if it wasn't the same set.