Mr. Terrific

[bunjones6]

Classic Corney: This is the real deal!

[elwynnlucien]

Me and my brother would mold Lucky Charms marsh mallows into power pills, and would eat them then beat on each other!

[andreestes99]

@elwynnlucien We'd do the same thing with white bread! LOL

[alftoon]

These titles were designed by the great Corny Cole, who just recently passed away.

[martialart2]

What the heck is this ? lol School House Rock ?LMAO !!!

[habman19]

Look....I don't want to sound like one of those cranky old farts who's always complaining that "things were better back in my day!"....because I fully agree that there are some extremely funny programs on right now. Big Bang Theory....Family Guy.....Robot Chicken...they all rank with any of the shows I grew up watching for consisent serious laughs. But I admit I'm glad that people are re-discovering shows like Mr.Terrific....Get Smart....and Captain NIce. These were funny shows!

[RocketTCoyote]

Paul Frees, the narrator was the voice of Boris Badenov btw.

[MrHabsolo]

The same vocie that did tons of Disney voice overs!

[oyyour]

I was 10 when this short-lived show ran, and I loved it. Does anybody know who did the opening animation? It looks a lot like Jay Ward's stuff.

[Tmetrvlr]

I wonder if it had the scary jingle for Universal City at the end of the program?.

[Neville6000]

@Tmetrvlr: Like all other shows made by Universal, yes it did. I prefer the ones from the 1990's and the 2000's, though (check them out on YouTube.) They're less scarier that the 1960's one.

[us71]

There are some episodes on You Tube under the German name "Immer, wenn er Pillen nahm" (Whenever He Took Pills")

[dynagravitomagnetic]

@us71 What I remember best was the transformation sequence when he took the pill. I was about four when this was on t.v. At the time pill popping was everywhere among everyone especially hippies and flower children. America was at war with Vietnam and had a lunar colonization effort just beginning. Unfortunately, a coup de ta place the Bush family in, and we changed to a war based economy.

[ksol1460tv]

@dynagravitomagnetic The coup d'etat (spelling) put REAGAN in. He's the one who started it.

[dynagravitomagnetic]

@ksol1460tv Thank you for the spelling. Bush family politics began when Prescot Bush married the daughter of Aviril Harriman, of Brown brothers Harriman. They operated the Hambug American Shipping line. (J. Edgar Hoover eventually shut them down because they were a Nazi money laundering outfit). This is how George Sr. got started in politics. He was involved in the JFK shooing, and sponsored in Nixon, as well as Reagan, who was only a Hollywood has been prior to launching his political career.

[DorisDayFanatic]

Is there where the Golden Girls got the idea for their "Mr. Terrific" episode? LOL!

[Neville6000]

@DorisDayFanatic: What did it look like?

[darrylhaynes]

man i am old...use to watch this show...

[bishopaz]

@darrylhaynes i KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN,ME TOO.

[MJG956]

Hey Thanks for posting this.I can't wait to see these too,along with the Captain Nice ones! Yeah bed time was a program spoiler for Me way back when. Again thanks.

[tonysshadow]

This was a fun show... The size of that power pill that he swallowed was the most impressive thing.

Seems to me there was another show on another network for a short time. Something like ..Capt. Nice Guy.

[ftsjr]

@tonysshadow It was "Captain Nice."

[Neville6000]

@tonysshadow: Just 'Captain Nice'.

[SolarTiger]

sounds like Paul Frees...i love that guy

[JubalCalif]

This was a BLAST to watch! I recall the show in the 60's when I was a kid. The two biggest fads of the sixties were the SPY craze (thanks to the James Bond films) and the SUPER HERO craze (thanks to the "Batman" TV show). The imitations (in both films & TV) were countless! Some excellent, some good, some bad, some crappy. This show's credits were pretty spiffy....cool cartoons...and that was voice over king Paul Frees doing the intro! Priceless stuff! THANKS for sharing it with us!

[Carycomic]

I remember this show from late Sunday afternoons, following re-runs of GILLIGAN'S ISLAND, on CBS!* Looking back, it was like a cross between Superman and GET SMART. Or, for those of you only slightly younger than myself, a 1960's version of GREATEST AMERICAN HERO. Maybe, someday, Syfy Channel will have an 8AM-4PM marathon of this, as well.

*That was before the NFL came around and ruined everything. ;-D

[ftsjr]

A fun show. I watched it when I was about 9.

[chiefnut48]

Man I watched this as a kid. Thanks for posting

[thesurpriseshow]

Re: Nice & Terrific; Yes it was a trend not only on TV, but comics too National / DC Comics 'Inferior 5ive' Sept. '66 & Aug. '67, Marvel's 'Not Brand Ecch', then TV 'toons followed- R. Bakshi's 'The Mighty Heroes' on CBS & NBC's 'The Super Six', & even plans for 'Wonder Woman' & 'Dick Tracy' spoofs both by 'Batman' Exec. Dozier, but trend ran out of steam by then.

'Cornpone comedies' also wore out welcome somethin' awful by '68/'69 all but done for...

Then came 'Rowan & Martin's Hee-Haw';)

[thesurpriseshow]

Mr. Terrific & Captain Nice ruled Monday in '67.

'Terrific prescient too as it had a 'Stanley' and a 'Hal' a year and a half before Kubrick's '2001'.

Wonder who the cartoonist was who did illustrations for the opening sequence?

Looks a lil' like Pete Bastiansen's work who did Pillsbury's Thirst Fighters drink mix with a similar style in the drawings of 'Crash Orange', 'Baron Von Lemon', and 'Sir Reginald Lime-Lime' battling 'Demon Thirst.' in their WW I era biplanes.

Does anybody know?

[Freenbean]

I think it's Paul Coker Jr. based on the looks of the defeated bad guy at :49

[astroboy1960]

It's either Coker or Al Jaffee.

[Neville6000]

@astroboy1960 It's Al Jaffee

[facelesshorseman]

as I was looking for Mr Terrific I was trying to think of the OTHER geek superhero that came out that year.

Captain Nice!

Thanks!

I can't remember...were these in the wake of the cancellation of all the Hillbilly shows, or just a summer attempt to jump on the Batman bandwagon?

[britfrenir]

I read that the network the aired this show in response to Batman, but it ended up not have as many ratings as "Batman".

[Neville6000]

@facelesshorseman: Both 'Captain Nice' and 'Mr. Terrific' were an attempt to capitalize on Batman. The problem was, these shows were spoofs of a show (Batman) that more or less was already a spoof. That, combined with all of the other silly hero shows on TV (Batfink, The Impossibles, The Super 6, Atom Ant) and Get Smart, pretty much meant that both would get overlooked because the TV landscape was over-saturated.

[JeoMummy]

I used to love that show, but it barely finished out its mid-season slot. At the time, I never did watch Captain Nice, which came on at the same time. Home VCRs weren't even thought of then.

[jmen4ever]

@JeoMummy You had to be Bob Crane to have one of the first prototypes.

[000266617]

I liked the idea: the pill made strong men extremely sick, and would only work on a very weak man.

[Neville6000]

@000266617: Just like Steve Rogers (Captain America).

[cree8vision]

What an original opening to a show! They don't do stuff like this nowadays. The music plays a big part too.

[ogservice]

Monday nights, 8:00 right before LUCY and opposite STAR TREK on NBC. I can't remember: either GENTLE BEN or maybe GILLIGAN'S ISLAND was on at 7:30.

[kringles4]

boy does this bring back memories...thank you so much!!

Joe.

[delgirl86]

my dad is actually called stanley beamish!!!!!!

[jpe19940]

Wow

thansk for putting this up

thsi show has haunted me for years. I watched it as a youngster and it was only aired briefly hear in Asutralia- I could never find any info on it and none of my friend could remember it

thanks so much for putting it up

Marty

[pompom11]

I never heard of this show, just can't remember it at all. I am 53 so must have been busy doing something else. In 1967 I was in 7th grade, if it was on after 8pm my Mother wouldn't let us stay up that late, maybe that's why.

[spartyman7]

This has been pretty wild tonight...

It started with a question on yahoo answers: Was there anybody that remembered a show around the late sixties called "Mr. Terrific"? Somebody was good enough to respond, and from there I saw Underdog, The Good Guys, Hazel, Batman, Spiderman, It's About Time....these are openings that I literally have not seen in 40 years, and it's so amazing what I remember. What a treasure here on youtube...

[futhermucker0306]

Correction - they were on at 8 & 8:30 respectively. I forgot that in the 60s, the primetime schedules began at 7:30 instead of 8.

Does anybody have any clips of another short lived series "The Hero"? It starred a young Richard Mulligan ("Soap" & "Empty Nest"). Was around that same year.

[lionsgateblows]

had to be on early...i watched both and my bedtime was never later than 830...are you sure that they werent on from 730 to 830?

i remember distinctly always having to go to bed at 830, its why i never got to see the second half of laff in

[futhermucker0306]

"Mr. Terrific" & "Captain Nice" were indeed on the same night - "Mr. T" on CBS at 8:30 & "Nice" followed on NBC at 9. I remember watching both. Their short runs coincided with each other - I believe they both premiered on the same night & aired their respective finales on the same night as well.

[krelllabs]

Strimpell in an interview said McGiver was a miserable old

bastard to work with, deliberately mean.

[leecool1956]

Thanks for posting this. I remember watching the very first episode back in 67. It was a stupid but fun tv show.

[Fersommling]

None of my friends remember this show! Why do I? Maybe cuz I never took drugs or got drunk or smoked or had fun...

[weirdtvcomedy]

They aired this in Miami on Sunday afternoons at 4:00pm. I was a huge fan and mailed Stephen Strimpell a fan letter. Soon a manila envelope appeared in my mail and it was a signed photograph of Strimpell. Unfortunately it's dust by now.

[robmarfal]

In January of 2006, 39 years after the fact, I finally sent Stephen Strimpell a fan letter. He sent me a very nice reply and told me he'd be on the lookout for any memorabilia I might find interesting. (He'd long since disposed of "a warehouse full" of stuff.)

Then, in April of that year, he passed away. I imagine mine was the very last fan letter he ever received.

[weirdtvcomedy]

RIP, Stephen.  This show influenced my filmmaking career. In my first 8mm film (1968 - 15 years old) I created a costume much like Mr. Terrific's flying suit. Then I made a miniature version and dressed G.I. Joe up for the flying scenes. The character, Super Allo battled another one of my favorite hereos from that era, Ultra Man. Which was a similar look-a-like costume worn by my friend, Dave Nichols - who is now the editor and chief of EASY RIDERS magazine! Thanks, robmarfal for this info.

[happyquails]

You were doing this at 15?? How times have changed!

[SagDec15]

you probably made his day!

[robmarfal]

I'd like to think so. He said that if the show gave me (and the few others who managed to track him down) pleasure, then it gave him pleasure too.

But he also said that he was "not one to dwell on things past," and that he was just as happy that Mr. Terrific had disappeared from our cultural consciousness. He found that the show left the impression that he was "a carbon copy of Stanley."

[wlhardy]

Boy, I haven't seen this show since it went off the air, I was wondering if anyone else remembered it, I remember the theme song & who starred in it even though I was only 8. Does anyone remember the TV show Captain Nice? This was the era of the superheros & spys, I loved every bit of it.

[rhsjb]

Captain Nice was William Daniels (St. Elsewhere, voice of K.I.T.T. the car on Knightrider). I liked it but our station only played the first episode, then repeated it the following week, then didn't show any others. I was pissed and have never forgave them for it.

[Laceykat66]

My dad told of this show. He said grandma would let him watch either Captain Nice OR Mr. Terrific but not both (I think they were on on the same night). She thought they were too stupid to watch both.

[Neville6000]

They've got to remake this as a movie, and I know who can play the part-Shia LeBeouf! He looks like Steve Strimpell somewhat.

[userdan54]

It's always a treat to hear the dulcet tones of announcer Paul Frees whose voice could be heard on television shows like "Walt Disney Presents" to science fiction movies like "The War Of The Worlds"(1953).

He could always inject a measure of  gravitas, even while narrating the saga of "Mr. Terrific."

[MISTERQCUE]

Guess I'll show my age too, but d@mnnnnnn this brings back cheerful memories watchin' the videot box back in the late 60's! Stoopid & fun show, I enjoyed this along with catchin'

Captain Nice back in the day!

Thx!

[schneidersweb]

I seem to remember this being on right before "Run, Buddy, Run." Ah, the simpler times!

[fromthesidelines]

"MR. TERRIFIC" replaced "RUN, BUDDY, RUN" on CBS' Monday night schedule- 8pm(et)- on January 9, 1967, and continued until August, 'thrustys'- only 17 episodes were produced. "CAPTAIN NICE", on the other hand, premiered that same evening on NBC {succeeding "THE ROGER MILLER SHOW"} at 8:30(et), but was no match against "THE LUCY SHOW" on CBS- it also ended that August, after only 15 episodes.

[fromthesidelines]

This was originally on against NBC's "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" at 8pm(et) on Mondays...and that wasn't such a great idea.

[thrustys963]

this show was actually on CBS. Maybe in 66? during the batman craze. the competitor to this show on NBC was "Captain Nice."

[habman19]

God, this is when television was fun!! Silly, harmless fun, that wasn't meant to be taken seriously.

[eddieleighton]

thanks for posting this - unbelievable that this instant memory even exists!

[voxepisode]

I really liked this show and wish they hadn't taken it off so fast. First-rate cast. McGiver in particular.

[saxophoney]

Wow. I never thought this could be un-earthed. Though it hasn't been on for 40 years, and probably only ran 1 season, to this day I still remembered the opening or the Mr. Terrific theme. Mr. Terrific and Captain Nice are two great memories from childhood. Thanks for posting!

[Selekto]

No Kidding !! I'm glad someone posted this. For some reason I thought sure Wally Cox was in this. Thanks for Sharing.

[sibphu]

i remember it too on cbs/monday nights. could never forget that theme. remember captain nice with william daniels? (knight rider's k.i.t.t., st. elsewhere) it was on the same night on nbc. same nutty superhero premise, catchy theme song. let's here it for the 60s.

[TheFecalAvenger]

I remember this from when I was 4! I even remembered the theme song more or less correctly!

[ascoredhat]

Thank you, Neuroslicer, for posting this. Wow, what memories it brings back. I was just a kid, and Batman was sooooo important to us in the neighborhood, so when the other stations, of course, brought out their own superhero shows to cash in, we had to watch them, too. Like an earlier poster, I didn't get to watch Captain Nice because I went to bed right after Mr. Terrific.

[Saphalicia]

LOVE IT! Brings back memories of this, The Monkees, and Captain Nice

[Actionguy1]

Jeez! Do I remember this show! Stanley Bemish ingested the "Power Pill" and became 'Mister Terrific'! And yes! The artwork was Paul Coker Jr's!

Why will they not put this on DVD?

GOD! I loved it!

[Freenbean]

P.S. The artwork reminds me a bit of Paul Coker Jr.

[Freenbean]

I was 8 when this ran. It came on after Gilligan. Didnt get to see Captain Nice because of bedtime and the NBC station didn't come it very well. Now we need someone to post Run, Buddy, Run.

[Actionguy1]

I agree Freebean! "Run, Buddy, Run!" was a parody of Ben Gazarra's series "Run For Your Life!" that was running at the same time!

[SgtRock57]

About 5th grade when I saw this show. I always wanted power pills. Or super sauce like super chicken.

[Fersommling]

I was in the 5th grade when this show was on. I always remembered the tune, which is kind of motivational. Thanks for the vid!

[Neuroslicer]

Eureka! Now 14 of the 17 episodes have been found! They had been broadcast with German voiceovers, but the English soundtrack has also been recovered! As I work on digitizing these I will post a few clips for all you Mr. Terrific fans! Time for action!

A-C-T-I-O-N!!!

[rickydfcc77]

Paul Frees also sounds like the narrator on "Super Chicken". I never, ever thoght i would see this again. I was in second grade, too.

[DesertGOP]

Does anybody know the name of the voiceover talent in this clip? I know he's done many a voiceover at Disneyland for a lot of the early rides (I'm not sure if his voice is heard on any of today's rides, though). Thanks!

[DesertGOP]

Paul Frees was the versatile voiceover actor (and on-camera actor, as well, in some cases). Paul Frees was a master of voices, including Ludwig vonDrake in several Disney television shows. His voice has been heard at many Disney attractions. He was the narrator in Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and Adventure thru Inner Space. In addition to providing the voice of the Haunted Mansion 'Ghost Host', Mr. Frees also supplied voices for Pirates of the Caribbean.

[DesertGOP]

Hallelujah! I would have bet the farm--and all the animals on it--that THIS video clip could NOT be found anywhere on YouTube...but, lo and behold it is! Gosh! Do I ever remember watching this--all of about six or seven at the time. Thanks a TON for posting this. SUPER!

[HairyOldCopywriter]

2nd grade here. Thanks so much. Been awaiting this for so long. Is it me or has TV turned to dog poo? I never watch TV anymore, I can't handle it. This 60's stuff I could watch all day. Man from UNCLE has 1000 times up on any show currently running. Now where is my time machine? Where is my Batman cape I made from a white dishtowel.

[Neuroslicer]

I often missed the Captain Nice episode because it came on right after Mr. Terrific, which came on at 8:00 PM. You see, my bedtime in third grade was 8:30 PM. And the next day, wouldn't you know it, the kids in school were mainly talking about Captain Nice! It took another 40 years but now I've seen all the Captain Nice eps too!

[ksol1460tv]

@Neuroslicer Well, I had an agreement with one of my school friends. She would watch Captain Nice, and I would watch Mr. Terrific, and the next morning on the bus we would compare notes. Problem solved.

[Neville6000]

@ksol1460tv: So, what did you and your friend think of both shows?

[ksol1460tv]

@Neville6000 We thought they both had possibilities!

[ladster3]

I remember, as a little kid Batman-fan, being so worked up about the show coming on. I was extra-obnoxiously nice to my parents for the few days beforehand so I could get permission to see it!

[us71]

Oh my, I remember this show. I think I was 6 years old ;)

[cantonllc]

Awesome! I remember... Freakin Stanley Beemish. Remember Camp Runamuck?