This sci-fi sitcom from NBC, featuring the exploits of the titular superhero, premiered on the evening of 9 January 1967 – the same night that CBS launched the similarly themed Mr Terrific.
A shy, mild-mannered (aren’t they always?) police chemist, called Carter Nash (William Daniels), concocted a liquid power source (which he called “Super Juice”) which changed him into our dashing hero.
Unfortunately, apart from his super strength and temporary ability to fly, Captain Nice (he chose the name on the spur of the moment to explain the initials “CN” on his belt buckle) was not really any different to how Carter was usually – quiet, unassuming, physically weak and an all-round momma’s boy.
Carter still lived at home with his parents, Mrs Esther Nash (Alice Ghostley) and Mr Harvey Nash (Byron Foulger), who was always behind a newspaper and could never remember Carter’s name.
If it weren’t for his mother’s insistence that he wage war on the evil forces that threatened society, Carter would not have become involved in fighting crime at all. He was afraid of the dark “in the daytime” and thought of girls as “round men.”
He never liked the taste of his super-serum – often getting a stomachache from it – and the sight of Captain Nice trying to maintain his composure while flying over Big Town, USA (he was afraid of heights) did not exactly terrify the bad guys.
Neither did his superhero costume (made by his mother) – Baggy, moth-eaten, red-white-and-blue leotards.
Carter’s uncle was Fred Finney (Liam Dunn), the mayor of Big Town.
Also in the cast were William Zuckert as Chief Segal, and Ann Prentiss (who closely resembled her sister, actress Paula Prentiss) as the beautiful and sensuous police sergeant Candy Kane, who found the sensitive and timid Carter Nash very attractive.
Carter thought Sergeant Kane (as he called her) was “quite attractive and a credit to her uniform”, but hadn’t the courage to ask her for a date.
Captain Nice was created and written by Buck Henry, co-creator of Get Smart, but ratings were not good – and not helped by the show running against both The Rat Patrol and top-five staple The Lucy Show, and the addition of the Batman-esque The Green Hornet to schedules.
Captain Nice was last broadcast on 28 August 1967 and did not return for the 1967-68 season.
Look! It’s the man who flies around like an eagle Look! It’s the enemy of all that’s illegal Look! At the muscles on those arms, they’re like hammers Look! It’s the nut who walks around in pajamas That’s no nut, boy, that’s Captain Nice Nice! Nice! Nice! Nice! Nice!
Carter Nash/Captain Nice
William Daniels
Mrs Esther Nash
Alice Ghostley
Sgt Candy Kane
Ann Prentiss
Mayor Fred Finney
Liam Dunn
Chief Segal
William Zuckert
Mr Harvey Nash
Byron Foulger
Episodes
The Man Who Flies Like a Pigeon | How Sheik Can You Get? | That Thing | That Was the Bridge that Was | The Man with Three Blue Eyes | Is Big Town Burning? | Don’t Take Any Wooden Indians | That’s What Mothers Are For | Whatever Lola Wants | Who’s Afraid of Amanda Woolf? | The Week They Stole Payday | Tastes OK But Something’s Missing | May I Have the Last Dance? | One Rotten Apple | Beware of Hidden Prophets
Video
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A shy, mild-mannered (aren’t they always?) police chemist, called Carter Nash (William Daniels), concocted a liquid power source (which he called “Super Juice”) which changed him into our dashing hero.
Also in the cast were William Zuckert as Chief Segal, and Ann Prentiss (who closely resembled her sister, actress Paula Prentiss) as the beautiful and sensuous police sergeant Candy Kane, who found the sensitive and timid Carter Nash very attractive.
