Captain Nice

1 9 6 7 (USA)
15 x 30 minute episodes

A sci-fi sitcom from NBC showing the exploits of the titular superhero.

A shy, mild-mannered (aren’t they always?) police chemist, called Carter Nash (William Daniels), concocted a secret formula which changed him into our dashing hero.

Unfortunately – apart from his super strength and temporary ability to fly – Captain Nice was not really any different to how Carter was usually – quiet, unassuming, physically weak and an all-round momma’s boy who still lived at home with his parents, Mrs Esther Nash (Alice Ghostley) and Mr Harvey Nash (Byron Foulger) – who was always behind a newspaper.

If it weren’t for his mother’s insistence that he wage war on the evil forces that threatened society, he would not have become involved in fighting crime at all.

The sight of Captain Nice trying to maintain his composure while flying over Bigtown (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 Bigtown.

Also in the cast were William Zuckert as Chief Segal, and Ann Prentiss as Sgt. Candy Kane, who found the sensitive and timid Carter Nash very attractive.

Captain Nice was created and written by Buck Henry, co-creator of Get Smart and ran for sixteen episodes until May 1967 – but did not return for the 1967-68 season.

Ratings were not good – 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.

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