Captain Nice
Encyclopedia
Captain Nice was a comedy
TV series that ran from January–May 1967 on NBC
. Riding the tide of the camp
superhero
craze of the 1960s, the show's premise involved police chemist Carter Nash (William Daniels
), a mild-mannered mama's boy who discovered a secret formula that, when taken, transformed him into Captain Nice.
Captain Nice didn't behave much differently from Carter Nash. In fact, the good Captain ran around in a pajama-like costume sewn lovingly by his mother. Carter Nash selected the name "Captain Nice" since he already had items monogrammed "CN." His superpowers included the ability to fly, but he was nervous about doing so as he was afraid of heights
.
Carter had a girlfriend in the police department, Sgt. Candy Kane. Candy looked like the typical meter maid, but there was something about her that attracted Carter—not to mention Captain Nice.
The series was created by Buck Henry
, who was a co-creator of the hit series Get Smart
. The show's premise is similar to that of CBS
's Mister Terrific
, which preceded Captain Nice on Monday nights.
Ann Prentiss
, younger sister of actress Paula
and sister-in-law of actor Richard Benjamin
, played Candy.
Alice Ghostley
played Carter's mother. She later won fame as neighbor Bernice on the comedy Designing Women
. She also played the klutzy nanny Esmerelda on Bewitched
.
Carter's father, never seen
in face, was portrayed by one of the movies' most prolific character actors, Byron Foulger. In a reverse of Foulger's ubiquity
and familiarity in movies, his appearances in this series generally found him hidden behind a newspaper and not making a sound.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
TV series that ran from January–May 1967 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. Riding the tide of the camp
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
craze of the 1960s, the show's premise involved police chemist Carter Nash (William Daniels
William Daniels
William David Daniels is an American actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild . He is known for his performance as Dustin Hoffman's father in The Graduate , as John Adams in 1776, as Carter Nash in Captain Nice, as Mr. George Feeny in ABC's Boy Meets World, as the voice of KITT in...
), a mild-mannered mama's boy who discovered a secret formula that, when taken, transformed him into Captain Nice.
Captain Nice didn't behave much differently from Carter Nash. In fact, the good Captain ran around in a pajama-like costume sewn lovingly by his mother. Carter Nash selected the name "Captain Nice" since he already had items monogrammed "CN." His superpowers included the ability to fly, but he was nervous about doing so as he was afraid of heights
Acrophobia
Acrophobia is an extreme or irrational fear of heights. It belongs to a category of specific phobias, called space and motion discomfort that share both similar etiology and options for treatment.Most people experience a degree of natural fear when exposed to heights, especially if there is little...
.
Carter had a girlfriend in the police department, Sgt. Candy Kane. Candy looked like the typical meter maid, but there was something about her that attracted Carter—not to mention Captain Nice.
The series was created by Buck Henry
Buck Henry
Henry Zuckerman, better known as Buck Henry , is an American actor, writer, film director, and television director.-Early life:...
, who was a co-creator of the hit series Get Smart
Get Smart
Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
. The show's premise is similar to that of CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's Mister Terrific
Mister Terrific (TV series)
Mister Terrific was an American TV sitcom that aired on CBS from January 9, to May 8, 1967. It starred Stephen Strimpell in the title role, and lasted 17 episodes. The show was similar to NBC's Captain Nice, which followed Mister Terrific on Monday nights during its run...
, which preceded Captain Nice on Monday nights.
Ann Prentiss
Ann Prentiss
Ann Prentiss was an American actress.Prentiss was born in San Antonio, Texas. Her father was of Sicilian descent. Her younger sister was actress Paula Prentiss. Prentiss had many bit parts in movies and television series in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s...
, younger sister of actress Paula
Paula Prentiss
Paula Ragusa , better known by her stage name Paula Prentiss, is an American actress well-known for her film roles in Where the Boys Are, Man's Favorite Sport?, The Stepford Wives, What's New Pussycat?, The Black Marble, and The Parallax View and her co-starring role in the television situation...
and sister-in-law of actor Richard Benjamin
Richard Benjamin
Richard Benjamin is an American actor and film director. He has starred in a number of productions, including Goodbye, Columbus , based on the novella by Philip Roth, and Westworld .-Life and career:...
, played Candy.
Alice Ghostley
Alice Ghostley
Alice Margaret Ghostley was an American actress. She was best known for her roles as housekeeper Esmeralda on Bewitched, as Cousin Alice on Mayberry R.F.D., and as Bernice Clifton on Designing Women, for which she received an Emmy Nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1992...
played Carter's mother. She later won fame as neighbor Bernice on the comedy Designing Women
Designing Women
Designing Women is an American television sitcom that centered on the working and personal lives of four Southern women and one man in an interior design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. It aired on the CBS television network from September 29, 1986 until May 24, 1993. The show was created by head writer...
. She also played the klutzy nanny Esmerelda on Bewitched
Bewitched
Bewitched is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972, starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York and Dick Sargent , Agnes Moorehead, and David White. The show is about a witch who marries a mortal and tries to lead the life of a typical suburban...
.
Carter's father, never seen
Unseen character
In fiction, an unseen character is a character that is never directly observed by the audience but is only described by other characters. They are a common device in drama and have been called "triumphs of theatrical invention". They are continuing characters — characters who are currently in...
in face, was portrayed by one of the movies' most prolific character actors, Byron Foulger. In a reverse of Foulger's ubiquity
Ubiquity
Ubiquity is a synonym for omnipresence, the property of being present everywhere.Ubiquity may also refer to:* Ubiquity , a simple graphical installer made for the Ubuntu operating system* Ubiquity Records, an American music label...
and familiarity in movies, his appearances in this series generally found him hidden behind a newspaper and not making a sound.
Episode list
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate | Short Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | "The Man Who Flies Like A Pigeon" (pilot) | January 9, 1967 | Carter tries to explain the importance of his new formula. |
| 1-2 | "How Sheik Can You Get?" | January 16, 1967 | Captain Nice helps rescue a woman from Sheik Abdul. |
| 1-3 | "That Thing" | January 23, 1967 | Caterpillar develops a ravenous appetite and super powers when it accidentally drinks Nice's secret formula. |
| 1-4 | "That Was the Bridge That Was" | February 6, 1967 | Carter searches for con artists who built a faulty bridge and kidnapped Mayor Finley. |
| 1-5 | "The Man With Three Blue Eyes" | February 20, 1967 | A mentalist is kidnapped by thugs who think he can find a fortune in stolen money. |
| 1-6 | "Is Big Town Burning?" | February 27, 1967 | Carter risks being unmasked as Captain Nice in order to reveal the identity of an arsonist. |
| 1-7 | "Don't Take Any Wooden Indians" | March 6, 1967 | Captain Nice prevents a disgruntled explorer from murdering his benefactor. |
| 1-8 | "That's What Mothers Are For" | March 13, 1967 | Carter is dismissed in an economy move and Mrs. Nash retaliates by stealing his costume. |
| 1-9 | "Whatever Lola Wants" | March 20, 1967 | While trying to stop a jailbreak, Captain Nice is slipped a pill that makes him appear intoxicated. |
| 1-10 | "Who's Afraid Of Amanda Woolf?" | March 27, 1967 | Captain Nice breaks up a potential massacre, so in retaliation, the gang invades the Nash home. |
| 1-11 | "The Week They Stole Payday" | April 3, 1967 | Carter discovers that the Bigtown payroll has been replaced with counterfeit money. |
| 1-12 | "It Tastes Okay, But Something's Missing" | April 10, 1967 | Carter Nash lacks the secret formula he needs to turn into Captain Nice in order to prevent a robbery. |
| 1-13 | "May I Have The Last Dance?" | April 17, 1967 | Carter and Sergeant Kane are captured by fur thieves. |
| 1-14 | "One Rotten Apple" | April 24, 1967 | A nightclub owner (played by Bob Newhart) must be protected from potential killers. |
| 1-15 | "Beware Of Hidden Prophets" | May 1, 1967 | Carter is fired when a quack mentalist predicts a criminal will escape from jail. |
External links
- Captain Nice Program Intro at YouTube