lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein) (08/15/83)
Greetings. I don't currently subscribe to this newsgroup, so please
reply to me directly if necessary. My sources tell me that net.tv
has diverged onto the topic of "superhero" sitcoms from the mid 60's.
Sitting in a closet here in the Vortex somewhere, I have an audio
tape of many television themes from that period, which I was insane enough
to record at the time. This was the era of long TV intros, unlike the
current trend toward short intros (and more commercial slots, of course!)
There are three primary programs to consider:
------------
Mr. Terrific (theme spoken by the great voiceover artist, Paul Freas)
------------
A scientist both wise and bold,
Set out to cure the common cold.
Instead he found this power pill,
Which he said most certainly will,
Turn a lamb into a lion,
Like an eagle he'll be flying.
Solid steel will be like putty;
It will work on anybody.
But then 'twas found the potent pill,
Made the strongest men quite ill!
And so the secret search began,
To find the one and only man.
(Card reader noises, etc.)
What they found made them squeamish,
For only Stanley Beamish,
A weak and droopy daffodil,
Could take the special power pill,
Which sent him soaring through the skies,
Fighting foes and fighting spies!
When he took the pill specific,
He became the most prolific, terrific, MR. TERRIFIC!
-------
During the SAME SEASON that Mr. Terrific ran, a competing network
gave us:
------------
Captain Nice
------------
(Group)
Look! It's the man who flys around like an eagle!
Look! It's the enemy of all that's illegal!
Look at the muscles on his arms, they're like hammers!
(Boy)
Look! It's the nut who walks around in pajamas!
(Man)
That's no nut, boy! That's CAPTAIN NICE!
(Boy)
Nice?
(Man)
Nice. Nice. Nice. NICE!!!
-------
And finally, we can't forget about:
-------------
Super Chicken
-------------
When you find yourself in danger,
When you're threatened by a stranger,
When it looks like you will take a lickin'...
Buck Buck Buck Buck!
There is someone waiting who will hurry up and rescue you,
Just call, for Super Chicken!
But if you're afraid you'll have to overlook it,
Besides you knew the job was dangerous when you took it!
He will drink his super sauce,
And score the bad guys for a loss,
And he will bring them in alive and kicking.
Buck Buck Buck Buck!
There is one thing you should learn,
When there is noone else to turn to,
Call for Super Chicken!
Buck Buck Buck Buck!
Call for Super Chicken!
Buck-kaw!
(final words spoken by Paul Freas):
So when you hear that cry in the sky:
Bucka Bucka Bucka Bucka Bucka Bucka Bucka Bucka Bucka Bucka Bucka Kaw!
You'll know it's, Super Chicken!
-------
It's interesting to note that these shows were all aired at about the
time that the "popular" drug culture was getting off the ground in the U.S.
Mr. Terrific popped pills. Captain Nice drank a liquid. Super Chicken
downed his sauce. Turn on, Tune In, and Drop Out.
--Lauren--
{decvax,ihnp4,harpo,allegra,ucbvax!lbl-csam,randvax}!vortex!lauren