Mister Terrific was an American TV sitcom that aired on CBS from January to August 1967. It starred Stephen Strimpell in the title role. The show was similar to NBC's Captain Nice. Riding the tide of the camp superhero craze of the 1960s, the show's premise involved gas station attendant Stanley Beamish, a mild-mannered scrawny youth who secretly worked to fight crime for a government organization. All he needed to do was take a "power pill" which gave him the strength of a thousand men and enabled him to fly, much like Superman. Unfortunately, he was the only person on whom the pills worked. Furthermore, with each pill there was a time limit of one hour (like Underdog and DC Comics' Hourman). Much of the show's humor revolved around Stanley losing his superpowers before he completed his given assignment.
Stanley's government employers were Mr. Reed and Mr. Trent, and his day-job partner at the service station was Hal Walters. Stanley was sworn to secrecy concerning his alter-ego and superpowers.
Alan Young, who had just completed his run as Wilbur Post on Mister Ed, was the original choice to play Stanley Beamish and appeared in the pilot. Other cast members:
Stanley Beamish, the weakling proprietor of a Washington gas station, is also a top-secret super agent. When the Government's Bureau of Special Projects needs Stanley, he takes a pill that gives him an hour's worth of strength, courage and flying time. Written by Molly Malloy
