The live-action Superman TV show of the 1950s caused a big splash, introducing the hero to a new generation. Whereas kids of the 40s found Superman on the comic book stands and radio, he was now beamed, weekly, onto TV screens across the nation.
George Reeves was the perfect Clark Kent/Superman, bringing a fatherly warmth to the dual role.
His smile and wink let young viewers in on the secret that nobody else on screen seemed able to figure out: Clark and Superman were the same guy! The same smile and wink also let older viewers know that, yes, Reeves knew the whole show, its premise and the Superman costume, were all a little silly, yet fun. It's a pity that the actor's life ended so tragically.
The rest of the cast -- Jack Larson as Jimmy Olsen, Phyllis Coates and then Noel Neill as Lois Lane, and John Hamilton as Perry White -- were all pretty great as well.
I grew up watching the series as after-school reruns and, despite some 50-isms here and there, it holds up very well, largely to the warm performances by the cast and by doing such a great job establishing all the basics of Superman mythology: He's a guy from another planet who will always do the right thing. He works at a major metropolitan newspaper with a grumpy boss, a nosy colleague who he has a crush on, and a goofy assistant with a knack for always getting into trouble. What more do you need?
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