The Amazing Spider-Man (TV series)

The Amazing Spider-Man is an American television series about the Marvel Comics hero of the same name. It is the first live-action television series featuring Spider-Man and was shown in the United States from September 19, 1977 to July 6, 1979.[1] Though it was a considerable ratings success, the CBS series was cancelled after just 13 episodes, which included a pilot film airing in autumn of 1977. Despite its storylines being set in New York City (the character's hometown), the series was mostly filmed in Los Angeles.

The Amazing Spider-Man
Also known as'Spider-Man'
Genre
Created byAlvin Boretz
Based on
Starring
Theme music composerStu Phillips
Dana Kaproff
Composers
  • Stu Phillips
  • Dana Kaproff
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes13 (list of episodes)
Production
Production locationsLos Angeles
New York City
Running time40-45 minutes
Production companies
DistributorColumbia Pictures Television Distribution
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseSeptember 19, 1977 (1977-09-19) –
July 6, 1979 (1979-07-06)
Chronology
Preceded bySpidey Super Stories
Followed bySpider-Man (Japanese TV series)

Cast and characters
The cast of Spider-Man

The only characters to appear regularly in both the television series and comics were Peter Parker/Spider-Man, J. Jonah Jameson, and Aunt May.[2] Joe "Robbie" Robertson (played by Hilly Hicks) also appeared, but only in the pilot. Farley Stillwell, a scientist in the Marvel universe, makes a cameo in Wolfpack. A different actress played Aunt May in each episode in which she appeared.

In both these incarnations, J. Jonah Jameson's abrasive, flamboyant personality was toned-down, and the character was portrayed as more avuncular (though oftentimes still short-tempered).

Production

During the mid-1970s, Marvel Comics publisher and Spider-Man's co-creator Stan Lee, sold CBS the rights to produce a prime time live-action Spider-Man series, to be made by producer Daniel R. Goodman. Actor Nicholas Hammond was cast in the lead role, though all of Spider-Man's stunts were performed by the series's stunt coordinator, Fred Waugh.[2] Lee and Goodman fiercely clashed over the direction of the series during the initial production.[2] Lee once said in an interview for Pizzazz magazine that he felt the series was "too juvenile".[3]

The series began as a backdoor pilot: a 90-minute movie known simply as Spider-Man which was broadcast on CBS TV network in September 1977, which was theatrically released internationally.[4] In it, Peter Parker (as an intrepid university student) gains super powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider. He uses those powers to get a job at the Daily Bugle, and to stop a con man who is covertly using mind control for personal gain.

The pilot garnered a 17.8 rating with a 30 share - CBS' highest rating for the entire year.[2] However, citing concern over the pilot's relatively weak ratings in the lucrative adult-demographic (ages 18–49),[2] CBS picked up the series for only a limited, five-episode order (those 5 episodes were aired in April and May 1978, at the tail-end of the 1977–78 TV season). This run of episodes debuted very well, with the first obtaining a 22.8 rating with 16.6 million viewers, making it the best-rated program for the week on CBS, and the eighth-best-rated program for the week, overall.[5] The series ended up being the 19th-highest-rated show of the entire season. However, CBS was reluctant to commit to giving the show a regular/fixed time slot for the 1978-79 season,[6] as the series was expensive to produce[7] and continued to underperform with older audiences.[2]

CBS took the more cautious approach of airing episodes on a sporadic basis, strategically placing it on the broadcast schedule to deliberately hurt the ratings of specific competing shows, at key times in the TV season (e.g. "sweeps"). Former Six Million Dollar Man producer Lionel Siegel took over production duties for season two, noticeably changing the show in an attempt to grow its adult audience. These changes included dropping the Captain Barbera character; adding the character of Julie Masters as a love interest for Peter; creating more down-to-earth plotlines; and slightly toning-down Spider-Man's superpowers, to make him more accessible to adult viewers.[8]

Season 2 title for the Spider-Man series.

The second season that consisted of seven episodes aired infrequently throughout the 1978–79 TV season.[9] The series continued to do well in the ratings during its second season.[2] However, CBS officially cancelled the series soon after the season ended. The chief reason for the cancellation was that CBS feared being perceived as merely a one-dimensional, superficial, "superhero network".[2] It was already airing other live-action superhero series or specials at the time, including The Incredible Hulk, Wonder Woman (which they resurrected after its original network, ABC, canceled it), Captain America, Doctor Strange, and had just ended (in 1977) multi-year runs of live-action Saturday morning series for DC Comics' Shazam and Isis superheroes. Another problem was that in spite of the show's popularity, its most vocal fans were also highly critical of it,[10] due to the season two departures from more comic book-like storylines, and the lack of any recognizable "supervillains" from the Spider-Man comics.

The series yielded the first live-action depictions of Peter Parker's "spider-tracer" tracking/homing devices; they are prominently featured in several episodes throughout the series.

Directors
Shooting Spider-Man at Caltech from "The Curse of Rava"

Episodes

For their release in VHS format, several of the series's episodes were spliced together in pairs. "Night of the Clones and Escort to Danger", "A Matter of State and Photo Finish" and "The Con Caper and The Curse of Rava" were combined and presented as a single movie-length episodes. In order to smooth the jump between the two unrelated stories in each release, the production team filmed new bridging scenes set at the Daily Bugle and inserted them between the content of the two component episodes.[2] These scenes were never broadcast, either in the series's original run or in any reruns.

The pilot and two pair of episodes were released as movies internationally by Columbia Pictures (following their first character film rights for future films)[4] as Spider-Man, Spider-Man Strikes Back, and Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge.[11]

Pilot movie
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
"Spider-Man"E.W. Swackhamer[4]Alvin BoretzSeptember 14, 1977 (1977-09-14)

University student Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider and decides to use his super powers to stop an evil New Age guru that is turning law-abiding citizens into criminals through mind control.

This pilot TV-movie was released theatrically overseas[4] and saw VHS releases in the 1980s by CBS/Fox Home Video (and later, reissued on its Playhouse Video label) and in the 1990s by Rhino Home Video. A CED videodisc version (CBS/Fox) was also released. In Japan only, this was also released on VHD format and laserdisc.

Season 1 (1978)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"The Deadly Dust: Part 1"Ron SatlofRobert JanesApril 5, 1978 (1978-04-05)

Upset that their professor has brought a small amount of plutonium onto campus in order to give a class demonstration, three University students decide to steal the plutonium and build a bomb in order to illustrate the dangers of nuclear power. However, the international businessmen and arms dealer named Mr. White has his henchmen steal the plutonium so that he can detonate it in Los Angeles, California where the President will be giving a campaign speech.

Though it was the last of the five season one episodes to be filmed, it was the first to be broadcast.[12]

In countries outside the United States, such as the UK, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, "The Deadly Dust" part 1 and 2 were edited together by Columbia pictures and released in theaters as Spider-Man Strikes Back. "The Deadly Dust" saw video release in the 1980s by CBS/Fox/Playhouse, and in the late 1990s by Rhino Home Video. Also released on videotape (in Europe) and laserdisc (in Japan) in its theatrical version, titled Spider-Man Strikes Back.
22"The Deadly Dust: Part 2"Ron SatlofRobert JanesApril 12, 1978 (1978-04-12)
International terrorist "Mr. White" proceeds with his plan to detonate the bomb during the President's speech in Los Angeles, but during preparation a female member of the trio succumbs to acute radiation poisoning. While Spider-Man is intent on thwarting the bomb's detonation, he is also torn between helping the dying woman.
33"The Curse of Rava"Michael CaffreyDick Nelson,
Robert Janes		April 19, 1978 (1978-04-19)

Members of a religious cult, led by the telekinetic Mandak, plan to steal a Rava religious icon from a museum and in the process frame Mr. Jameson for attempted murder.

"The Curse of Rava" was spliced together with "Con Caper" to form "Con Caper & The Curse of Rava" which was released on VHS and Beta from Prism Home Video in the mid 1980s and on VHS Rhino Home Video in the late 1990s. Con Caper/Rava was also released on laserdisc in the USA by Prism around 1990.
44"Night of the Clones"Fernando LamasJohn W. BlochApril 26, 1978 (1978-04-26)

A scientific convention is being held in New York City and a controversial American scientist has figured out a way to clone human beings, only to have his evil clone twin escape, and clone an evil Spider-Man. Guest starring Lloyd Bochner, Morgan Fairchild, and Karl Swenson.

"Night of the Clones" and the episode following it, "Escort to Danger," were spliced together to make "Night of the Clones & Escort to Danger" which was released on VHS and Beta from Prism Home Video in the mid-1980s and on VHS from Rhino Home Video in the late 1990s. Clones/Escort was also released on laserdisc in the USA by Prism around 1990.
55"Escort to Danger"Dennis DonnellyDuke StandefurMay 3, 1978 (1978-05-03)

While visiting New York City, the daughter of a recently elected pro-democracy Latin American President is kidnapped by those seeking a return of a fascist dictatorship. Guest starring Madeleine Stowe, Alejandro Rey, and Harold Sakata.

The sequence in which Spider-Man runs from an exploding car is the only stunt in the series performed by Nicholas Hammond himself.[12] "Escort to Danger", and the episode before it, "Night of the Clones" were spliced together to make "Night of the Clones & Escort to Danger" which was released on VHS from Prism Home Video in the mid-1980s and Rhino Home Video in the late 1990s.

Season 2 (1978–1979)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
61"The Captive Tower"Cliff BoleGregory S. Dinallo,
Bruce Kalish,
Philip John Taylor		September 5, 1978 (1978-09-05)

Thieves steal ten million dollars from a new high-tech security building and use its computers to trap the people inside. Guest starring Fred Lerner and David Sheiner.

Since there were no other hour-long episodes with which to combine it into a 2-hour movie, this episode is the most rarely seen of the series, the only reruns being on the Sci-Fi Channel in the 1990s. For the same reason, this is also the only episode that didn't get a VHS release.
72"A Matter of State"Larry StewartHoward DimsdaleSeptember 12, 1978 (1978-09-12)

NATO defense plans are stolen and held for ransom by terrorists. Julie Masters accidentally gets a photograph of the ringleader of the gang and now Spider-Man has to protect Masters, while also trying to get the defense plans back. Guest starring John Crawford.

This episode was released on VHS as "Photo Finish & A Matter of State" by Rhino Home Video.
83"The Con Caper"Tom BlankBrian McKay,
Gregory S. Dinallo		November 25, 1978 (1978-11-25)

An imprisoned politician (William Smithers) is released and poses as a reformed humanitarian dedicated to prison reform in order to stage a break out of some prisoners and steal a hundred-million dollars. Andrew J. Robinson and Ramon Bieri also gets star.

This episode was released on VHS and Beta by Prism Home Video in the mid-1980s and on VHS Rhino Home Video in the late 1990s as "Con Caper & Curse of Rava." Prism also released this combined version on laserdisc in the US in 1990.
94"The Kirkwood Haunting"Don McDougallMichael MichaelianDecember 30, 1978 (1978-12-30)

Peter Parker is sent to the estate (complete with its own zoo) of a wealthy widow and longtime family friend of Mr. Jameson. The widow claims that she is being visited by the ghost of her dead husband and he is telling her to donate all her money to the group of men that are acting as objective investigators of paranormal phenomenon.

This episode has been released on VHS by Rhino Home Video spliced together to make "Wolfpack & The Kirkwood Haunting".
105"Photo Finish"Tony GanzHoward DimsdaleFebruary 7, 1979 (1979-02-07)

While doing a story on a rare coin collection, the coins are stolen in a robbery with one of the thieves wearing a wig and muffling his voice to appear to be the coin collector's bitter ex-wife. The photo that Parker has of the disguised thief will falsely frame the ex-wife and Parker is willing to go to jail in order to protect the innocent and break out of jail as Spider-Man to bring the thieves to justice.

This episode has been released on VHS as "Photo Finish & A Matter of State" by Rhino Home Video. Photo Finish was previously released by itself (in its original one-hour format) on a LP-speed cassette from low-budget label Star Maker Home Video.
116"Wolfpack"Joseph MandukeStephen KandelFebruary 21, 1979 (1979-02-21)

When a greedy Sorgenson Chemical representative learns that University students have developed a mind control gas, he uses the gas to take control of the students and even some soldiers to commit crimes.

This episode has been released on VHS on Rhino Home Video as "Wolfpack & The Kirkwood Haunting".
127"The Chinese Web: Part 1"Don McDougallLionel E. SiegelJuly 6, 1979 (1979-07-06)

An old college friend of Mr. Jameson fleeing China (where he is the Minister of Industrial Development) to live with his Chinese-American daughter because the Chinese government has falsely charged him with being a spy during World War II. While Peter Parker tries to prove the man's innocence he must contend with a henchmen of a British-Hong Kong businessman who will do anything to get a new Minister of Industrial Development who will ensure that his firm gets a lucrative business contract with Hong Kong.

While the rest of the series was filmed in New York and Los Angeles, the series finale includes many scenes which were filmed in Hong Kong.[2] "The Chinese Web" part 1 and 2 was also released theatrically in many different territories from 1979 to 1981 under the title Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge. It was also released overseas on video (and on laserdisc in Japan) in its full version. This episode was released on its own on videotape by CBS/Fox Video in the early 1980s (and re-released in the mid '80s on Fox's own Playhouse Video label) and by Rhino Home Video in the late 1990s.
138"The Chinese Web: Part 2"Don McDougallLionel E. SiegelJuly 6, 1979 (1979-07-06)
Peter goes to Hong Kong with Dent and Emily so that Dent can prove Emily's uncle's innocence. But the industrialist tries to stop them.

Revival attempt

In a 2002 interview with SFX magazine, Nicholas Hammond revealed that there were plans to do an Amazing Spider-Man series reunion movie in 1984. The proposal would have had the original cast team-up with the cast of The Incredible Hulk[13] television series (a major hit for CBS), with Hammond appearing in the black Spider-Man costume. According to Hammond, a deal was arranged to have Columbia and Universal Studios co-produce the project. Bill Bixby was going to direct the TV-movie, in addition to reprising the role of David Banner. However, Universal eventually cancelled the project. Hammond said he was told that Lou Ferrigno was unavailable to reprise his role as the Hulk, because he was in Italy filming Hercules. However, in his 2003 autobiography My Incredible Life as the Hulk, Ferrigno stated that he was never contacted about the project, adding that he had recently finished filming Hercules II and that his availability was not an issue.[14]

References
  1. "Spider-Man on TV". IGN. Ziff Davis. May 3, 2007. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  2. Mangels, Andy (October 2010). "Spinning the Story of the Amazing Spider-Man". Back Issue!. TwoMorrows Publishing (44): 44–48.
  3. Pizzazz, October 1978
  4. McAloon, Jonathan (June 24, 2015). "Spider-Man on screen: a timeline". The Telegraph. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  5. "ABC Reclaims Lead in Ratings". Merced Sun-Star. Merced, California. AP. April 12, 1978.
  6. "TV's worst season slowly nearing an end". Boca Raton News. Boca Raton, Florida. UPI. May 15, 1978.
  7. "There's a web of truth woven into action of 'Spider-Man series'". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, FL. April 5, 1978.
  8. Richard Meyers (October 1978). "Return of the video Superheroes". Starlog Page 50-51.
  9. "Rivals Attending to 'Roots' Return". The Time-News. Hendersonville, NC. Washington Star Syndicate. September 5, 1978.
  10. Marvel Animation Age: "The Incredible Hulk In Animation - A Retrospective" (Part One)
  11. McMillan, Graeme (May 3, 2016). "'Spider-Man' Movies Revisited: The Forgotten and Amazing Big-Screen Adventures". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  12. "Spider-Man Episode Guide". Back Issue!. TwoMorrows Publishing (44): 49–50. October 2010.
  14. http://www.blumhouse.com/2016/07/29/the-spider-man-hulk-tv-movie-that-almost-was/
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