History Series / TheAdventuresOfSuperman

* OpeningNarration: One of the most memorable, one that sums up everything you need to know about Superman. Very much based on that of [[Radio/TheAdventuresOfSuperman the radio show]].
** And interestingly, the visuals accompanying them resemble those of the [[WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons theatrical cartoons]], complete with static shot of Superman transforming between Superman and Clark Kent.

-->--'''OpeningNarration'''

* AdaptationalBadass: Clark Kent. Budget reasons required that Superman only show up in the last act, so the focus for most of the episode had to be on Clark. As a result, he was made less wimpy and less bumbling than in the comic book and became essentially Superman in street clothes. This interpretation of Clark as "reflecting the real person" was used by Creator/JohnByrne in his "ComicBook/PostCrisis" revamp of Superman's origin, ''ComicBook/TheManOfSteel''. [[WordOfGod Byrne acknowledged George Reeves' portrayal as his inspiration.]] It subsequently found its way into more recent adaptations like ''Series/LoisAndClark'', ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' and ''Film/ManOfSteel'' where Clark similarly isn't as wimpy.

* MostDefinitelyNotAccompanyingUs: A non-child example; Jimmy Olsen once sneaked onto the plane Lois and Clark took to search for a missing group in the jungle. The morning after they left, he casually revealed himself and asked for breakfast, now that there was absolutely way they could send him back.

The first Franchise/{{Superman}} TV series, running from 1952 to 1958 and starring George Reeves as the Man of Steel. The supporting cast included Phyllis Coates [[TheOtherDarrin and later]] Noel Neill as ComicBook/LoisLane, Jack Larson as ComicBook/JimmyOlsen, John Hamilton as Perry White, and Robert Shayne as [[CanonForeigner Inspector Henderson]]. Those actors that were still alive often have cameos in more modern Superman projects. This show is the way most children in the 1950s were introduced to Superman, and also the main reason that Jimmy Olsen got his own comic book.

The first Franchise/{{Superman}} TV series, running from 1952 to 1958 and starring George Reeves as the Man of Steel. The supporting cast included Phyllis Coates [[TheOtherDarrin and later]] Noel Neill as ComicBook/LoisLane, Jack Larson as ComicBook/JimmyOlsen, John Hamilton as Perry White, and Robert Shayne as [[CanonForeigner Inspector Henderson]]. Those actors that are still alive often have cameos in more modern Superman projects. This show is the way most children in the 1950s were introduced to Superman, and also the main reason that Jimmy Olsen got his own comic book.

->''"Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound! ("Look! Up in the sky!" "It's a bird!" "It's a plane!" "It's Superman!") Yes, it's Superman! Strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men! Superman! Who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way!"[[note]]And now, another exciting episode, in ''The Adventures of Superman''![[/note]]''

->''"Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound! ("Look! Up in the sky!" "It's a bird!" "It's a plane!" "It's Superman!") Yes, it's Superman! Strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men! Superman! Who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way!"''

* LaserGuidedKarma: In "The Defeat of Superman", a TerribleTrio (a gangster, his henchman and a MadScientist) discover that kryptonite can harm Superman, and use a tiny sample of the real substance to create synthetic kryptonite. They lure Supes into a trap, using Lois and Jimmy as hostages, then leave all three of them to die. Lois and Jimmy save Superman by wrapping the kryptonite in lead, and the Man of Tomorrow throws it into space--which is where the karma comes in. [[spoiler:The three villains see this as they're driving back to Metropolis, and they're distracted enough that their car goes over a cliff, killing them all. To make it even more karmic, they tumble down the cliff [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident they planned to throw Lois and Jimmy's car over.]]]]

** An interesting straight example: "Jet Ace" features a reporter named Steve Martin. Not only is there a real Creator/SteveMartin, there's ''another'' fictional reporter from TheFifties with the same name (Raymond Burr's character in ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters'').

->''"Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound! ("Look! Up in the sky!" "It's a bird!" "It's a plane!" "It's Superman!") Yes, it's Superman! Strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men! Superman! Who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for [[ForGreatJustice truth, justice, and the American way!]]"''

* CanonImmigrant: Inspector Henderson was brought over from [[Radio/TheAdventuresOfSuperman the radio show]]; he actually showed up in the comics from time to time after this series. Twenty years later, so did Professor Pepperwinkle.

** In "What Goes Up", Superman throws the [[ItMakesSenseInContext anti-gravity-experiment-and-coffee]] at the bad guy. There is a bang, and the guy has torn clothes and an ash-covered face.

** IHaveYourWife: Superman [[InvokedTrope invokes this trope]] when he ''pretends'' to marry Sgt. O'Hara as part of a BatmanGambit. Mr. X, the mysterious crime boss of Metropolis, takes Helen hostage--ExactlyAsPlanned, so she can get close enough to his operation to help destroy it from the inside.

** The Professor Pepperwinkle episodes depend on this. Any time Pepperwinkle invented something, a gang of crooks would somehow learn of the invention and gain the Professor's trust so they could use it to commit crimes.

* AdaptationalBadass: Clark Kent. Budget reasons required that Superman only show up in the last act, so the focus for most of the episode had to be on Clark. As a result, he was made less wimpy and less bumbling than in the comic book and became essentially Superman in street clothes. This interpretation of Clark as "reflecting the real person" was used by JohnByrne in his "ComicBook/PostCrisis" revamp of Superman's origin, ''ComicBook/TheManOfSteel''. [[WordOfGod Byrne acknowledged George Reeves' portrayal as his inspiration.]] It subsequently found its way into more recent adaptations like ''Lois and Clark'', ''SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' and ''Film/ManOfSteel'' where Clark similarly isn't as wimpy.

* AdaptationalBadass: Clark Kent. Budget reasons required that Superman only show up in the last act, so the focus for most of the episode had to be on Clark. As a result, he was made less wimpy and less bumbling than in the comic book and became essentially Superman in street clothes. This interpretation of Clark as "reflecting the real person" was used by JohnByrne in his "PostCrisis" revamp of Superman's origin, ''ComicBook/TheManOfSteel''. [[WordOfGod Byrne acknowledged George Reeves' portrayal as his inspiration.]] It subsequently found its way into more recent adaptations like ''Lois and Clark'', ''SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' and ''Film/ManOfSteel'' where Clark similarly isn't as wimpy.

* HeyItsThatGuy:
** [[Series/GilligansIsland The Professor]] is the leader of a mob.
** [[Series/LeaveItToBeaver Ward Cleaver]] is an ex-con being blackmailed by a former associate.
** [[Series/ILoveLucy Lucy's neighbour and Little Ricky's babysitter, Mrs. Trumbull]], gives Jimmy a million dollars for rescuing one of her kittens.
** Superman himself is one of twins courting Scarlett O'Hara at the beginning of ''Film/GoneWithTheWind''. Truth, justice . . . . and the Confederate way?

* NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup: The anti-gravity formula in "What Goes Up". Justified as it was created by accident when JimmyOlsen was playing around with a chemistry set.