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The Adventures of Superman: Season 06 (1957)

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Still headquartered in the busy ZIV studios, The Adventures of Superman churned out 13 full-color episodes for its sixth and final season on the air. Though George Reeves may have developed a bit of avoirdupois since launching the series back in 1951, he still cut quite an impressive figure as Superman (and, to a lesser extent, as the Man of Steel's alter ego Clark Kent). Also, Noel Neill is still cute as a button as Lois Lane, Jack Larson is as nebbishy as ever as Jimmy Olsen, John Hamilton remains the quintessence of irascibility as Perry White (though a failing memory required him to rely upon "cue cards" in the form of letters on his editor's desk), and Robert Shayne stalwartly stays the course as the sublimely clueless Inspector Henderson. An enormous improvement over the series' lackluster fifth season, Season Six features a number of above-average outings, several of which were directed by star George Reeves. "Superman's Wife" guest-stars voluptuous cult actress Joi Lansing as a policewoman who goes through a sham marriage to Superman in order to flush out a criminal. "The Big Forget" finds the eccentric Professor Pepperwinkle inventing an "anti-memory" gas which comes in handy when, during a moment of crisis, Clark Kent is forced to reveal his true identity as Superman in full view of Lois, Jimmy and Perry White. "The Perils of Superman" is a campy spoof of old-time serials, replete with Lois tied to the railroad tracks, Perry bound to a buzzsaw, Jimmy locked in a runaway car, and Clark suspended over a vat of acid. And in the series' final episode "All That Glitters", a dose of "positive Kryptonite" endows Lois and Jimmy with amazing Superman-like powers, including the ability to fly! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi