"The Amazing Spider-Man" (1978) TV series 1978-1979

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Directors:

Tom Blank
Cliff Bole

Writers:

Alvin Boretz (writer)
Steve Ditko (characters)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | unknown

Release Date:

5 April 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure

Plot:

With the powers given by the bite of a radioactive spider, a young man fights crime as a wall-crawling superhero.

Plot Keywords:

Laboratory Accident | Spider-Man | Superhero | Spider Sense | Clairvoyance

Cast

Nicholas Hammond	...	Peter Parker / ... (13 episodes, 1978-1979)
Robert F. Simon	...	J. Jonah Jameson (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Ellen Bry	...	Julie Masters (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Chip Fields	...	Rita Conway (12 episodes, 1978-1979)

Also Known As:

"Spiderman"

Runtime:

60 min (15 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Charles Fries Productions

Trivia:

Contrary to popular belief, "Spider-man" was not canceled because of low ratings. In fact, the series performed well in the ratings, but TV politics were believed to have played a role in the cancellation; CBS executives apparently wanted to shed the network's image as "The Superhero Network," so they canceled the show, in addition to "Wonder Woman." (However, "The Incredible Hulk" remained at the network until 1982.)

Movie Connections:

Referenced in VH-1 Where Are They Now: Superheros (2003) (TV)

Thank you Mr. Hammond!

This 70's Spider-Man series is one of my favorites. It may not be exactly like the comics, but it was impossible to do a live action Spider-Man on 70's TV like the one in the comics. In those days before CGI they could have stunt men hanging by wires, the camera could be tilted, blue screen could be employed, but no matter what they tried it just wasn't going to look like the comics. None of that stopped Nicholas Hammond from shining though. Hammond imbued his Parker/Spider-Man with a tremendous integrity and sincerity which transcended the limitations of low tech 70's TV and made him a great comic book hero in the classic sense. He was honorable, compassionate, and just. I had great admiration for Hammond's idealistic Parker/Spider-Man as a kid. I never missed an episode. Thanks Nicholas Hammond!