abstract
| - Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a live-action American television series based on the Superman comic books. Lois & Clark aired on ABC from 12 September 1993 to 14 June 1997; it starred Dean Cain as Superman/Clark Kent and Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane. The series loosely follows the philosophy of comic book writer John Byrne, treating Clark Kent as the true personality, and Superman as a secondary disguise. As the show's title suggests, it focuses as much on the relationship between Clark Kent and Lois Lane as on the adventures of Clark's super-powered alter-ego. As in the original comic book, Clark works as a reporter at the Daily Planet under the gruff editor, Perry White. However, the television series deviates from contemporary comic book continuity in several ways, not least of which is the fact that Clark's adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, are both alive in the TV show. As well, Clark's co-workers not only include the Planet's star reporter, Lois Lane, and a young photographer, Jimmy Olsen, but also a gossip columnist, Cat Grant. Although Clark falls for Lois at first sight, she considers him little more than a pest. When Superman saves her, however, Lois instantly becomes infatuated with Clark's alter-ego. Superman's first mission interferes with the illegal dealings of Lex Luthor, an apparent benefactor to Metropolis but secretly evil. Luthor tries to woo Lois throughout Season One; and, although remaining infatuated with Superman, she accepts when Luthor eventually proposes marriage. He decides to celebrate his nuptials by killing Superman. When the plot is exposed, Luthor takes his own life rather than be arrested. In Season Two, Clark and Lois begin to date. He proposes to her in the season finale; and, in the Season Three premiere, she replies, "Who's asking, Clark or Superman?" It is thus revealed that Lois has discovered Superman's secret identity. However, as she resents that Clark never confessed it to her, their courtship lasts for several episodes before she finally accepts his ring. The engagement is spun out, seemingly interminably; and the two do not actually marry until early in Season Four. ABC had announced and promised an additional fifth year of the show, so the show's producers and writers were caught unprepared when ABC later changed its mind and decided that no new episodes would be produced. As a result, the series ended on a cliffhanger. The series spawned several short tie-in books aimed at young adults, as well as one full-length novel for adults, Lois & Clark: A Superman Novel (1996), written by C. J. Cherryh. Adapted from the Wikipedia article on Lois and Clark: The New Adventrues of Superman.
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