Science Fiction batch3/20260907_170035

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## HEADING: Science Fiction
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MEMORY LANE
Smallville's Erica Durance is just the latest actress to
play Lois, the Man of Steel's iron-willed girlfriend By Michael Davis
D
own through the de-
cades, Lois Lane has
changed almost as
often as Clark Kent
went to that Daily Planet
broom closet. Now comes
a new Lois in sultry Cana-
dian actress Erica Durance,
who plays her as an inquis-
itive newcomer to Small-
ville seeking answers to
her cousin Chloe's disap-
pearance. By season's end,
she'll add some crackle to
a town that never stays
quiet for long.
As it's been for more
than 50 years of Superman
on screen, Lois Lane stirs
things up. She's got ques-
tions and she's going to
get answers, regardless
of the consequences.
That's the Lois common
denominator among the
actresses who have played
Double L. The differences
are many, thanks to a
Superman mythology that
adapts to changing times
and allows interpretations
of what is truth, justice and
the American way.
1952
OPERATING
ROOM
PHYLLIS COATES INCARNATION: Played Lois
on the first season of The Adventures of Super-
man on TV, continuing a role she created for the
theatrical film "Superman and the Mole Men."
DEFINING QUALITIES: My Gal Friday career
woman with a nose for news and kiss-me lips.
REPORTING CHOPS: Clipped, professional style
and a boundless curiosity about flying alien men.
Don't-knock-first style earned her byline scoops.
THE STYLE: Buttoned-up single brunette who
favored hats and wool suits that seemed to say,
"Don't touch me." A little chilly, this one.
LOVE LIFE: Had it bad for Superman. Had zero for
"Mr. Kent," who also wore his hat indoors at times.
1953
NOEL NEILL INCARNATION: Played Lois in suc-
ceeding years of The Adventures of Superman.
DEFINING QUALITIES: Competitive to a fault, this
sweeter-natured Lois was a magnet for trouble.
Easily vexed by Clark's frequent disappearances.
REPORTING CHOPS: Constantly violated one of
the iron principles of journalism: Cover the story,
don't become the story. Blew many a deadline
while sealed in a vault filled with knockout gas.
THE STYLE: Shopped in the Dowdy Department
but always looked presentable.
LOVE LIFE: Once prepared to marry Superman,
who flew to Switzerland to bring her a bouquet of
edelweiss. Alas, it was all a bittersweet dream.
1978
MARGOT KIDDER INCARNATION: The four films
of the Christopher Reeve-era Superman series
DEFINING QUALITIES: An assertive, tabloid Lois
of madcap energy and big appetites, who could
neither spell nor keep out of harm's way.
REPORTING CHOPS: In a Barbara Walters-style
exclusive, she tested Superman's X-ray vision by
asking, "What color underwear am I wearing?"
THE STYLE: Had a 70s-chic penthouse with a
terrace made for romance and flights of fancy.
LOVE LIFE: "Clark was her doormat," says Alfred
Gough, executive producer and cocreator of Small-
ville. But Superman relinquished his powers and
revealed himself as Clark—just to sleep with her.
1993
TERI HATCHER INCARNATION: The dramedy
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
DEFINING QUALITIES: A beguiling perfectionist
who was ambitious and insecure, "Lois wanted to
succeed on her own and not admit that she needed
a man," Hatcher says. "In her heart she did."
REPORTING CHOPS: "This Lois liked winning,"
says Paul Levitz, president and publisher of DC
Comics. "She was very much in the [news] game."
THE STYLE: Yuppie business attire that still man-
aged to show off what Superman fan Jerry Sein-
feld might describe as her "spectacular" assets.
LOVE LIFE: Flirty banter with Dean Cain, but once
the characters hooked up, romance fell to Earth.
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1996
DANA DELANY (VOICE) INCARNATION: WB's day-
time adventure Superman: The Animated Series
DEFINING QUALITIES: Delany played Lois as an
updated version of Rosalind Russell: "She's fast-
talking, snappy, full of spunk and tough."
REPORTING CHOPS: A no-nonsense investigator
with attitude. "It's clear that she's very good at her
job and the equal of any man," Delany says.
THE STYLE: Great gams, arched brows and an
uptown 'do. "I only wish I looked like Lois," says
Delany, recalling this lavender blazer and white
pleated skirt. "And lavender eyes to match!"
LOVE LIFE: Had a big-time crush on Superman
but kept things strictly business with Clark.
2004
ERICA DURANCE INCARNATION: WB's Smallville
DEFINING QUALITIES: Notably noses into every-
one's business. "She's willing to take people on
and just say what's on her mind," Gough says. Plus:
Has issues with her military father, a Great Santini
type "who wanted a son and got a daughter."
REPORTING CHOPS: This combat-trained high
schooler "is curious and tenacious but hasn't really
thought about being a journalist," Durance says.
THE STYLE: A wardrobe befitting a WB hottie.
LOVE LIFE: The Army brat disses Tom Welling as
just a farm boy. But there are sparks. (Clark's buck
naked when they first meet.)
-Additional reporting by Shawna Malcom
TV GUIDE 41