Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993)

On 17 May 1966, Jonathan and Martha Kent witness the crash-landing of a small spaceship in Shuster's Field outside of Smallville, Kansas. When they investigate the craft, they discover the baby Kal-El. The Kents decide to raise him as their own, naming him "Clark Jerome Kent". Unlike the silver age comic continuity in the comics, in which they are deceased, Jonathan and Martha are very much alive in the TV show, and frequently visit Metropolis. Clark, throughout the series, has proudly stated several times that Martha made his Superman costume for him.

Twenty-seven years later, Clark moves to Metropolis and gets a job at the Daily Planet under the gruff editor Perry White. There, he is partnered with star reporter Lois Lane. 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, a benefactor to Metropolis who is secretly evil. Luthor develops an interest in Lois Lane and tries to woo her for the majority of Season One; although Lois is receptive to his romantic advances, she remains infatuated with the Man of Steel. Luthor eventually proposes marriage, and Lois accepts. Luthor decides to coincide his nuptials with the death of Superman, trapping the hero within a kryptonite cage directly beneath the chapel where the wedding is about to take place. When Superman gets free and Luthor is exposed, the villain takes his own life rather than be arrested. Because his powers have been sapped by Luthor's kryptonite, Clark is unable to stop the villain from killing himself.

Lois & Clark was the second medium (after the much ignored 1988 Superman animated series produced by Ruby-Spears for CBS) outside of comics to break tradition and mirror John Byrne's retcon of Superman, which included making Clark Kent more assertive and less of a clumsy oaf. Dean Cain's Clark gradually becomes a well-regarded and highly competent reporter, even beating out Lois for an award (much to her consternation). A few episodes directly emphasized that Clark was the unequivocal 'dominant' personality, not the superhero. Also of note are Clark Kent and Superman's traditional hairstyles, which are reversed; Here it is Superman whose hair is slicked-back, Clark whose fringe falls more naturally.