Holy Talkback Batman! The 60s TV Thread (Spoilers)

**The Penguin** · 05-06-2002, 03:05 AM

Many of us love the old series from the 1960s. However it doesn't seem like that a majority of us do. Rather than start a thread each day for an episode arc and get a handful of replies I propose we just talk about the episodes in this one thread.

Every Monday afternoon or so I (or someone

) will post the episodes for the next week and the synopsis for each as they appear on the TV Land website. (The synopsises are small so you can easily skip over them in case you don't want to know too much.) Theoretically when you post it will be before the episodes for the next day have aired, but include the title of the two episodes in the subject of your post. Please feel free to use the five-star scale, but with the way this would work it wouldn’t be possible to have a poll.

Here is week 1 beginning on Monday and going until Sunday. Each arc starts at 7 p.m. eastern and replays the following morning at 4 a.m.

Monday, May 6
Special Guest Villain Frank Gorshin as The Riddler
001 "Hi Diddle Riddle"
The Riddler uses a trumped-up lawsuit to try to unmask Batman in court. Batman is forced to break the law himself, and Robin ends up in the master-fiend's evil clutches. Watch for the latest dance craze: the Batusi!
&
002 "Smack in the Middle"
The Riddler tries to lure Batman into a trap using Robin as the bait.

Tuesday, May 7
Special Guest Villain Burgess Meredith as The Penguin
003 "Fine Feathered Finks"
After being released from prison, the Penguin and his crew wreak havoc on Umbrella shops around Gotham City. But, as Batman suspects, this is only a diversion to draw attention away from a bank robbery. As the dynamic duo head to the bank, a giant umbrella descends on the city, blocking traffic in all directions. Disguised as his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, Batman infiltrates the Penguin's umbrella factory in an attempt to track him down. Thinking he is merely a spy from a rival factory, the Penguin orders that he be quickly dispatched in his 12,000 degree furnace.
&
004 "The Penguin's A Jinx"
Narrowly escaping a fiery death, Bruce Wayne returns to the Batcave to ponder Penguin's next move. As he and Robin deliberate, the Penguin listens-in through a bugged umbrella in the Batcave. They decide that the Penguin's next move is to kidnap a famous actress staying at a nearby hotel. Rushing to the scene, the lovely actress begins to fall for the caped crusader just as Penguin makes his move. After subduing the crime fighters and getting away with the girl, the Penguin returns to his hideout to listen in on the Batcave through the secret umbrella transmitter. Little does he know, Batman and Robin have set up decoys of themselves, and are on their way to rescue the girl and capture the villain. After a fierce Battle, the dynamic duo return to their civilian identities to celebrate at Wayne Manor. When the lovely actress declares her love for Batman, Bruce Wayne can only listen longingly.

Wednesday, May 8
Special Guest Villain Cesar Romero as The Joker
005 "The Joker is Wild"
Batman and Robin learn that the Joker has escaped from prison, and immediately head to the Comedian Statue Collection at the Gotham Museum to observe a bust of the villain. The statue comes to life, and the Joker's henchman arrive, bent on raiding the museum and defeating the dynamic duo. As he is knocked out, Batman releases a Batgas pellet that knocks out the henchman. The Joker escapes through a trap door and plots to design his own utility belt to combat the caped crusader. The showdown will be at the Gotham Opera house, where the Joker is disguised as a singer on the stage. Just as they attempt to unmask the villain, they are stopped by sneezing powder, and the Joker moves in to unmask Batman.
&
006 "Batman Is Riled"
By firing a Batmissile that sets off the sprinkler system, Batman manages to avoid being unmasked. But, the Joker escapes, and Gotham descends into its worst crime wave ever. Continually evading the dynamic duo, Joker has placed paralyzing gas in a Champagne bottle Batman is supposed to use to Christen the new S.S. Gotham. Noticing the seal on the old bottle is new, Batman and Robin take their universal ant-gas pills. When the gas levels everyone at the ceremony, Joker takes Batman and Robin back to his lair, demanding that the S.S. Gotham be handed over to him, or he will behead the dynamic duo. Suddenly, Batman and Boy Wonder leap to their feet and subdue the Joker and his minions, making Gotham safe again.

Thursday, May 9
Special Guest Villain George Sanders as Mister Freeze
007 "Instant Freeze"
Mr. Freeze is raising havoc with his flame-freeze gun, and Batman and Robin rush to the rescue. The Caped Crusader and Boy Wonder try to foil Freeze's attempt to steal the Circle of Ice Diamond, but Freeze freezes them in their steps with his deadly ice-gun and drives away.
&
008 "Rats Like Cheese"
Batman and Robin are thawed out, but Freeze has kidnapped Gotham City's star ballplayer just before the big game. Freeze's terms are a fair exchange: the ballplayer for Batman.

Friday, May 10
Special Guest Villainess Anne Baxter as Zelda the Great
009 "Zelda the Great"
After a mysterious, unidentified villain robs the Gotham bank, Batman and Robin print a phony news story about how the money was counterfeit in order to lure the robber out of hiding. The crook, famous escape artists Zelda the Great, is enticed to steal a large jewel recently placed in a chic Gotham store. Smelling a trap, Zelda infiltrates the store disguised as an old lady and takes the jewel, which is actually a homing device, without anyone noticing. The dynamic duo are frustrated to find the homing device discarded in a gutter a short while later. Soon, they find out Zelda's real plan when Commissioner Gordon tells them that Dick Grayson's Aunt has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom.
&
010 "A Death Worse than Fate"
A few minutes before Zelda the Great is about to drown Dick Grayson's Aunt Harriet, Batman makes contact with her and they arrange to pay the ransom. When Harriet is safely returned, a match book advertising the Gnome Bookstore falls from her pocket. There, Eivol Ekdal, an Albanian evil genius associate of Zelda's, plans to snare Batman and Robin in his Doom-Trap. The dynamic duo walk right into the trap as expected, but Zelda, now smitten with the handsome caped crusader, yells out a warning to them before they are shot like fish in a barrel. Batman uses the Batarang to snag Ekdal, and Zelda goes to jail, but not for long. Bruce Wayne secures her a reprieve since she saved Batman's life, and nets her a job as resident magician in a children's home.

Saturday, May 11
Special Guest Villain Frank Gorshin as The Riddler
011 "A Riddle a Day Keeps The Riddler Away"
Riddler disrupts the arrival of visiting King Boris with an exploding bouquet of roses presented to him at the airport. Batman and Robin decipher the riddle that floats down from the commotion and are led to the Miss Galaxy crowning. Although Batman and Robin have substituted a phony for the real tiara crown to be used, Riddler still swoops through the ceremony, stealing the crown only to give it up with another riddle inside. Piecing together Riddler's puzzling clues, Batman and Robin rush to the Royal Mushroom Club to protect King Boris once again. Riddler and his River Rat gang, composed of Fangs, Whitey, Whiskers, and lovely Mousey, hold the King at the old water and power plant, and Riddler secretly rigs a bomb in the King's Queen of Freedom Monument. The Caped Crusader and Boy Wonder smash through the skylight only to be trapped by the River Rats in some cobweb-like sticky stuff. The Dynamic Duo is strapped to the generator drive shaft, awaiting their doom.
&
012 "When the Rat's Away, The Mice will Play"
After King Boris places his Queen of Freedom statue in Gotham's Museum of Fame at a special ceremony, Riddler sends word to Commissioner Gordon that the statue contains a time bomb which he will deactivate only after the city delivers $1,000,000 to him. For help, Gordon calls upon wealthy Bruce Wayne, who is really Batman.

Sunday, May 12
Special Guest Villain David Wayne as The Mad Hatter
013 "The Thirteenth Hat"
When a number of hats, along with their owners, disappear around Gotham City, Batman and Robin realize that the Mad Hatter must again be on the loose and trying to kidnap each member of the jury who convicted him. The trail leads to a sculptor's studio, and a horrendous, statue shattering melee ensues. Robin is clonked, and the Hatter gleefully buries Batman in Super-Fast Hardening Plaster
&
014 "Batman Stands Pat"
Batman and his chum escape from their plaster prisons and crack their adversary's scheme. The Hatter purposely leads Batman and Robin to his fiendish hat factory, stocked with terrifying torture machines.

Holy Comments Batman!

**The Penguin** · 05-07-2002, 03:53 AM

I hate to be the one to get this thread going since I was the one who started it, but oh well.

This episode is just everything that is great about Batman from this era. You can tell it is the first episode of the series because even though all of the characters are already established some of the things Gordon says implies that Batman is newer.

I don't think there is any other mention of Bruce's parents being killed in the series and it's almost funny how frank and unemotional Bruce is about the whole thing. It's like "Well back when my parents were murdered...

" No pain, just a 'fully-deputized agent of the law' it sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm not--that's just the way the show works.

My friends and I thought it was a just a tad bit disturbing how well Burt Ward played Molly with the Robin mask on.

A good start to the series and to "The Penguin revisits his childhood by watching Batman"

I'm looking forward to some of the more elborate cliff-hanger traps though.

I think I'll give this one ***1/2

(Come on people I know you're out there, just say what you thought. If you thought it was corny and you can't imagine why you watched it again say that. Let's get this thread moving.

)

**Mattashell** · 05-07-2002, 04:01 AM

I missed it today! But I saw it last week during the week long Bat-Manathon!

Riddler was ahead of his time with the lawsuit trick. People pull that crap all the time today.

The Batusi!!!

I loved seeing those cops tell Batman he's too messed up to drive. Great stuff. Four Stars!

**GrayGhost** · 05-07-2002, 12:24 PM

I have seen every episode about 1,000 times but I am still watching. Waiting for the Mad Hatter episode, one of my favorites.

**Joker85** · 05-07-2002, 05:48 PM

Well, I havent seen them the last couple of days, but I remember those epps and haave em taped. All are good, especially the first Penguin and Joker eps.

p.s. to Penguin: Thanks for starting this thread, I for one happen to be a BIG fan of the 60s show. I started a thread on it about a year ago, but its long gone by now(as you can well imagine)

**Mattashell** · 05-07-2002, 07:31 PM

"Tis but one man alive who can throw a net over that cagey bird."-Cheif O'hara

"Listen... The baleful bird is about to chirp."-Cheif O'hara

The Penguin is released from prison, only to commit a jewel heist three days later, by distributing trick umbrellas to jewel store customers. The warden shows up with a video tape (it must have been one of the first!) of Penguin plotting in his prison cell.

O'Hara discovers Penguin has opened an umbrella factory under the name of K. G. Bird. Penguin plans to release senseless havoc on Gothem via trick umbrellas. Planning that Batman will peice together Penguin's plan, which Penguin will then adopt! Another heist at a bank, no money stolen. Batman and Robin raid penguins warehouse, but Penguin only manufactures Umbrellas, is it any affair of his what they do after they leave? Penguin drops a giant umbrella on Gothem. Batman and Robin find a little umbrella attached to the top. Thay take it to the Bat Cave to analyze it. It seems to be an ordinary umbrella. Batman plans to bug Penguins office with a spider-shaped microphone/transmitter. by disguising himself as Bruce Wayne.

Penguin detects the bug, nets and gasses Bruce. Penguin suspects industrial espionage. Penguin will dispose of bruce in the furnace where they forge the umbrella ribs.

"Oh the irony of it. The horror! The flaming end to the caped crusader? Can Bruce possibly escape? For Batman's sake keep your fingers crossed untill tomorrow. Same Bat-time! Same Bat-Channel!"

**Mattashell** · 05-07-2002, 08:03 PM

"I do hope master Bruce hasn't fallen into some hot spot."-Alfred

"Batman never lends himself to commercial enterprizes"-Dawn Robbins' agent

Robin and Alfred are concerned that they haven't heard from the transmitter. Bruce escapes by tossing compressed butane into the furnace. Penguin let's him go. Batman and robin must muster all of their brainpower to solve the mystery of the umbrella. The Bat-Brella contains a transmitter that Penguin is using to spy. Batman predicts a raid on a museum display of a jewel mediorite. Penguin will pull it off untill Batman determines it to be impossible. Then Batman decides he is planning to kidnap a movie star named Dawn Robbins. He determines exactly how Penguin could do it, Penguin is up for the heist.

Dawn Robbins is posing for a layout in "Funboy" magazine up in her penthouse. Penguin and crew show up Batman and Robin fire the Batzooka and climb the terrace. Dawn is complaining about how boring it is being rich and beutiful. She thinks at first they are from outer space. Her Agent sets her strait. Penguin and crew hook umbrellas on a cable and slide across to her window. Batman and Robin ambush, but Penguin is ready. He uses a megnet to pin Batman and Robin to the wall by their utility belts. Penguin escapes with Dawn. Batman and Robin are freed by a room service waiter at midnight. Penguin makes his ransom demands. Batman and Robin plan to hide inside suits of armor when Penguin shows up at Wayne Manor for the ransom, but The Penguin is listening. Penguins men gas Alfred. Alfred gases the suits of armor and finds Batman and robin inside them. He takes the money. Aunt Harriet finds Alfred sleeping beside Dawn and is shocked. Batman and Robin show up, they knew all about the transmitter. It was dummys in the suits of armor. A Bat-fight ensues. Guess who wins. Chief O'Hara takes Penguin away.

"No Mr. Wayne, it's more tragic than that, much more tragic. She only glimpsed him for a moment, bushe's hopelessly in love wit him, her unknown savior, Batman."

**The Penguin** · 05-08-2002, 04:18 PM

This episode really shows just how clever The Penguin is. Really what kind of villain let's Batman handle the planning of his crime for him? He really is an "aristocrat of crookery"

I like how he and his finks are listening and they get all excited about the one caper and then Batman decides it couldn't be done. When I watched these way back in "the day" I actually cheered for Penguin even though I knew he was going to lose in the end. I can't wait for another one featuring Burgess Meredith.

In my own blantly biased way I'm giving this one *****

**Mattashell** · 05-09-2002, 03:12 AM

Tonight's ep was The Joker is Wild/Batman Is Riled. I love the Joker's ecape from prison, and the fact that everyone is watching Pagliacci...IN A BAR!!!

**The Penguin** · 05-09-2002, 11:31 AM

I'd say this one was pretty good. Before I just started watching these again here one thing I always remembered was the Joker and the spring-loaded pitcher's mound. Joker pretending to be the opera singer really didn't do it for me, but that's ok.

When I was a kid I never noticed that Cesar Romero had a mustache when he filmed the series, now that I know I see it all the time.

Well I gave the Riddler on Monday 3 1/2 and I liked this one maybe a little less, but since I'm in such a good mood I'll still give this arc ***1/2 (sits and waits for the Penguin-Joker team-up episode

).

**Joker85** · 05-09-2002, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by The Penguin
I'd say this one was pretty good. Before I just started watching these again here one thing I always remembered was the Joker and the spring-loaded pitcher's mound. Joker pretending to be the opera singer really didn't do it for me, but that's ok.

When I was a kid I never noticed that Cesar Romero had a mustache when he filmed the series, now that I know I see it all the time.

Well I gave the Riddler on Monday 3 1/2 and I liked this one maybe a little less, but since I'm in such a good mood I'll still give this arc ***1/2 (sits and waits for the Penguin-Joker team-up episode ).

This episode was definitely one of the best Joker's eps of the series,but I pretty muched liked them all. The only one that I didn'tt like was "THe Joker's Flying Saucer" , terrible episode!! The joker/penguin team up episode was absolutly fantastic!!

The two of them together were so funny!

**rabidrednek** · 05-09-2002, 07:37 PM

The episode I'm waiting for?

the famous Batman & Robin/Green Hornet & Kato episode!

I only ever got to see that episode ONCE as a kid and I can barely remember what happened. I have the book "Back to the Batcave" by adam west ( a must read) and his description of the episode and how it was like working with BRUCE LEE really made me want to see it.

My favorite part was when he was describing the preps for shooting a fight scene between Robin and Kato. Normally Bruce was a friendly fellow who enjoyed walking up to smokers and kicking the cigarettes out of their mouths. But when the big day came, lee comes out looking as if he's gone completely psycho. Just when Burt Ward is fearing for his life and Adam is considering running Bruce over withthe batmobile to stop him, Lee jumps back and shouts "Robins a chicken!" and start laughing his head off.

West notes that after that, Burt was in rare form during that fight.

**ClarkKent** · 05-10-2002, 12:19 AM

Good thread.

I've been having to tape it this week, and been taping the 4 am shows over the 7 pm. So far, I've only been able to view the first 2 episodes.

The Riddler Arc

Good stuff, and a great beginning. The batusi, and I was surprised about the mentioning of the Waynes' murder. I never knew it was mentioned on the series. Frank Gorshin as the Riddler is a fantastic job. Campy, yet fun stuff. *** 1/2

The Penguin Arc

Just started the second part of it. Again, Bruce mentions about his dad being dead, when in the Penguin's shop. Love Burgess Meredith as the Penguin. Best part so far is when Penguin and his goons are listening in on Robin and Bats trying to figure out what the umbrella means. From what I seen, ****.

I like how every episode starts with The Villain, or a crime as the penguin episodes case, then to the Comissioners office where they decide to call up Batman, Bruce gets the call and down the poles we go!

Going to watch the Joker Arc once the penguin is done. Mr. Freeze gets taped in a few hours.

**The Penguin** · 05-10-2002, 12:51 AM

George Sanders is easily my favorite Mr. Freeze from the series. Watching it again he may be a bit too German, but overall he's the best of the three. I like the hot and cold "zones" in his hideout, but I didn't care for how his gun shot fire as well as ice.

The costume looks incredibly bad, but I think Sanders does a great job inside it. I think it is interesting that Batman caused Freeze's condition, but I like the Dini version better. When you come down to it the 60s version is just a wack-job in a bad spacesuit. I found it interesting that this series was the one who changed his name to Mr. Freeze (good thing too).

Overall I think I'll give this one ***1/2 it's good but not fantastic as far as the series go imo.

P.S. You've gotta love the emergency Bat-turn!

**ClarkKent** · 05-10-2002, 02:24 AM

Some good stuff here. When i think of the '60s Batman series, and any episode with The joker in it, this is the arc that comes to mind. Especially the first part, with his escape during the softball game, and the opera scene. I love the guy at the bar, who gets two classic lines.

"It's my mother-in-law!" (When the Joker is revealed on TV)

"They shouldn't be out with those colds." (When Batman and Robin start sneezing after the Joker throws sneezing powder at them.)

I noticed this was the first episode where "Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel" was used.

****

Something I really like are the facts the TV Land voice-over guy gives between the two episodes. Anyone else find these fascinating?

"the worst is yet to come!"

**Mattashell** · 05-10-2002, 02:49 AM

"A heart of ice, and the cold, calculating mind of a criminal."-Commissioner Gordon

"I will toy with him like cat with mouse. I will lead him to the scene of the crime. First I toy, then I destroy."-Mr. Freeze

It's interesting to see the pre-B:TAS Mr. Freeze, and to learn his origin. This time Mr. Freeze is in town looking for revenge on Batman, who, in this continuity it seems, is resposible for Freeze's condition.

**The Penguin** · 05-11-2002, 08:36 PM

This one was ok. To be honest I wasn't really all that impressed with Anne Baxter. She just didn't make me care about Zelda one way or the other.

I liked Eivol Ekdal, the escape builder guy, but even he seemed a bit forced at times. Zelda has magic in common with Zantanna and they both start with Z (interesting).

It's Batman so it wasn't bad, but it sure wasn't all that great ***

**The Penguin** · 05-12-2002, 03:37 AM

I thought this was a pretty decent Riddler episode. I wish I would have given the first one this week a better score because I liked that one better. But I can't dwell on old scores anymore so I’m giving this arc ***1/2 as well. It’s got some good riddles and I like it when Riddler is "out riddled" and Batman & Robin burst out of that picture of themselves (which apparently was not mounted on a wall). And Bruce's encounter with "Batman" is just priceless. Another fun set of episodes from a fun series.

**Mattashell** · 05-12-2002, 04:01 PM

Today TVLand aired a Penguin Boxed Set, all the Penguin episodes. I didn't know they were doing this, it wasn't on the TVLand "Batman" schedule. I guess they only showed the eps airing in order on the regular daily slot, and not specials like this.

Also when is Superman on?

**ClarkKent** · 05-12-2002, 05:13 PM

Yea, when the show is part of a box set, it doesn't show up on that show's weekly schedule. TV Land has a schedule set up for thir box sets and so on.

I haven't heard anything about Superman. Probably sometime this summer.