Syndication Files 08.19.09: Batman (1960s TV Series)

Posted by Porfirio Diaz on 08.19.2009

Holy nostalgic fruitcake! The 1960s Batman series was a light-hearted and highly campy version that became one of the greatest television shows to grace the screen. From Adam West’s iconic (and forever known) portrayal of the Cape Crusader to the exaggerated fighting sequences, it’s this version of Batman that many love to associate with. Get ready to power those atomic batteries to this week’s edition of the Syndication Files.

I like to say that this is without a doubt the best non-animated Batman television show ever. I don't care if it's the only non-animated Batman television ever. My vote still stands. Keep reading and find out why. I promise you won't need much convincing.


Syndication Files # 7

Batman


The classic Batman Theme by Neal Hefti

"Oh, I guess you're only familiar with the new Batman movies. Michelle Pfeiffer...ha...the only true Catwoman is Julie Newmar, Lee Merriwether or Eartha Kitt. And I didn't need a molded plastic suit to improve my physique *Taps chest* Pure West. And how come Batman doesn't dance anymore, remember the Bat-tussi? Do do-do do do-do…"

- Adam West's greatest line ever, The Simpsons

The road of Adam West's greatness starts here.

The early 1960s Batman comic strip was booming and everybody wanted the chance to bring the print art to the television screen. Ed Graham Productions initially had the TV rights to produce the Batman show, but DC Comics regain their rights once negotiations between CBS and Graham stalled. Michael Crabtree would be proud (and that sports reference just lost me 66% of my audience). DC Comics took their show and made a deal with ABC. ABC joyfully took it and suddenly America was going to have Batman on the air. ABC handed the project to 20th Century Fox, who then handed the project to William Dozier and his Greenway Productions. If you ever wanted to know the answer of whom was it that made the 1960s Batman television show the classic that it is today, thank William Dozier. The suits expected a serious and action-packed show and William Dozier gave them just that…with an injected dose of intentional comedy and campy visualization. Batman the TV series made its debut on January 12, 1966.

We all know the story of Batman. Boy meets tragedy, boy sees bat, and boy turns into superhero bat man. One notable omission missing from the comic books is just that: Batman's past. I don't think the show really dived into the tragic history of Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson and their identities as Batman and Robin. Considering the source material of the show, it's understandable. Other than that, the show follows the comic books about as close as it could get: Bruce Wayne is a multi-billionaire living with young ward Dick Grayson. Together they fight crime as Batman and Robin in the crime infested cesspool of Gotham City, battling big time criminals such as the Joker, Riddler, Catwoman, and Penguin.



The Batman character we know nowadays has a stronger, darker sense of realism and characterization. Compare that to the 1966 version of Batman and the difference is night and day. Whereas the recent movies are suspenseful and frightening, the 1966 television version is light-hearted and campy. I cannot stress enough just how campy this show is but that's the identity that made this show awesome. Where to start…

The show follows a strict formula for each episode, which goes like this:

1. Story begins with "Villain of the Week" doing villain-stuff, Commissioner Gorden calls Batman on Batphone (by the way, I miss the Batphone)

2. Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson slide down the Batpole (ditto), become Batman and Robin, and race off in their Batmobile

3. Batman and Robin meet villain, villain gets away

4. Villain captures Batman and/or Robin in some zany deathtrap, end episode with cliffhanger

5. Second episode, Hero(es) miraculously escape ("Good thing I always carry my Carousel Reversal Spray!")

6. Repeat sequence 1-3.

7. Heroes defeat villain in a major brawl at the onomatopoeic words factory

8. "Tune in tomorrow – same Bat-time, same Bat-channel"

The show follows the same two episode pattern nearly every week. No matter how formulaic, campy, ridiculous, and exaggerated the show was, it was insanely popular. I imagine that the show was fully intended without thinking about the ramifications of parody or the future possibly of the internet because this show is a satire goldmine. One of the best moments of the show is when the dynamic duo goes into battle with the episode's main villain and his comical cast of henchmen. Watch as every (obviously missed) punch gets punctuated by the onomatopoeic words that fly onto your television screen.


The best 7 minutes of your life

Awk? Zok?

Honestly, these fight scenes are so bad that they make William Shatner vs. the Lizard look like Randy Couture vs. Chuck Liddell (by the way, Simpsons and Star Trek references FTW). But it's that over-the-top, ridiculous nature of these fights scenes that makes the show memorable. The words hitting your retinas on every impacted blow just makes it infinity times better. If you cannot laugh at watching Robin fly around in that little cart making as little damage as possible, then you have no soul.

One thing that usually gets overlooked is the camera shots. The show uses angled shots of the villain's headquarters to focus on how crooked the villains were. It's these little things that help create unique identities to the show. Even the Batman parodies spend a lot of time over these camera angles.

This is also the show that made the greatest victim of typecasting ever. Before there was Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Christian Bale, there was the great Adam West. West played the character Batman in such a bizarre and monotone way that he forever became restrained as the man in the silly light blue suit. Looking at his character now, can you really think how this guy ever became Batman? He's such a square! If this was a high school drama series, the jocks would lay waste on Batman while the girls would tease him constantly (the bad kind of teasing). Of course, we all know that Batman had the strength and coolness factor to overcome such petty obstacles, even if he does include some of his corny commentary within his confrontations. I mean, just look at the nonsense that come out of Batman's mouth.

Joker: [laughing] Have a SNEEZE on me, Batman!
[Joker administers sneezing powder upon Batman, which has no effect]
Batman: No use, Joker! I knew you'd employ your sneezing powder, so I took an Anti-Allergy Pill! Instead of a SNEEZE, I've caught YOU, COLD!

My sides….splitting…

The funny thing is my sides are really splitting. Have anyone else say that line and the results would be less than pleasant. But Adam West makes that extremely cheesy line work and damn is it ever funny. Have I mention yet how awesome Adam West is?

Try using that line to pick up chicks at bars. Speaking of bars…

Batman: I'm just going to hang around the bar. I don't want to look conspicuous.

I couldn't resist.

Being typecasted in one role isn't necessarily a bad thing. Adam West played a role so historic that audiences instantly clicked with it. Unfortunately, that same audience never allowed West to portray any other characters (Batman, meet Al Bundy). West tried his damndest in trying to distance himself from the character but it was for naught. His voice is so recognizable that no matter what character he plays, people would instantly know that it's the former Batman television star. Coincidentally, the best thing that West ever did post-Batman was continuing his career in voice-over acting and generally embracing the role of being Batman forever (ahhhh!). Now only did it give him new life in the art of acting, but he became on every geek's list of their top ten celebrities. Hell, he usually has the funniest lines in Family Guy and he's only a minor character.

Should I also mention Adam West's Batman dancing obsession? Yes, yes I should.


Put Adam "Bat-tussi" West on Dancing With the Stars nao!

Adam generally loves to poke fun at himself. That's why he's a better mortal than you.

That's enough sucking on the teet of Batman for while. Let's move on to Robin, that little brown noser. Burt Ward plays as Captian Obvious the Boy Wonder, who usually accompanies Batman on his missions. I may sound mean towards the young character, but that's only out of love. Ward played Robin excellently and looked like he was really into the role. Robin's over-the-top examinations are ludicrously hilarious and only add to the campy nature of the show. Funny story is that Ward auditioned for the part of Robin without ever having read a Batman comic. He's was also in the same typecast situation as West but at a lesser extent.

But there is one thing that the 1966 version of Robin is known for. Yes, you know what it is.


Not included: "Holey rusted metal, Batman! The ground. It's all metal. It's full of holes. You know, holey."

Strong words from a strong man.

Batman and Robin had a bundle of villains to battle but there can be only four that are considered their biggest threats: Joker (Casar Romero), Penguin (Burgess Meredith), Catwoman (Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt) and Riddler (Frank Gorshin and John Astin). Each villain had their own memorable annoyance: the Penguins' "wah wah wah" penguin cry, Catwoman's sexy catnip chatter (puurrrrr), and the Riddlers…uhmm…adorable riddles.

The villains are more cartoony evil than anything else and they all played their part fantastically, especially Romero. How Romero compares to the likes of Jack Nicholson and Hedge Ledger is up to you. In fact I would rather compare Romero more against the likes of Nicholson alone since they both played identical Joker personalities. I don't know about you guys, but choosing which one was the best Joker is like picking your favorite children. We may have to come back from this discussion some day.


Oh noes! Will he succeed?! The suspension!

As great as the show was, the ratings couldn't justify the continuation of the show. A promotional short introducing Batgirl (Yvonne Cragi) and Killer Moth (Tim Herbert) was enough for the show to live through a third season but not even Batgirl could save Batman this time. The decision to cancel Batman was finalized by the end of the third season after 120 episodes. March 14, 1968 was the final time Batman was shown on television. It wasn't until weeks later that NBC showed interest in picking up the show for a fourth season. Unfortunately, Fox had already destroyed the set a week before. What horrible timing.

The series is still shown in syndication under the ABC/20th Century Fox deal but none of the episodes are in DVD format as of yet (but there is the Internet…*coughtorrentcough*). At least the equally entertaining 1966 Batman feature film is available on DVD.

It's questionable whether the pop culturally influenced crowd still associates the Batman character to the 1966 version despite being the oldest and least reflective version today. There has never been another campy manifestation of Batman like this ever since. With today's darker adaptation, more than likely people had forgotten about the greatness of the dancing man in a bat costume.

Besides, how can we ever forget completely "unpossible" moments like this?


*Head explodes*


Commercial Break


Adam West can make anything look enjoyable

That's it. I want Adam West to become my voiceover guy to narrate my daily life wherever I go. I bet he would have made the new G.I. movie seem particularly interesting.

I'm only kidding, of course. Let's put the pitchforks down, keyboard warriors.


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Ending Credits

In football news: Vick is back, Favre is back, and the Raiders' head coach punches out one of his assistants. Suddenly, all is right with the world.

You know about that thing about Adam West being forever typecasted as Batman. Well, he's still doing it and apparently Batman has the same financial trouble as the rest of us.


Last line = GOLD

Long live Adam West

And with that, I'm out of time. Out like Gina Carano (teh sad).