Superheroes on TV
From The TV Tidbits Classic Television Book of Lists
Originally posted 09.03.06

A book of TV lists that only the experts at TV Tidbits could put together has finally arrived (click on the cover, left, to order). But we thought we'd give you a sneak peek by previewing one of the chapters, Superheroes on the Small Screen. Enjoy!

Batman, 1966-1968, Wednesday and Thursday nights January 1966 to August 1967; Thursday night only September 1967-March 1968 — What can you say about a genuine pop phenomenon that, in many ways, remains one of the finest-ever adaptations of comic book to film or video? A lot, obviously, but we’ll have to stick to a few basics. It debuted in January 1966 on ABC and became an instant hit, blowing away every other piece of bland programming on at the time.

ABC made the unusual decision to air two half hours a week, setting the series up as essentially one-hour episodes with a cliffhanger in the middle. That, plus it’s over-the-top flair (some would say “camp” aspect) spelled doom for the show. It was a case of, “be careful what you wish for or we’ll give you too much.”

By its second season, Batman was trimmed to one night a week, but the series had lost momentum and was dropped after only two years. Still, it’s never been forgotten. The combination of a stalwart, martini-dry Batman/Bruce Wayne (the invaluable Adam West) and a blank slate but cute-in-tights Robin, a teen that other teens could impress their own selves on with no problem, since actor Burt Ward, a newcomer, gave Robin/Dick Grayson a less-than-sparkling personality battling outrageous supervillains played by different Hollywood stars every week (who clamored to be on the show) remains irresistible. And that theme song! That hoppped up narration! Those actual comic-book graphics during the fight scenes (Pow! Bam! Splat!)! That catch-phrase: Holy hit show! There’s never been anything like it before or since.

• Yvonne Craig joined the series in its second season as Commissioner Gordon’s daughter, aka Batgirl, to bring in some female viewers and lift the ratings. Alas, it was a ploy that failed.

• There are three Catwomen associated with this series. The first, Statuesque, sexy Julie Newmar, appeared as The Catwoman in the most episodes, spanning the entire first season (actually, half a regular TV season, since the show was a midseason replacement) and part of the second season. Songstress Eartha Kitt took over for three episodes in the third season. The third, former Miss America Lee Meriwether, took over the role for a 1966 feature film, Batman: The Movie, which was released to capitalize on the success of the series.

• Other than Meriwether, the movie featured every regular from the series, including supervillains the Riddler (Frank Gorshin), The Penguin (Burgess Meredith, slumming and loving it), and the Joker (Cesar Romero, chewing the scenery with relish).

• Meriwether actually appeared in the Batman series, but not as Catwoman; she played heiress Lisa Carson in a March 1967 two-parter that featured portly Victor Buono as maniacal villain King Tut plotting to kidnap her. Also in the episode were original Star Treks ensign, Grace Lee Whitney, and future Room 222 teacher Lloyd Haines.

• West, who’s displayed a disarming tongue-in-cheek nature to much of the rest of his career roles, has voiced Batman in a handful of cartoons, including 1977’s The New Adventures of Batman and 1984’s SuperFriends: The Legendary Superpowers Show. Currently, he voices Mayor West on the hit Family Guy.

• Among West’s post-Batman projects is a particularly well remembered failed pilot, Lookwell. In it, West played, with a deadly, hysterical deadpan a former cop-show star who decides to become a real-life detective. Late Show’s Conan O’Brien was a writer/producer on Lookwell. Saturday Night Live’s Lorner Michaels executive produced.

• Burt Ward wrote an autobiography called Boy Wonder: My Life in Tights in 1995, describing his experiences on the show, including sexual escapades with fans. He currently runs Boy Wonder Digital Effects, which, as its name implies, creates animation and 3-D effects for films and TV.