To The Batpoles! Batman 1966

You've heard it said millions of times that Adam West Batman is "campy". But... what exactly does that mean? This episode, Tim and Paul explore camp. What is it? Where did the term come from? What's the difference between "camp" and "camping"? What does Batman have in common with drag queens? Also: Was Batman '66 a "sitcom"? Susan Sontag's "Notes On Camp" "Camp" on Wikipedia

It's David Wayne's first appearance as the foppish Mad Hatter! Tim and Paul discuss other highlights of Wayne's career besides his two faceoffs with that other Wayne, Bruce! Doesn't Robin seem underemployed in this episode? Why is this arc's writer, Charles Hoffman, often dissed by Bat-fans? What's his connection to Diane McBain, who plays Lisa? Plus, the super-cool Super Instant Mesmerizer, why Tim found the plaster-dumping cliffhanger frightening when he was 9, and the surprising number of actors from this arc who later appeared on Dallas!

The Riddler's back! And he's... focused. Less giggly, more speechy. This time he kidnaps a king (Reginald Denny), then threatens to blow up the (invisible?) Queen of Freedom monument. By the way, who IS Reginald Denny? A homing device again? That trick never works! Well... almost never. Also, Museum of Fame? Campiest. Museum. EVER. Tim and Paul discuss "A Riddle A Day Keeps the Riddler Away" and "When the Rat's Away the Mice Will Play"!

We reach the first female villain in the series, Zelda the Great (Anne Baxter) -- but she's not so much a villain as a passenger to her benefactor's schemes. This occasions much discussion between Tim and Paul about not only the show's attitude toward women, but on what makes the show "campy" and what the appeal of camp was. Also, the comic book story on which this arc was based, in which Zelda's role was male. Why make the magician female? Did that change have unintended consequences? What comics did William Dozier read when researching Batman? And much more!

It's George Sanders as Mr. Freeze! Unless you're a movie buff, you might not know much else that George Sanders did in film -- or why, in comparison, his Batman performance is a bit disappointing. Tim and Paul discuss. Also: Why did the writers make Batman responsible for Mr. Freeze’s condition? Where else did Shelby Grant and Robert Hogan appear? And the usual plausibility concerns — but maybe logical plotting just wasn't a priority on ‘60s TV?

Delicious! The Joker's TV debut! His inclusion in the Comedians' Hall of Fame! Tim and Paul discuss the various absurdities of this arc, its commentary on the power of the media, the series' portrayal of "deluded" women swayed into a life of crime, and more -- including a few gags that could get us voted into the Hall, too! Everybody stuff those ballot boxes!

This time Tim and Paul take a break from the episode-by-episode analysis to touch on some stray points that have come up. Why did the show drop us into the middle of Batman's career, skipping an origin story except for a couple of expository comments? What's Batman’s motivation as a character in the show, and how has that changed over time in the comics? Are we all misremembering a famous line from episode 2? Is Batman a bumbler? Finally, some Bat-trivia — what’s spinning before the opening sequence? And, the original “Super Friends” narrator — revealed!

Can you imagine anyone else than Burgess Meredith as the Penguin? Neither can we, but he wasn't William Dozier's first choice! We dig into the first Penguin arc, "Fine Feathered Finks" and "The Penguin's a Jinx". Who are those cameo stars (the jewelry store manager!) that nobody recognizes now? Answers, right here! Same Bat-RSS feed!

If you were a "Dr. Demento" listener back in 1989, you undoubtedly heard the song we use as our opening theme, "Adam West" by the Caped Club. The man behind this record, Wally Wingert, has much more Bat-cred to his name than that; his detailed knowledge of Batman's costume isn't even the most of it. This week, Tim talks with Wally about Batman cosplay, "Adam West", and -- Adam West! Wally's first Bat-suit   Wally's fifth birthday, 1966   Batkid and Robin!

This week, discussion of the Riddler pilot arc concludes with discussion of the series tropes already on display at this early stage (and a few that aren't); the impracticality of cliffhangers; Burt Ward's versitility; is the Batmobile alive, or just really cool? We've even got some music! Shall we dance the Batusi? Also, a few other series influenced by, or ripoffs of (what's the distinction?), Batman; and, did the Batman TV show save the character from obscurity?

Now that we've set the stage, it's time to get down to business and really look at the Batman show -- and where else to start but the beginning? We talk about how the series made its way to the air, and the pilot story arc Hi Diddle Riddle and Smack in the Middle, starring Frank Gorshin as the Riddler, and Jill St. John as Molly.

Like many who grew up in the '60s and '70s (and perhaps even '80s and later), Tim and Paul had the course of their lives changed by the 1966 Batman TV show, from the types of play they did growing up to their present-day interests. In our premiere episode, we discuss the allure of the show and its effects on us -- and invite you to share your own stories!