This Week's Batman TV Milestones

[AaronHandy3]

MARCH 2, 1966

"The Joker Goes to School" (prod. #8715-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 15th episode of Batman.

In November 1965, Semple concocted a new villain named The One-Armed Bandit, "whose peculiar kick is gimmicked coin machines of all sorts." The idea ultimately wound up in these episodes with Joker in charge of the One Armed Bandit Novelty Company and vending machines that churned out silver dollars, quarters, answer sheets to exams and knockout gas.

Linda Harrison (Cheerleader #2) later portrayed Nora in the 1968 20th Century-Fox scifi classic Planet Of The Apes (which also starred Bat-villain Maurice Evans); she was married to Fox president Richard Zanuck at the time of thie episode's production.

MARCH 3, 1966

"He Meets His Match, The Grisly Ghoul" (prod. #8715-Pt. 2) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 16th episode of Batman.

The Joker's Las Vegas bookie is named Pete The Swede.

The exact same electric chairs to which Batman and Robin are strapped inside the moving van are used again in Season-2 episode #9707-Pt. 2, "Ma Parker."

Stand-up comic Kip King (Nick) later provided cartoon voices, including that of Shecky on Hanna-Barbera's The Biskitts (CBS, 1983-85).

MARCH 1, 1967

"A Piece Of The Action" (prod. #9751-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 85th episode of Batman.

These episodes guest-starred Van Williams and the late Bruce Lee as "Visiting Heros" The Green Hornet and Kato, respectively, from their own 1966-67 ABC series The Green Hornet (executive-produced by Batman's own William Dozier). The Green Hornet and Kato are billed in the sub-main titles as "Visiting Heros".

Roger C. Carmel (best known as Harry F. Mudd on Star Trek) does not receive any main billing as "Guest Villain" in this episode.

Diane McBain previously played Lisa in #8719, "Batman Stands Pat"/"The Thirteenth Hat".

MARCH 2, 1967

"Batman's Satisfaction" (prod. #9751-Pt. 2) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 86th episode of Batman.

Note the odd scene in the episode, right after the Batcomputer goes out, when Robin and Batman basically switch roles. Burt Ward starts talking in a pedantic Batman-style, making incredible deductions, and calling Batman "old chum", while Adam West says "gee" a lot and acts dumb.

Filming the climactic fight scene between The Dynamic Duo, Green Hornet and Kato proved to be rather sticky, for the actors involved refused to allow their characters to be defeated! Finally, producer Bill Dozier was summoned to straighten out the whole deal, as the stunt doubles just sat there and waited. Dozier said, "Look, it's a Mexican standoff. Nobody wins. You have this big fight. At the end of it, you just stop it and stare at each other; that's the end of the fight." Thus, the scene was reconstructed to--natch!--"Batman's Satisfaction"!

While filming the climactic fight, which involves Robin holding his own with Kato as played by world-class martial artist Bruce Lee (yeah, right!), Lee initially began doing the fight sequence with Burt Ward in deadly seriousness, ominously coming after him while Burt Ward squawking "It's only a TV show." Lee finally cracked up, burst into laughter.

FEBRUARY 29, 1968

"The Joker's Flying Saucer" (prod. #1720) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 118th episode of Batman.

Cesar Romero and Byron Keith both gave their final performances as The Joker and Mayor Lindseed, respectively, in this episode.

The footage of The Dynamic Duo driving The Batcycle to the heliport where they switch to The Batcopter is edited from the 1966 Batman movie.

Richard Bakalyan (seen here as Verdigris) previously played Arbutus in Episode #1710, "Louie the Lilac," Sphinx in the Season-2 episodes #9755, "King Tut's Coup/Batman's Waterloo," and C.B. in the first-season episodes #8731, "Death in Slow Motion/The Riddler's False Notion." Bakalyan and Cesar Romero teamed up again in the Disney films with Kurt Russell such as The Computer That Wore Tennis Shoes and The Strongest Man In the World.


Stock footage from the classic 1953 20th Century-Fox scifi film Invaders From Mars was used to show The Joker's Flying Saucer in flight.

Although The Joker had a run-in with Alfred Pennyworth at the end of Season-2 Episode #9723-Pt. 2, "The Joker's Provokers," he failed to recognize him in this episode.

The late Ellen Corby (Mrs. Green) was well known for her portrayal of Grandma Esther Walton on The Waltons (CBS, 1972-81).

The idea of The Batcave being destroyed was later adapted in 1995's Batman Forever.