Where did the show go wrong in its approach to Batgirl

[TMC]

And how could she have been better utilized? Especially when the show come the third season, had to work with a reduced budget and having its air time being cut back to once a week.

[Duster76]

The ship was already well on its way to sinking by the time Batgirl shows up. Adding the "two" new characters Barbara/Batgirl was a Hail Mary pass to the end zone, basically putting it in the air and praying for six. The series was actually sunk at the beginning of its run because it failed to recognize the fact that the people who read Batman comics took the character seriously. Making a joke out of the Batman universe wore out in a hurry, half a season to be exact. The show was in freefall by the time season two starts, the movie performed under expectations, the series was lucky to get a season three.

With that as a preamble and looking at it with the benefit of hindsight, the best way to have added Barbara/Batgirl would have been to eliminate the character of Robin (send him off to college) and have Batgirl replace him as Batman's main assistant. That would have dealt with a lot of the issues raised in the podcast. One other point, there were too many other characters, focus on the core Batman foes, Joker, Riddler, Penguin, Catwoman maybe King Tut or the Mad Hatter.

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally Posted by Duster76

The ship was already well on its way to sinking by the time Batgirl shows up. Adding the "two" new characters Barbara/Batgirl was a Hail Mary pass to the end zone, basically putting it in the air and praying for six. The series was actually sunk at the beginning of its run because it failed to recognize the fact that the people who read Batman comics took the character seriously. Making a joke out of the Batman universe wore out in a hurry, half a season to be exact. The show was in freefall by the time season two starts, the movie performed under expectations, the series was lucky to get a season three.

With that as a preamble and looking at it with the benefit of hindsight, the best way to have added Barbara/Batgirl would have been to eliminate the character of Robin (send him off to college) and have Batgirl replace him as Batman's main assistant. That would have dealt with a lot of the issues raised in the podcast. One other point, there were too many other characters, focus on the core Batman foes, Joker, Riddler, Penguin, Catwoman maybe King Tut or the Mad Hatter.

It makes sense that the inclusion of Batgirl in the final season is known what was later called a 'Cousin Oliver': In the final season of 'The Brady Bunch' several years later, the show introduced a superfluous character with a certain "cute factor" to save tanking ratings as the rest of the siblings were getting older. So 'Batman' had to have a hottie "chick" addition to keep viewers entertained. What could be better than a young woman donning the Batsuit and riding around in a motorcycle? And where DID she come from? Commissioner Gordon's daughter, having such crime-fighting effects in her bedroom?

And in later seasons, there were too many foes of the Caped Crusaders.

[king of comedy]

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

It makes sense that the inclusion of Batgirl in the final season is known what was later called a 'Cousin Oliver': In the final season of 'The Brady Bunch' several years later, the show introduced a superfluous character with a certain "cute factor" to save tanking ratings as the rest of the siblings were getting older. So 'Batman' had to have a hottie "chick" addition to keep viewers entertained. What could be better than a young woman donning the Batsuit and riding around in a motorcycle? And where DID she come from? Commissioner Gordon's daughter, having such crime-fighting effects in her bedroom?

And in later seasons, there were too many foes of the Caped Crusaders.

I agree that there too many foes. A lot were terrible.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

It makes sense that the inclusion of Batgirl in the final season is known what was later called a 'Cousin Oliver': In the final season of 'The Brady Bunch' several years later, the show introduced a superfluous character with a certain "cute factor" to save tanking ratings as the rest of the siblings were getting older. So 'Batman' had to have a hottie "chick" addition to keep viewers entertained. What could be better than a young woman donning the Batsuit and riding around in a motorcycle? And where DID she come from? Commissioner Gordon's daughter, having such crime-fighting effects in her bedroom?

And in later seasons, there were too many foes of the Caped Crusaders.

I for the life of me, can't understand why Roddy McDowell wasn't brought back as Bookworm given that Barbara Gordon's "day job" was working in a library.

[king of comedy]

Originally Posted by TMC

I for the life of me, can't understand why Roddy McDowell wasn't brought back as Bookworm given that Barbara Gordon's "day job" was working in a library.

That would have been cool. It would give Bookworm more crimes since Barbara works in a library.

[TMC]

TV's Batgirl Was Emasculated and Humiliated - Boomer Magazine

Watered-down heroine
The ABC network was shown a promotional short featuring Yvonne Craig as Batgirl and Tim Herbert as the villainous Killer Moth. Craig was a member of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and became a television and film actress. In this short film, Batgirl fends off an attack by Killer Moth and his men. She also rescues Batman and Robin, who is encased in a giant cocoon. With the criminals defeated, the mysterious red-haired crime buster disappeared. ABC was sold on the new character and renewed the program for another season. However, this would be the only time Batgirl was allowed to defeat a gang of criminals on her own. Batgirl, full of self-confidence during the actual series, would confront a gang of evildoers and be quickly subdued or knocked out.

While comic book readers welcomed Batgirl’s fighting ability, Batman series producer Howie Horwitz removed this popular aspect from the television version. Yvonne Craig stated in the Miami Herald’s May 14, 1967 edition:

With all due respect to Ms. Craig, Anne Francis was very feminine, and the series’ demise can be attributed to airing against Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

Best-selling author Joel Eisner, who wrote The Official Batman Batbook (1986), composed of Batgirl’s involvement in the series:

Author, animator, designer, illustrator, and Batman viewer Mark Marderosian observed:

Craig’s Barbara Gordon was an intelligent woman who managed to solve criminal’s clues on her own. However, when she suited up as Batgirl, the male writers played down her physical skills from the comic book pages.

While Batgirl was performing high kicks, spins, and tossing props, Diana Rigg gained admirers in The Avengers. Rigg’s Emma Peel used judo and karate to defeat her attackers. Audiences applauded this portrayal of a capable woman, and she remained very feminine. What a shame the Batman producers did not follow suit.

Batgirl’s Awkward Television Exploits
Many do not share my opinion but believe that Craig’s Batgirl strikes a positive note for female portrayals on television. Unfortunately, Batgirl’s television exploits show otherwise.

Episode 95: “Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin”
The Penguin (Burgess Meredith) captures Barbara Gordon with marriage on his sinister mind. Batgirl makes her first appearance joining the Dynamic Duo in battle. However, when she departs, the duo is gassed to sleep by Penguin’s umbrella. It takes Batgirl and Alfred, the loyal butler, to rescue the duo from becoming human tea bags. During the second fight scene, all of the Penguin’s goons grab Batgirl, allowing Batman and Robin to save her. Was this scene essential in her debut episode? Was its inclusion to remind the viewers the name of the program was Batman?

Episode 96: “Ring Around the Riddler”
The Riddler (Frank Gorshin) wants to control the prizefighting business. When Batgirl enters his hideaway, the Riddler orders his men to “get her.” She slowly backs away, turns around, and is seized by two members of the Riddler’s gang. The Riddler orders her tossed into a steam room, although she later escapes. Admittedly Batgirl needed to be captured early on, or this would have been a brief episode. However, a little more action on Batgirl’s part before she was manhandled could have been showcased. Batgirl did rescue Batman from the Riddler’s attempt to defeat him in the boxing match. Barbara Gordon displayed her intelligence, helping Batman figure out a riddle.

Episode 97: “Wail of the Siren”
The Siren (Joan Collins) puts Bruce Wayne under her spell. It is up to Robin and Batgirl to rescue him. This episode illustrates Batgirl’s limited fighting skills creating problems for her choreography. Except for one “ZAP” she exerts from a high kick, the battle is thrown in Robin’s direction. He is shown as the one easily defeating the Siren’s men. The Boy Wonder also rescues Batgirl after a burly henchman grabs her. Batgirl does save Chief O’Hara from drowning, although no particular fighting skill was necessary performing this. In each of her first three episodes, Batgirl is manhandled.

Episode 100: “The Unkindest Tut of All”
King Tut (Victor Buono) is after valuable scrolls. Batgirl blazes a trail for Batman and Robin to locate his lair. She gets there first and manages to defeat two of Tut’s thugs. However, the monarch’s henchwoman (Patti Gilbert) smashes a large vase over Batgirl’s head. Batman and Robin arrive and stop King Tut from escaping.

Episode 107: “The Bloody Tower”
Batgirl helps Batman and Robin stop Lord Ffogg (Rudy Vallee), Lady Penelope Peasoup (Glynis Johns), and their gang from stealing the crown jewels. Although she was the one who discovered what the criminals were up to, the credit for solving the case was awarded to Batman and Robin.

Episode 108: “Catwoman’s Dressed to Kill”
Catwoman (Eartha Kitt) is jealous of Batgirl and kidnaps her intending to use a buzzsaw on the helpless heroine. It is Alfred, disguised as the world’s oldest hippie, who rescues the damsel in distress. When Batman and Robin initially encounter Catwoman, they are snared by a net. Batgirl frees them, but an ungrateful Batman lectures her, saying, “We can fight our own battles.”

Episode 109: “The Ogg Couple”
The episode was filmed earlier than its airdate, but Batgirl has now been captured two weeks in a row. Batman and Robin learn the plucky heroine is heading for the criminal’s hideout. Both caped crusaders doubt her ability to subdue Olga’s Cossacks. As Batman laments, “Even her extraordinary abilities may not be enough.” Of course, the duo is correct as Batgirl is captured after an exciting battle with the Cossacks. Egghead (Vincent Price) and Olga (Anne Baxter) force her to perform a saber dance (to showcase Yvonne Craig’s dancing abilities). Egghead dumps the bound Batgirl in a massive vat of caviar while the gang escapes (it was later revealed they ran into Chief O’Hara’s paddy wagon). Batgirl is rescued, but Batman lectures her commenting, “Perhaps crime-fighting is better left to the men, Batgirl, perhaps not, but this isn’t exactly women’s work.” You would never hear John Steed say this to Emma Peel!

Episode 110: “The Funny Feline Felonies”
The Joker (Cesar Romero) teams up with Catwoman (Eartha Kitt) to commit a series of robberies. The cunning jester jolts Batman and Robin with his lethal Joker buzzer. Batgirl arrives and saves the duo with her antidote pills. Instead of thanking her, Robin lectures Batgirl on almost arriving too late.

Episode 111: “The Joke’s on Catwoman”
Shortly after Batman and Robin leave Batgirl alone, she is confronted by Catwoman, Joker, and two henchmen. She is pulled off her cycle and grabbed from behind, then tied with deadly Cat Whiskers. Batgirl manages to free herself and later on, in the fight scene, swings from a chandelier to aid Robin. Scenes of this nature, considering her limited fighting skills, were needed more frequently.

Episode 112: “Louie’s Lethal Lilac Time”
Writer Charles Hoffman simply humiliates Batgirl in this episode. Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson have been captured by Louie the Lilac (Milton Berle) and his gang. With Batman and Robin nowhere to be found, Barbara Gordon says to Alfred, “It’s going to be difficult without Batman or Robin, but maybe Batgirl alone can do something.” Barbara, before heading out, says to her parrot, “Well Charlie, Batgirl rides again and alone.” An overconfident Batgirl invades Louie’s lair, but Bruce Wayne knows this will be a failed rescue attempt. He shouts, “No, Batgirl! Get out quick!” and Louie stuns her with knock-out spray. The heroine falls to the floor and is encased in a giant vat to be filled with boiling oil. Bruce and Dick manage to change into their alter egos and thrash Louie and his henchmen. Batgirl escapes the vat on her own but is given little to do during the fight scene. It’s understandable the need for Batgirl to get captured to get Batman and Robin into action. However, the dialogue emphasizing her going it alone only to be captured quickly was humiliating.

Episode 113: “Nora Clavicle and the Ladies Crime Club”
Females take over the police force in Gotham City in a very stereotypical fashion. They’re more concerned with department store sales than capturing criminals. So when Batman, Robin, and Batgirl enter the ladies’ hideout, it’s naturally Batgirl who gets grabbed, leaving Batman and Robin helpless.

Episode 114: “Penguin’s Clean Sweep”
Writer Stanford Sherman gets his turn humiliating Batgirl in this episode. The Penguin plans on putting Gotham City to sleep with Lygerian Sleeping Sickness. Contaminated money is tossed into the streets, which Penquin sucks up with a giant vacuum cleaner. A brief scene was needed before a commercial. Batgirl confronts the Penguin’s two goons, brimming with overconfidence, and says, “Consider your collecting career over, Penguin.” She tries to push Penguin’s goons, each holding brooms, with no judo or karate abilities to call upon. Both goons grab Batgirl as Penguin gasses the struggling heroine to sleep. She lies unconscious on the sidewalk, and a discussion is held about whether or not to “finish her off.” Penguin decides not to bother with Batgirl and continues to collect the loot.

Meanwhile the citizens of Gotham City watch Batgirl’s humiliation. Was this scene vital? Why was Batgirl not allowed to knock the goons around before being gassed? Her running into the two goons clearly illustrated the difficulty in choreographing a brief fight scene. On a positive note, more than usual, she was spotlighted in the climatic fight with Batman and Robin.

Episode 115: “The Great Train Robbery”
Batman, Robin, and Batgirl battle Shame (Cliff Robertson) and his gang. Batgirl’s fighting technique consisted of tossing stage props at her attackers. Throughout much of the battle, she is held in an Indian’s grasp while using her feet to push away a Mexican bandit. After the fight is over, Calamity Jan (Dina Merrill) and Frontier Fanny (Hermione Baddeley) spray the trio with fear gas. Shame decides to take a cowering Batgirl hostage. Now here was a chance for the writers to explore different territories. If Shame had chosen Robin as the hostage, Batman and Batgirl would have needed to work together. This would have brought out a different dynamic between the two. Instead, we are treated to the typical male chauvinistic storyline where men have to rescue the female.

Episode 118: “The Joker’s Flying Saucer”
The Joker wants to build a flying saucer and use it to gain control of the world. Batgirl is caught climbing in a window at The Wayne Foundation, where the Joker’s men steal the needed material to build the spacecraft. The grinning jester ties Batgirl to a giant rocket that will launch her into orbit. Batgirl uses her automatic fuse extinguisher, causing it to go out. She is then shoved into the huge spaceship. By this time, criminals knew Batgirl, on her own, was no threat to them. This is illustrated when the Joker and his gang emerge from the spaceship. The criminals are not concerned Batgirl is not being restrained. Batman and Robin arrive, and a battle ensues with Batgirl’s sole participation as hitting the Joker with a piece of wood. The Clown Prince of Crime and his henchman force her into the saucer. Robin is knocked unconscious and carried into the ship with Batman in pursuit. The battle in the craft rages until all the criminals are thrown out. This episode illustrated once again the limited choreography Batgirl was given in the fight scenes.

Episode 119: “The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra”
Dr. Cassandra (Ida Lupino) uses camouflage pills to release the Joker, Egghead, Riddler, the Penguin, King Tut, and Catwoman from the state penitentiary. The Terrific Trio discovers the criminal’s hideout but gets knocked around by invisible crooks! The camera appears to linger more on Batgirl being pummeled than her male counterparts. Thankfully, Batgirl came up with the solution to defeating the criminals by having Batman shoot out the light.

Episode 120: “Minerva, Mayhem, and Millionaires”
Batgirl is hardly on view in the final episode where she tries to rescue Alfred from the evil designs of Minerva (Zsa Zsa Gabor). Naturally, her rescue attempt fails, and Minerva’s musclebound men grab her. Batgirl and Alfred are tossed in a Persimmon Pressurizer but saved by the Dynamic Duo. Batgirl, again, has limited involvement in the fight scene, hitting two criminals in the face with her foot.

A big loss all around
While enthusiastic fans welcomed Batgirl’s comic book appearances, her television counterpart did not help the series. The Feb. 22, 1968, edition of The Gazette stated, “This shrewdly promoted series, which came in 75th in the ratings, will present its final episode March 14 (1968).”

A Saturday morning cartoon version of the series premiered on CBS in 1968 produced by Filmation. Again, Batgirl had no judo or karate skills and often needed rescuing by Batman and Robin. In one episode, she receives a pie in the face while on her bat-cycle to pursue criminals.

I sent an e-mail to Yvonne Craig regarding Batgirl’s treatment in the television series. The actress replied by saying, “I hear you! But for the times, I think they did a good job.” But, no, they didn’t. Times were changing, and featuring a physically cable woman who could hold her own with the men would have been revolutionary – perhaps fulfilling the producer’s request, which was to save the show.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

It makes sense that the inclusion of Batgirl in the final season is known what was later called a 'Cousin Oliver': In the final season of 'The Brady Bunch' several years later, the show introduced a superfluous character with a certain "cute factor" to save tanking ratings as the rest of the siblings were getting older. So 'Batman' had to have a hottie "chick" addition to keep viewers entertained. What could be better than a young woman donning the Batsuit and riding around in a motorcycle? And where DID she come from? Commissioner Gordon's daughter, having such crime-fighting effects in her bedroom?

And in later seasons, there were too many foes of the Caped Crusaders.

Incidentally, I was watching the Season 3 premiere (the episode that first introduced Yvonne Craig as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl and had The Penguin as the villain) on MeTV the other night. I know that Batman (1966) wasn't a particularly "deep" show like maybe later adaptations of the Batman comics, but I really wish there was more character development behind Barbara's character regardless.

What inspired her to want to become and risk her life as a costumed vigilante in the first place, how and where did she get her own custom made motorcycle, how come we haven't seen or heard about her and the extent of her relationship with her father Commissioner Gordon until now, etc.? Maybe my point is that if you're going to introduce this new hero, there should be more of a reason for us the viewers to "care".

Batgirl almost becomes somebody who is difficult to root for because not only is she an overconfident interloper, she basically forces Alfred to become something of a double-dealer, who is forced to keep her secret identity away from Batman and Robin. And her mere presence almost relegates Batman and in particular, Robin to become supporting players in their own show. She also repeatedly makes them look stupid.

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by TMC

Incidentally, I was watching the Season 3 premiere (the episode that first introduced Yvonne Craig as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl and had The Penguin as the villain) on MeTV the other night. I know that Batman (1966) wasn't a particularly "deep" show like maybe later adaptations of the Batman comics, but I really wish there was more character development behind Barbara's character regardless.

What inspired her to want to become and risk her life as a costumed vigilante in the first place, how and where did she get her own custom made motorcycle, how come we haven't seen or heard about her and the extent of her relationship with her father Commissioner Gordon until now, etc.? Maybe my point is that if you're going to introduce this new hero, there should be more of a reason for us the viewers to "care".

Batgirl almost becomes somebody who is difficult to root for because not only is she an overconfident interloper, she basically forces Alfred to become something of a double-dealer, who is forced to keep her secret identity away from Batman and Robin. And her mere presence almost relegates Batman and in particular, Robin to become supporting players in their own show. She also repeatedly makes them look stupid.

The network suggested that the Robin character be eliminated (Burt Ward being let go) and replaced by Bat Girl. The producers refused essentially crowding the now half hour series with too many characters to service and negating the value of the new character. If Bat Girl was going to reignite interest in the series Bat Girl, her secret identity and her relationship with Batman had to be a primary focus of the series not an afterthought.

The question of course is this, would that have worked, I don't think so but it was the only hope.

[biffbronson]

The '66 TV series was a flighty spoof, little consideration was given to characters' backgrounds and motivations which of course were tied into their origins -- origins barely touched upon, if at all. People who are fans of the gritty Batman they know of from more recent decades are often dismissive of Batman '66 and don't enjoy it at all for what it was.

In the later, gritty world we had Barbara Gordon crippled and working from a wheelchair, the Joker returned to his homicidal maniac roots, the return of acid-scarred Two-Face, new Robin Jason Todd murdered by fans' phone-vote, an obsession with Arkham Asylum, the list goes on. This is the kind of stuff many fans favor, just as horror comics have spiked in popularity as well.

The comics I like best fall somewhere in between: in the post-code era of the late 1950s, there were many inventive short Batman stories, many of which were scripted by co-creator Bill Finger. Those were innocuous but enjoyable. But they didn't stoop to ridiculousness for example the "Bat Shark Repellent" seen in the 1966 theatrical BM release, and they didn't go down the road of nightmarish scenarios.

Getting back to Batgirl, I think most adult viewers knew full-and-well what the Batman '66 series was all about by the time Yvonne Craig came on board, and if admiring her figure wasn't enough to hold their interest, I highly doubt they cared enough about spoof scripting to get them to tune in. How Batgirl's intro and relationships were handled is reading too much into things, IMO. The producers could have done all that perfectly yet viewership by-and-large would have remained disinterested.

[TMC]

I also agree with those who are of the opinion that Batgirl as portrayed by Yvonne Craig seemed to be more concerned with one-upping Batman and Robin instead of coming at them with genuine respect and even a certain degree of hero worship.

I was just watching an episode on MeTV, with Burgess Meredith as Penguin and Ethel Merman as Lola Lasagne as that episode's villains. And soon after Batman and Robin leave the Batcave to confront Penguin, there's a scene in which Alfred telephones Barbara Gordon to clue her in on where Batman and Robin are going. I'm thinking, why does Batgirl all of a sudden always have to be in Batman and Robin's business? And naturally, Batgirl is credited for "saving the day" when Batman and Robin were fighting Penguin and his goons.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

It makes sense that the inclusion of Batgirl in the final season is known what was later called a 'Cousin Oliver': In the final season of 'The Brady Bunch' several years later, the show introduced a superfluous character with a certain "cute factor" to save tanking ratings as the rest of the siblings were getting older. So 'Batman' had to have a hottie "chick" addition to keep viewers entertained. What could be better than a young woman donning the Batsuit and riding around in a motorcycle? And where DID she come from? Commissioner Gordon's daughter, having such crime-fighting effects in her bedroom?

And in later seasons, there were too many foes of the Caped Crusaders.

See this August 1967 quote from Burgess Meredith: