Batman TV Milestones Of The Week

[AaronHandy3]

JANUARY 26, 1966

"The Joker Is Wild" (prod. #8709-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 5th episode of Batman.

These episodes retained the debut appearance of Cesar Romero as The Joker.

Episode Writer Robert Dozier is the son of Batman Executive Producer William Dozier. Cesar Romero refused to shave his moustache which gave him his career, so they had to cover it with makeup as well.

Notice that The Joker's henchmen are named after legendary (and deceased!) comedians: Stanley Laurel, Oliver Hardy, W.C. Fields, and Ernie Kovacs. This was the first Bat-episode to be adapted as a ViewMaster (#1003). The Joker's henchwoman Queenie originated in the comic books in the 1940s. In that story, as The Joker's cohort, she learned Bruce Wayne was Batman but was killed, taking the information with her.

JANUARY 27, 1966

"Batman Is Riled" (prod. #8709-Pt. 2) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 6th episode of Batman.

Here The Joker calls his villainous gameshow on TV What's My Crime?, based loosely on Goodson-Todman's favorite guessing game What's My Line? (CBS, 1950-67).

JANUARY 25, 1967

"Scat, Darn Catwoman" (prod. #9743-Pt. 2) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 75th episode of Batman.

JANUARY 26, 1967

"Penguin Is A Girl's Best Friend" (prod. #9741-Pt. 1) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 76th episode of Batman.

Chapter 1 of a 3-part story. This is the second 3-part episode of Batman, as well as Carolyn Jones' second and final appearance as Marsha, Queen of Diamonds.

Several shots of the BatmanBatman set and crew can be found sprinkled throughout "Penguin Is A Girl's Best Friend." The reference to the nude milk bath scene is a not-so-subtle jab at the big-budget money-losing movie Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Taylor's milk bath scene raised similar complaints.

This particular episode breaks tradition on the series of the teaser sequence of Part I forever ending with Bruce and Dick sliding down The Batpoles, in an attempt on the producers' part to keep the proceedings from getting...well, too predictable.

JANUARY 25, 1968

"Penguin's Clean Sweep" (prod. #1721) first aired @ 7:30p.m. EST on ABC as the 114th episode of Batman.

A Fine Feathered Finale for Burgess Meredith, who makes his swansong appearance (sorry!) as The Penguin. He was one of the most used and loved of all the Bat-villains, appearing in 20 episodes of the series. This episode's in-joke was to cast John Beradino as a doctor. At the time, Beradino had for five years portrayed Dr. Steve Hardy on ABC's General Hospital, whose cast also included Batman recurring regular David Lewis.

Charles Dierkop (Dustbag) went on to portray Det. Pete Royster on Police Woman (NBC, 1974-78).