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Roger Stone looks like the f.. Riddler though i don't think he's got the smarts like The Ridder does as Stone looks like a damn batman Villain
Batman "The Worst Is Yet To Come": Rewatching Batman '66
- Thread starter Mel O'Drama
- Start date
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That's great.
And of course I had to look up the song that's on the flip side. It's more straight and sombre, but very nice. I had no idea Frank Gorshin could sing:
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That's great! I didn't even know that existed.
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he also started out in the 50's doing a lot of B movies as well he's not a bad actor either, some of the stuff i've seen he's not that great in but than i've seen movies from the start of Jack Nicholson's Career that he was just plain awful in as well. i would not be surprised if he himself agreed with me
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The first episode of season 2 is quite underwhelming for various reasons.
Initially, the scheme of this 20th century Robin Hood to out-popularize the dynamic duo seemed like an interesting plot. Ambitious, almost.
But it never goes anywhere and it ends up being yet another money heist during yet another ceremony.
And without any scenery-chewing or fabulous props it all looks rather bland.
The funniest moment is when Alfred pretends to be Batman and then pretends to have a cold hence why he has to keep his distance from Commissioner Gordon.
I also liked that the ZZZONG! and KA-BAMM! are replaced with medieval themed versions.
Doesn't it look gorgeous? I think it does.
Is that....flirting??
It's Alan A. Dale who works for the Wayne Trust Fund Foundation Account blablabla but he's in cahoots with guest villain The Archer. His voice and/or speech is perfectly awful, like a male Catwoman.
The next episode, guest plotting the real Catwoman, is fantastic. She's sensual, she's sadistic and she does disguises and I'm a sucker for disguises.
I wish I had written down Commissioner Gordon's many descriptions of the feline villainess (e.g. the viscountess of venality, and the others I can't remember).
On top of everything, Catwoman is topping the Gotham dance charts with the Catwalk tune. Talk about multitasking.
Initially, the scheme of this 20th century Robin Hood to out-popularize the dynamic duo seemed like an interesting plot. Ambitious, almost.
But it never goes anywhere and it ends up being yet another money heist during yet another ceremony.
And without any scenery-chewing or fabulous props it all looks rather bland.
The funniest moment is when Alfred pretends to be Batman and then pretends to have a cold hence why he has to keep his distance from Commissioner Gordon.
I also liked that the ZZZONG! and KA-BAMM! are replaced with medieval themed versions.
Doesn't it look gorgeous? I think it does.
Is that....flirting??
It's Alan A. Dale who works for the Wayne Trust Fund Foundation Account blablabla but he's in cahoots with guest villain The Archer. His voice and/or speech is perfectly awful, like a male Catwoman.
The next episode, guest plotting the real Catwoman, is fantastic. She's sensual, she's sadistic and she does disguises and I'm a sucker for disguises.
I wish I had written down Commissioner Gordon's many descriptions of the feline villainess (e.g. the viscountess of venality, and the others I can't remember).
On top of everything, Catwoman is topping the Gotham dance charts with the Catwalk tune. Talk about multitasking.
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I'm doing the Batusi here to celebrate you back in the Batman groove, Willie!!
Great to see you're enjoying Catwoman. In turn, I'm enjoying your Robin avvy.
Great to see you're enjoying Catwoman. In turn, I'm enjoying your Robin avvy.
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When I watched the first disc of season 2 I forgot to click on the "next" arrow that would display the third and fourth story (episodes 5 to 8).
Needless to say this will be rectified a.s.a.p.
Episodes 9 and 10 have Ma Parker as the guest villainess, and Catwoman in a villainous cameo. Cool!
Shelley Winters was a good choice for "Ma Parker" and it's one of those rare Batman stories that almost make sense.
There's some proper trickery going on to get her where she wants to be, and the plot to take over prison and turn it into a headquarter for criminal masterminds is interestingly different from the many Great Robbery stories.
Batman notices that Robin is a little bit too much interested in daughter Legs Parker and he advises his protégé to keep his head up and focus on what's important.
Just like Robin always looks a bit sidelined whenever Batman is being be-purred by Catwoman or one of her equally sexy disguises.
This is not an implication of course, I merely describe the dynamics "as is". You can draw your own conclusion.
In the next story it's the Clock King who disrupts the peace and quiet in our fair metropolis.
As expected, the time references are coming thick and fast and the villain's female company is called Millie Second. although Millie Brains would have been more suitable.
Clock King performs his heinous crime in plain sight, a Pop Art exhibition, to be precisely.
As if the series isn't colourful enough!
A mega hourglass proves to be a very dangerous trap and their escape is suprisingly real-life smart, not to mention exciting.
Clock King himself is not one of the most lively villain performances but I understand they can't be all Jokers and Riddlers.
Batman's unravelling of Clock King's masterplan, as he explains it to Robin, is extremely far-fetched and filled with information that seems to be invented on the spot rather than being connected to previous events, names or places. This isn't something new, and probably part of the joke, but since it was immediately followed by action-packed sequences I barely got the time to form a mental picture of said crime.
The timing seems a bit...off (!).
And now it's time to return to disc one for The Minstrel and another scheme by King Tut. Unless I get sidetracked by the TARDIS....
Needless to say this will be rectified a.s.a.p.
Episodes 9 and 10 have Ma Parker as the guest villainess, and Catwoman in a villainous cameo. Cool!
Shelley Winters was a good choice for "Ma Parker" and it's one of those rare Batman stories that almost make sense.
There's some proper trickery going on to get her where she wants to be, and the plot to take over prison and turn it into a headquarter for criminal masterminds is interestingly different from the many Great Robbery stories.
Batman notices that Robin is a little bit too much interested in daughter Legs Parker and he advises his protégé to keep his head up and focus on what's important.
Just like Robin always looks a bit sidelined whenever Batman is being be-purred by Catwoman or one of her equally sexy disguises.
This is not an implication of course, I merely describe the dynamics "as is". You can draw your own conclusion.
In the next story it's the Clock King who disrupts the peace and quiet in our fair metropolis.
As expected, the time references are coming thick and fast and the villain's female company is called Millie Second. although Millie Brains would have been more suitable.
Clock King performs his heinous crime in plain sight, a Pop Art exhibition, to be precisely.
As if the series isn't colourful enough!
A mega hourglass proves to be a very dangerous trap and their escape is suprisingly real-life smart, not to mention exciting.
Clock King himself is not one of the most lively villain performances but I understand they can't be all Jokers and Riddlers.
Batman's unravelling of Clock King's masterplan, as he explains it to Robin, is extremely far-fetched and filled with information that seems to be invented on the spot rather than being connected to previous events, names or places. This isn't something new, and probably part of the joke, but since it was immediately followed by action-packed sequences I barely got the time to form a mental picture of said crime.
The timing seems a bit...off (!).
And now it's time to return to disc one for The Minstrel and another scheme by King Tut. Unless I get sidetracked by the TARDIS....
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Oh - that's frustrating. I can sympathise.
I thought that was a really nice touch. Julie Newmar seemed keen to do lots of Batman this year. Or the series was very keen to have her. And either way, who can blame them?
Yes indeed. There's a definite "theme".
I can't remember specifics of this one.
This is one series where non sequiturs usually add to the fun for me, but I know what you mean: even within this world the series' established logic must apply. If anything, following the established rules is even more important here.
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Frank Gorshin was a terrific performer, especially as an impressionist. Played a villain in Charley's Angels that seemed to be similar to the Riddler. With all due respect to other actors who played the role, Frank Gorshin is still the Gold standard for playing the Riddler!
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I think it was in the Archer episode that the dynamic duo was literally saved by a safety net that wasn't the result of the Bat-belt or one of Batman's clever calculations or the villain's miscalculation.
Perhaps I wouldn't think much of it if it happened in the printed comic book version - after all, why wouldn't they be lucky every now and then - but with so much emphasis on Batman's resourcefulness energetically approved of by Robin I think it reduces some of the leeway that can be found in the printed version. And since they're different mediums I guess that shouldn't be too surprising.
On the other hand, that kind of real-life luck oomphs up the danger of their various missions.
(Still, I would have preferred the explanation that the safety net was Alfred's doing)
Gee, I bought the DVDs for the fun a eye-popping kitsch and here I am analysing the trivial do's and don'ts.
Or any Batman villain, for that matter.
Although Catwoman is steadily clawing her way up the rank.
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When ever I need a good laugh I watch the old Batman 
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Commuting between Tardis and Batcave I'm beginning to fear for my sanity. Oh well, the world's become a madhouse anyway.
THE MINSTREL played van Van Johnson is the first guest villain role that seems to be written for the special guest star, similar to post-season 3 FALCON CREST.
Nevertheless, the combination of stock exchange extortion and musical violence is unique, to say/sing the least.
There's a lot of technobabble going on but since I suspected that it wasn't based on anything remotely realistic I couldn't bother to grasp any of it.
Although the little music performances could have featured in the ARCHER episode I think this suave and somewhat downplayed villain is more memorable.
I'm not sure if aunt Harriet really understood that the man with the soothing voice and cherubic face posed a serious threat to the law-abiding citizens of Gotham City.
Chief O'Hara has the audacity to use his policeman's instinct but Commissioner Gordon - Batman's biggest fan - is having none of it.
This could have become sort of an impasse but O'Hara capitulates immediately. Because they are a dynamic duo too.
Being a Gotham City newsreader isn't always a walk in the park.
It always adds so much drama to the proceedings, I find.
Holy abu rabu simbu tu! The second KING TUT episode is absolutely fantastic.
From Shakespearean bombast to toddler-like tantrums, Victor Buono devours the scenery like there's no tomorrow,
Even his sidekicks are more high-profile than usual and that makes it one of the most eventful episodes so far.
It's amazing there was enough screen time left for the caped crusaders (although they had to share with crocodiles. Yes, they were in it, too!)
And it's getting better because bad batgirl Miss Cleo Patrick impostors as Commissioner Gordon's temp secretary, and she has an uncanny talent for supplying vitamins.
And that makes her Batman's answer to Karen Walker's mustard spreader.
THE MINSTREL played van Van Johnson is the first guest villain role that seems to be written for the special guest star, similar to post-season 3 FALCON CREST.
Nevertheless, the combination of stock exchange extortion and musical violence is unique, to say/sing the least.
There's a lot of technobabble going on but since I suspected that it wasn't based on anything remotely realistic I couldn't bother to grasp any of it.
Although the little music performances could have featured in the ARCHER episode I think this suave and somewhat downplayed villain is more memorable.
I'm not sure if aunt Harriet really understood that the man with the soothing voice and cherubic face posed a serious threat to the law-abiding citizens of Gotham City.
Chief O'Hara has the audacity to use his policeman's instinct but Commissioner Gordon - Batman's biggest fan - is having none of it.
This could have become sort of an impasse but O'Hara capitulates immediately. Because they are a dynamic duo too.
Being a Gotham City newsreader isn't always a walk in the park.
It always adds so much drama to the proceedings, I find.
Holy abu rabu simbu tu! The second KING TUT episode is absolutely fantastic.
From Shakespearean bombast to toddler-like tantrums, Victor Buono devours the scenery like there's no tomorrow,
Even his sidekicks are more high-profile than usual and that makes it one of the most eventful episodes so far.
It's amazing there was enough screen time left for the caped crusaders (although they had to share with crocodiles. Yes, they were in it, too!)
And it's getting better because bad batgirl Miss Cleo Patrick impostors as Commissioner Gordon's temp secretary, and she has an uncanny talent for supplying vitamins.
And that makes her Batman's answer to Karen Walker's mustard spreader.
- Awards
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Vincent Price is brilliant as guest villain EGGHEAD in this thinking man's episode of BATMAN.
Batman gets a lot of showing off to do - he really is the best in everything - and sometimes it feels as if Robin is seething his admiration. It's one thing to be a sidekick but it's another to have one's nose rubbed in it.
Thankfully, Batman allows his Boy Wonder to shine in the CHANDELL story. He instructs Robin to remember a whole concert note for note (it will reveal that Chandell's performances are fake) and it's precisely the kind of mentoring that Robin needs. After all, one day he'll be the superhero of Gotham City.
Liberace plays a rather forgettable twin-villain but I enjoyed everything else that happened in this episode.
As per usual, the props and decors are fabulous and Batman and Robin's escape from the giant music roll perforator needs to be seen to be believed.
The series loves its comic book style angles.
Their weapon is the special sound of a bagpipe that paralyses their victims eventhough it can be heard be everyone in proximity, including themselves.
It's so-lame-it's-funny.
It's a delightfully convoluted scheme that takes a lot of spoken explanation, but listening to Vincent Price's voice never gets boring.
Batman gets a lot of showing off to do - he really is the best in everything - and sometimes it feels as if Robin is seething his admiration. It's one thing to be a sidekick but it's another to have one's nose rubbed in it.
Thankfully, Batman allows his Boy Wonder to shine in the CHANDELL story. He instructs Robin to remember a whole concert note for note (it will reveal that Chandell's performances are fake) and it's precisely the kind of mentoring that Robin needs. After all, one day he'll be the superhero of Gotham City.
Liberace plays a rather forgettable twin-villain but I enjoyed everything else that happened in this episode.
As per usual, the props and decors are fabulous and Batman and Robin's escape from the giant music roll perforator needs to be seen to be believed.
The series loves its comic book style angles.
Their weapon is the special sound of a bagpipe that paralyses their victims eventhough it can be heard be everyone in proximity, including themselves.
It's so-lame-it's-funny.
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It's inevitable that some episodes are going to be better than others, but disc 3 of season 2 in particular is more miss than hit.
Penguin rehashes his scheme of the reformed crook with "noble" plans for Gotham City but the whole election storyline feels terribly teddibly uninspired - and what's worse, it shows in the performances of the BATMAN cast except for Burgess Meredith who never stops being hilariously wicked.
"Don't trust the polls, trust the voters" appears to be the thing that saves the day, thus making this one of the most underwhelming Batmand adventures so far.
There's much more at stake in the second Mr. Freeze episode, and the blizzard inside Commissioner Gordon's office on the hottest day of the year is classic BATMAN wackiness.
Unfortunately, the cool Bond-like villain from season 1 has been replaced with a more alien-looking version with a nonsensical eyebrow-stroking compulsion, and I found his repetitive "wild!" exclamations rather unconvincing (and therefore somewhat annoying).
Cesar Romero gives another no holds barred Joker performance but the time-control-device seems a little too abstract and fantastical, even by BATMAN standards.
I must say, his female sidekick is a real stunner.
Robin gets waxed and I was hoping to see the result of a Brazilian wax but, alas, that wasn't the case.
The Queen Of Diamonds episode is drenched in fabulous divaness but the highlight for me was Alfred and Harriet's cooked up bigamy scheme.
Marsha's quest for the Batdiamond is straightforward and effective but I found Aunt Hilda's witchy shenanigans a little too slapstick in this Batman Universe.
It's a wonderfully gimmicky series and even though the window cameo is a nice idea, I think it's one gimmick too many. It's the difference between being pop culture and showing pop culture.
Penguin rehashes his scheme of the reformed crook with "noble" plans for Gotham City but the whole election storyline feels
"Don't trust the polls, trust the voters" appears to be the thing that saves the day, thus making this one of the most underwhelming Batmand adventures so far.
There's much more at stake in the second Mr. Freeze episode, and the blizzard inside Commissioner Gordon's office on the hottest day of the year is classic BATMAN wackiness.
Unfortunately, the cool Bond-like villain from season 1 has been replaced with a more alien-looking version with a nonsensical eyebrow-stroking compulsion, and I found his repetitive "wild!" exclamations rather unconvincing (and therefore somewhat annoying).
Cesar Romero gives another no holds barred Joker performance but the time-control-device seems a little too abstract and fantastical, even by BATMAN standards.
I must say, his female sidekick is a real stunner.
Robin gets waxed and I was hoping to see the result of a Brazilian wax but, alas, that wasn't the case.
The Queen Of Diamonds episode is drenched in fabulous divaness but the highlight for me was Alfred and Harriet's cooked up bigamy scheme.
Marsha's quest for the Batdiamond is straightforward and effective but I found Aunt Hilda's witchy shenanigans a little too slapstick in this Batman Universe.
It's a wonderfully gimmicky series and even though the window cameo is a nice idea, I think it's one gimmick too many. It's the difference between being pop culture and showing pop culture.
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At this point in my rewatch, I found the new villains such as Marsha more interesting than the established because their M.O. was less established and it somehow felt a little less formulaic and perfunctory.
What made this episode most interesting for me was knowing that Otto Preminger is said to have been extremely unpopular on set due to his treatment of others. It was apparently bad enough that (very minor possible spoiler) he was not asked to return for a second two-parter already written for him.
This was one of the soapiest episode, right down to the will they/won't they? cliffhanger. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I've never really thought about it since I first watched when I was so young I just accepted whatever was on screen. By this point they're simply an integral feature of the series for me, so it's fascinating to get a different viewpoint on them.
By the way, there's a bit of a retcon later in Season Two which is window-cameo-related. I'll be interested to see if you spot it.
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I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Liberace brought many of his own props for the 2 episodes he appeared in. His piano, costumes and some of set decor were from his own collection. Amazingly, it was the highest rated episode of Batman ever, even though it was far from being the best episode in terms of story and characters. I guess the novelty of having Liberace in the episode paid off in attracting a big audience.
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I figured that SHAME the cowboy wouldn't be extravagant enough for a Batman adversary but Cliff Robertson plays it like a big angry child and I thoroughly enjoyed the episodes.
Despite Commissioner Gordon's colourful descriptions of the villian-of-the-week it appears that none of Gotham City's notorious foes are actually being hated.
In the next episode we see Bruce Wayne & co enjoying a meal in Penguin's restaurant (!!) which appears to be part of a huge forgery scam.
Penguin is the villain who often bites the dust throughout the whole episode but he always bounces back and he has an uncanny talent for turning the tables on Batman, as shown in this episode's courtroom scene.
Incidentally, this is the second time MOLDAVIA features in a Batman story.
Innnnteresting, interesting. I wonder if it was the ketchup.
Catwoman is also forgiven, considering her amicable interaction with Commissioner Gordon. Het plotline plot this time is to steal people's voices for ransom and it's the same nonsensical magical device as the Joker's box for time-alteration.
I'm not too crazy about these overly simplistic and way too fantastical gadgets without origin. It's not related to the character or her lifestyle, she just "has it" and to me it looks like a very lazy way to get the plot going.
Nevertheless, the episode turned out to be hoot and some scenes even made me howl with laughter. Not because of Catwoman, no, this was all about the Boy Wonder.
It was almost as if I noticed for the first time what an absolute nitwit Batman's sidekick is.
That stupid costume, those stupid shoes, that stupid look on his face. Gosh!
In this scene Batman explains, carefully choosing his words, the danger of Catwoman's dastardly scheme. People without voices means that they won't be able to use the telephone and therefore they need to do business face-to-face which will result in epic traffic jams.
But the best part is Robin's "Ooh" and "Aah" reactions, and the more stupid the explanation gets, the more he believes it.
Despite Commissioner Gordon's colourful descriptions of the villian-of-the-week it appears that none of Gotham City's notorious foes are actually being hated.
In the next episode we see Bruce Wayne & co enjoying a meal in Penguin's restaurant (!!) which appears to be part of a huge forgery scam.
Penguin is the villain who often bites the dust throughout the whole episode but he always bounces back and he has an uncanny talent for turning the tables on Batman, as shown in this episode's courtroom scene.
Incidentally, this is the second time MOLDAVIA features in a Batman story.
Innnnteresting, interesting. I wonder if it was the ketchup.
Catwoman is also forgiven, considering her amicable interaction with Commissioner Gordon. Het plotline plot this time is to steal people's voices for ransom and it's the same nonsensical magical device as the Joker's box for time-alteration.
I'm not too crazy about these overly simplistic and way too fantastical gadgets without origin. It's not related to the character or her lifestyle, she just "has it" and to me it looks like a very lazy way to get the plot going.
Nevertheless, the episode turned out to be hoot and some scenes even made me howl with laughter. Not because of Catwoman, no, this was all about the Boy Wonder.
It was almost as if I noticed for the first time what an absolute nitwit Batman's sidekick is.
That stupid costume, those stupid shoes, that stupid look on his face. Gosh!
In this scene Batman explains, carefully choosing his words, the danger of Catwoman's dastardly scheme. People without voices means that they won't be able to use the telephone and therefore they need to do business face-to-face which will result in epic traffic jams.
But the best part is Robin's "Ooh" and "Aah" reactions, and the more stupid the explanation gets, the more he believes it.
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In case you were not aware, Chad and Jeremy were a real-life pop act who had several hit records in the 60s. They also made appearances on other shows including The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Patty Duke Show.