When the Batman TV series first hit American screens in 1966, it was not just a show. It was a phenomenon. It turned the caped crusader into pop culture royalty, delivering a blast of comic book colour, kitsch and camp directly into households every week. Now, revisiting the show through the Screen One Re-Watch Project, we can fully appreciate just how glorious that first season was, and how gloriously bonkers it all became.
Season One: Holy Groundbreaking TV, Batman!
Series one really was high kitsch in the absolute best way. The villains were flamboyant, the colours practically seared into your retinas, and it had a sixties cool that never let up, even though it knew full well it was high comedy. Adam West’s straight-faced Batman, paired with Burt Ward’s enthusiastic Robin, made for an endlessly quotable, genuinely fun dynamic. Each pre-title sequence gave a jazzed-up jolt of excitement, and the inventive death traps kept things moving with delightful absurdity.
The rogues’ gallery kicked off with the best. Frank Gorshin’s maniacal Riddler with a laugh that could shatter glass. Cesar Romero’s Joker complete with a moustache he refused to shave. Julie Newmar’s swoon-inducing Catwoman whose chemistry with Batman smouldered. Burgess Meredith’s honking, scheming Penguin. Even characters created solely for the series like Victor Buono’s gloriously unhinged King Tut became unforgettable. Buono does not get nearly enough credit. His mad pharaoh was a scene-stealer in every episode he featured.
Season Two: Holy Peak Batman!
Series two continued to build on the success. More elaborate traps, bigger set pieces and a host of new villains like Vincent Price’s pun-heavy Egghead and Cliff Robertson’s cowardly cowboy Shame. At this point, Batman was the hottest show on television. But signs of strain were starting to show. The infamous contract dispute with Frank Gorshin led to John Astin briefly taking over the Riddler role in a story that featured Batman surviving a flooded vault, only to emerge bone dry. Because Batman.
Gorshin returned for a single episode in season three, but by then the show had begun to fade.
Season Three: Holy Decline Batman…
Season three was unfortunately where things unravelled. Budget cuts were evident everywhere. Most of the action took place on a single sound stage, with black drapes and minimal props desperately trying to suggest new locations. It did not work. And while the addition of Batgirl played by Yvonne Craig should have been a progressive step forward, the writing unfortunately patronised her throughout. That Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon could not figure out who each other were, despite spending so much time together, is the kind of thing that could give even Alfred a headache.
Still, there were flickers of greatness. Eartha Kitt’s take on Catwoman was darker, more dangerous and full of edge. Louis the Lilac played by Milton Berle, a bizarre knockoff of Poison Ivy, provided a deranged scheme to become Gotham’s top florist. And then there was the Joker. Flying off into space in a homemade saucer with Batgirl and Alfred on board. That happened. But it was not even the weirdest moment. That honour belongs to Surf’s Up Joker’s Under, where Batman and the Joker battled for beach supremacy in a surfing competition. West’s board shorts over the Batsuit is an image burned into pop culture forever.
Season three even managed to mess up its goodbye. The penultimate episode featured a The End title card followed by another episode. If ever there was a metaphor for Batman’s chaotic final bow, that was it.
A Roll Call of Iconic Guest Stars
One of the show’s most endearing elements was its revolving door of celebrity guest stars. Everyone wanted in. And we mean everyone. Joan Collins, Eli Wallach, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Milton Berle, Tallulah Bankhead, Shelley Winters, Art Carney and Liberace all took turns as villains or oddball characters. Bruce Lee even appeared in a crossover with The Green Hornet, briefly squaring off with Robin.
And then there were the window cameos. When Batman and Robin scaled buildings, they would often pause mid-wall climb to chat with a surprise guest poking their head out of a window. These were usually celebrities who could not fit into the show any other way. Sammy Davis Jr had one. So did Colonel Klink from Hogan’s Heroes, Lurch from The Addams Family, Don Ho and even Santa Claus. It was chaotic. It was glorious.
Batman The Movie
While not part of our official rewatch project, we could not resist revisiting Batman The Movie after finishing the series. Originally intended as a curtain raiser for the show but released between seasons one and two, it perfectly captures everything that made the series a blast. With Lee Meriwether stepping in as Catwoman and doing an excellent job of it, the film brings all the villains together in a wonderfully absurd plot involving dehydration, exploding sharks and a very handy Bat ladder. It is a brilliant culmination of what is great about the series. Just remember though, someday’s you just can’t get rid of a bomb!
Thoughts From the Batcave Computer
Despite the flailing final season, the Batman TV show remains a joy. It is wildly inventive, unapologetically silly and just plain fun. Binging the whole series can be a bit of a slog. We watched one episode a day over four months. We do not necessarily recommend that. But dipping in and out is absolutely worthwhile.
If you want even more Bat fun, check out our interview with Burt Ward, Robin himself, in a special episode of Desert Island Movies. You can watch or listen now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Holy Bat Re-Watch Project Batman. What a ride.
You can check out our daily updates from the project on Screen One’s Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Serialzd accounts and using the search term “Batman Re-Watch Project” It includes the episode titles, villians, Ka-Pow Count, Death Trap, Holy …! and Bat Facts!
