It’s hard to believe how one TV show could air twice in one week, but that’s what happened during the time Batman aired on ABC.
In 1966, a televised version of the famed DC Comics comic book hit viewers right between the eyes. Adam West, who had appeared in some television shows as a guest star, took the lead role. Burt Ward played Batman’s sidekick. Producer William Dozier did a whale of a job promoting the show, thanks to the help of ABC.
Dozier was pretty smart in getting big-name actors and comedians on board. Frank Gorshin, Julie Newmar, Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Victor Buono, Neil Hamilton, and Stafford Repp made their marks. People became glued to their television sets. Watching “The Caped Crusader” and “The Boy Wonder” do battle with the Riddler, the Penguin, the Joker, Catwoman, King Tut, and other nefarious villains became worth watching.
Of course, the show, in this iteration, was filled with dialogue that parents might have gotten on a wink-wink level. Kids became hooked on the show, making West and Ward must-see actors on different shows. They popped up on ABC’s popular The Hollywood Palace. Those two shared screen time with Van Williams and Bruce Lee, who played Brit Reid/The Green Hornet and Kato on Dozier’s other show, The Green Hornet.
Batman was red hot, and its fever took the United States by storm.
Keeping The Fan Fever Alive Was Challenging
Imagine being in a career role in playing a popular cartoon character but in real life. That’s what Adam West was doing. West loved to play the role. He didn’t have any qualms or negatives toward being in the lead role.
As Batman finished up its first season, things were looking 0n the up-and-up. ABC didn’t have any issue around giving the show another season on its primetime schedule. Dozier, though, did see the network put the ax to The Green Hornet. It’s another show taken from its origins on radio; ratings just didn’t make giving it a second season worth it.
So, fans just kept on watching their show. In its second season, there were some fan-favorite villains showing up. But they were played by different actors. For instance, John Astin, better known for playing Gomez Addams on The Addams Family, took over playing the Riddler. Gorshin, who was hitting it big on variety shows like The Ed Sullivan Show and dates in Las Vegas and New York nightclubs, wanted a bigger salary. Obviously, Dozier said no and replaced him.
Newmar, another fan favorite as the slinky Catwoman left. Eartha Kitt, an incredible singer and actress, just stepped right into the Catwoman suit. She made the role into her own vision, yet she also made sure to purr “Purrfect” when called upon in the scripts.
Lest we forget, the show added another key member to its core cast. Yvonne Craig came on board as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, joining the lead stars in stopping Gotham City’s villains. Barbara, as we came to know, is the daughter of Commissioner Gordon, played by Hamilton. Craig had a lot of experience as a dancer, which made her Batgirl kicks that much more powerful. She did her own stunts on the show.
Her arrival tried to boost Batman‘s ratings entering Season 3. But there was trouble brewing.
‘Batman’ Fever Goes Away In Its Third Season
As Batman moved into its third season, watching those battles between heroes and villains didn’t have that same energy. TV viewers were watching different shows in the 1967-68 season. News reports from the Vietnam War found their way on the major TV networks.
Sure, there were other unique sitcoms like I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched still on the air. But tuning in to watch the crew do battle with the villains became less fun. More celebrities like Carolyn Jones, Van Johnson, Roddy McDowell, Otto Preminger, Cliff Robertson, and Vincent Price dotted the TV screens.
They wanted to be on there because some of them wanted to please their kids and grandchildren. Those young viewers loved watching the show, but ratings began slipping. Adults started finding another programming to watch. Batman had a core viewership, but West, Ward, Hamilton, et al. couldn’t save the show. ABC canceled it.
West and Ward found it hard to find other work after the show ended. They had been typecast as these cartoon characters, with producers not able to see them as actors doing a solid job.
But the world of syndicated programming proved fertile for Batman. Once the show hit the land of reruns, Batman would have new audiences constantly finding it.
Sure, Batman fever ended on network television. But new fans kept the show’s catchphrases and unique on-screen antics alive and well. It’s still on TV to this day. So, go get your “Pow!” and “Zoom!” ready to utter when watching the show.
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