The worst episode of Batman 66?

[Earth 2 Chris]

"Nora Clavicle and the Ladies' Crime Club" is often sited as the bottom of the barrel for the classic Batman TV series. But that didn't stop me from talking about on John S. Drew's excellent Batcave Podcast!

http://drewshi2000.wix.com/batcavepodcast

Chris

[MIB41]

I'll be listening to this on our trip up to the "Beach" water park in Cincy today. Let me preface my future comments by saying I find myself watching the later seasons of series that were traditionally not my favorite. I've been doing that with Season three of Batman '66 and even Season 5 of Six Mill. I think allot of the later episodes in some of these series, especially Batman, were never in heavy rotation like the first and second seasons were. And even though I watched these shows during their first run, I think it's safe to say the latter stories were less inspired and clearly underfunded in production values. That being said, perhaps it's because of those reasons I find myself exploring them more now. I'm not sure if I'm trying to subconsciously justify their existence more by trying to identify a jewel in the rough or just develop a full retention of every episode, even those of lesser quality. I guess it's like most things... With the fog of time and reminiscing, even the dogs retain a beauty and charm they never had when they were new.

[HardyGirl]

I've never really liked The Puzzler. To me, he's just a cheap combo of the Joker and Riddler.

[Hedji]

This might be controversial... Maybe not the worst episode, but I have a hard time getting into the Green Hornet episodes. Those ones just seem... off to me.

But really, are there any bad episodes? There's always something to enjoy in each one.

[MIB41]

This might be controversial... Maybe not the worst episode, but I have a hard time getting into the Green Hornet episodes. Those ones just seem... off to me.

But really, are there any bad episodes? There's always something to enjoy in each one.

I think these days I'm more of the opinion some are less inspired than others. They're ALL fun so there's nothing but love on that front. But I think if you watch their performance in the first season, then see their portrayals in the third, there's definitely a degree of fatigue setting in as they try to take less inspired material and overcompensate. Now without question there are still some really good episodes in that final season (King Tut hits high marks for me in his appearances), but I definitely felt like the show was running out of gas.

[enyawd72]

That Nora Clavicle episode is horrible. The dock set looks like an elementary school play.

I do like the Lord Ffogg and Lady Peasoup episodes though.

[monitor_ep]

The Puzzler episode:

The script originally was intended to be a story featuring the Riddler. However, Frank Gorshin was in the middle of a contract dispute and as a result the script was rewritten for a new villain, the Puzzler, as played by Maurice Evans. This is the second time a Superman villain makes his appearance on Batman '66.
The first draft of this story, featuring The Riddler instead of The Puzzler, was titled 'A Penny for your Riddles'.

The first draft of this story, featuring The Riddler instead of The Puzzler, was titled 'They're Worth a Lot More'.

from my Batman 66 page

[Earth 2 Chris]

I'll be listening to this on our trip up to the "Beach" water park in Cincy today. Let me preface my future comments by saying I find myself watching the later seasons of series that were traditionally not my favorite. I've been doing that with Season three of Batman '66 and even Season 5 of Six Mill. I think allot of the later episodes in some of these series, especially Batman, were never in heavy rotation like the first and second seasons were. And even though I watched these shows during their first run, I think it's safe to say the latter stories were less inspired and clearly underfunded in production values. That being said, perhaps it's because of those reasons I find myself exploring them more now. I'm not sure if I'm trying to subconsciously justify their existence more by trying to identify a jewel in the rough or just develop a full retention of every episode, even those of lesser quality. I guess it's like most things... With the fog of time and reminiscing, even the dogs retain a beauty and charm they never had when they were new.

True. I had an off-air conversation with host John S. Drew, and having just recently seen BvS when we recorded this, I told him I was looking forward to talking about ANY episode of the 60s TV series after that movie left a bad taste in my mouth.

I've never really liked The Puzzler. To me, he's just a cheap combo of the Joker and Riddler.

If I remember right, that was a last minute change to a Riddler script when Gorshin wasn't available. Later, they just recast with John Astin as the Riddler.

Chris

[Mikey]

The Lord Marmaduke Ffogg story.

When they play it I always turn the channel

[Earth 2 Chris]

^ That one used to vex me quite a bit. I think it's just too long. I do like some aspects of it, like the daughter/niece who has a thing for Robin. And Mrs. Banks from Marry Poppins isn't bad. Apparently Rudy Vallee as Ffogg was a real pain in the rear to work with.

But it should have been a two-parter, tops. Not three. Season three had less time to work with at only one show per week, but they kept trying those three-parters.

Chris

[palitoy]

Yeah, Londinium should not have been attempted on the season 3 budget.

[TheNewGiJoeWithKungFuGrip]

The Nora Clavicle episode is is the worst thing ever shown on a television screen.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^The only redeeming value of that episode is the Siamese Human Knot. It's ludicrous, but it's memorable. Who wouldn't want to be in that configuration with Yvonne Craig?

Chris

[palitoy]

^The only redeeming value of that episode is the Siamese Human Knot. It's ludicrous, but it's memorable. Who wouldn't want to be in that configuration with Yvonne Craig?

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. It's also the "We ain't gots no money" of traps.

[PNGwynne]

1. Nora Clavicle. Ugh.
2. Minerva. If they couldn't get Mae West like they wanted, they should have made it a Marsha, Queen of Diamonds outing.
3. FFogg. Making it a three-parter was a mistake.
4. Blasphemy, I know, but Surfing Joker. Just. Too. Inane.

I loved Puzzler, Evans did well for a reworked script.