Dec. 3-4 on Decades: 77 Sunset Strip.
The Classic/Retro Pop Culture Thread
- Thread starter The Old Mixer
- Start date
Ah, interesting. I have vague memories of that being on in the afternoon back in the 60s. I think I used to catch the end of it right before the Marvel superhero cartoons came on.
The Green Hornet
"The Preying Mantis"
Originally aired November 18, 1966
I guess the "gimmick" for this week was the kung fu, but it's a good gimmick, playing to Bruce Lee's strengths and giving him some worthy competition. (The comical image of Bruce squaring off against Burt Ward as if they were supposed to be equals comes to mind.)
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Batman
"The Penguin Goes Straight"
Our third two-time villain...and the plot revolves around Penguin having gotten out of prison legitimately since his last appearance. Talk about a revolving door system.
They kind of hit us over the head a few too many times with that "K. Rhyme" gag, don't they?
The interrogation scene is really camping it up, even before Batman does his more-silly-than-scary shadow stunt.
It's perhaps unintentionally funny that the plot relies on Penguin drawing suspicion to himself by just happening to have umbrellas equipped with the right gadgets for the crimes he's preventing...considering that's a standard part of the star's M.O.
In the novelty department, we get some second-person narration from the announcer to Alfred providing the audience with exposition. There's some consistency here in that the Penguin's bug-detecting skills have already proven to be more formidable than Batman's on the show...though the Caped Crusader doesn't seem to have learned his lesson.
"Can you see any way out??" Well, they could try crying out through those bandit-style gags, which they easily talk through after saving themselves. Of course, the Commissioner would have to arrest them.
Granted it's part of a trap that Batman's laying with the Commissioner's cooperation, but isn't Penguin committing a crime stealing the Batmobile? If the Dynamic Duo were really dead, you'd think that the police would impound it.
"The Preying Mantis"
Originally aired November 18, 1966
I guess the "gimmick" for this week was the kung fu, but it's a good gimmick, playing to Bruce Lee's strengths and giving him some worthy competition. (The comical image of Bruce squaring off against Burt Ward as if they were supposed to be equals comes to mind.)
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Batman
"The Penguin Goes Straight"
Originally aired March 23, 1966
"Not Yet, He Ain't"Originally aired March 24, 1966
Our third two-time villain...and the plot revolves around Penguin having gotten out of prison legitimately since his last appearance. Talk about a revolving door system.
They kind of hit us over the head a few too many times with that "K. Rhyme" gag, don't they?
The interrogation scene is really camping it up, even before Batman does his more-silly-than-scary shadow stunt.
It's perhaps unintentionally funny that the plot relies on Penguin drawing suspicion to himself by just happening to have umbrellas equipped with the right gadgets for the crimes he's preventing...considering that's a standard part of the star's M.O.
In the novelty department, we get some second-person narration from the announcer to Alfred providing the audience with exposition. There's some consistency here in that the Penguin's bug-detecting skills have already proven to be more formidable than Batman's on the show...though the Caped Crusader doesn't seem to have learned his lesson.
Yeah, they fell into that trap way too easily. Really, what right did they have to try to replace the jewels without the owner's consent, regardless of the Penguin's motives? Not a problem for lawless vigilantes, but the Dynamic Duo are portrayed as being upstandingly obedient of the law in this show. Likewise, how does exposing the Penguin's plan at the end absolve them of the crime that they still attempted to commit? I could see it if they convinced Sophia not to press charges at the end, but she's still ready to marry the Penguin going into the last scene.
"Can you see any way out??" Well, they could try crying out through those bandit-style gags, which they easily talk through after saving themselves. Of course, the Commissioner would have to arrest them.
Granted it's part of a trap that Batman's laying with the Commissioner's cooperation, but isn't Penguin committing a crime stealing the Batmobile? If the Dynamic Duo were really dead, you'd think that the police would impound it.
Well, that might have tipped the Penguin off, considering that Bruce had run afoul of him before. (No pun intended.)
So I take it that the movie was well into production at the point when this episode was filmed? Also, it's pushing things a bit that Batman's controlling two moving vehicles at the same time. His seriously distracted driving is preferable to letting the kid without a driver's license, who's just sitting there in the sidecar with nothing to do, have a crack at it?
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The difference is that Pengy could only carry one trick umbrella at a time, and the one he carried in each case just happened to be the right one for foiling that crime. Batman, by contrast, routinely stocks his utility belt (whose storage space is functionally unlimited) with devices to deal with every conceivable contingency.
Maybe...but he could have multi-functional umbrellas. There's no reason he couldn't have bulletproofing, dry ice spray in the tip, and bug-detecting in the handle, for example.
Ah, but you see, old chum, the Penguin is a criminal, which means that he was never a Boy Scout, which means that he never learned the importance of being prepared.
Golly, @Christopher , when you put it that way...!
They advertised Police Story during The Saint, so I guess it's really happening this time.
Yeah, saw that. And it looks like the Dec. 10-11 Binge is The Phil Silvers Show.
Mako was no equal to Lee, either, with Lee's student/assistant trainer Dan Inosanto standing in for most of the fight scenes. Ward was either a brown or black belt in karate in real life (which helped land him the role of Robin), which had much to do with 1960s Dozierverse fans wanting to see a Robin v. Kato fight.
Superhero adaptations and comics would not exist without such a system.
Not really camp, but a nod to many a Golden Age police movie, where the contrasts of character and image were sold with force.
If TV Batman has one flaw--its that he believes he will ultimately have the technological edge on villains, which probably explains why Batman would use that against the same villain again.
Sophia knows Batman and Robin are deputized officers of the law, so it is reasonable to assume she would understand they were not committing a real crime for that purpose, thus she would not press charges. Her feelings for Penguin are an unrelated issue, as it is not uncommon for matters of the heart to cloud sense.
Although the Dynamic Duo are agents of the law, their possessions are not the legal property of the Gotham City police department. Moreover, since this was all a plan to snare Penguin, GCPD would not interfere with anything that would act as a speedbump on the villain's road back to prison.
Not at all. The Batman movie entered production after the first season's production ended. By the time this episode aired, Greenway was already eyebrow-deep developing The Green Hornet and The Tammy Grimes Show, so Dozier had a very full production plate early that year. "The Penguin Goes Straight" / "Not Yet, He Ain't" was long in the can before its March 1966 first run, but its worth noting that the original Batcycle was still being used in promotional materials in this period--long before a need for the Tom Daniel / Dan Dempski version created exclusively for the film.
A superhero with his own nuclear reactor, anti-freezing pills, Batzookas and created a nearly thinking crime computer cant multitask?
But in the situation that they were pretending to enact, Batman & Robin were wanted fugitives who were shot down trying to escape. Presumably their vehicle would be impounded in that circumstance, possibly as evidence, not left lying around.
Are you saying that this was a different Batcycle than the one in the film?
But...Robin's just sitting there with nothing to do...and he answers the phone when Batman's driving the Batmobile.
The GCPD was in on the plan, so impounding the Batmobile was not a priority. The spectacle of two former heroes gunned down was all that mattered.
Yes. The 1st Batcycle (left) was based on a Harley-Davidson, with accents designed to mirror the Batmobile, while the 2nd cycle (right) was created for the film, and appeared (with new and movie footage) in the TV series--
Technically, the remote was mounted neat the handlebars, so it was designed for driver control. Besides, Robin was busy getting ready to beat the crap out of the Penguin & his henchmen.
But the Penguin didn't know that when he stole it.
Hmm. I like Phil Silvers, but his show was not that exciting.
The Green Hornet
"The Hunters and the Hunted"
Originally aired November 25, 1966
The hunting motif is an interesting gimmick for bad guys on this show, and could have been put to better use in a two-parter and with a climactic hunt in a larger setting than what looked like somebody's yard in Beverly Hills.
Kato whips out his nunchuks for this one...has he used them before this? The Wiki article for the martial arts weapon credits Bruce Lee for popularizing it in his films.
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Batman
"The Ring of Wax"
I know that Batgirl is two seasons away, but Moth, with her purple catsuit and stylized cape, looks like something of a dress rehearsal.
Another Batmobile theft...Riddler just snipping a couple wires makes it seem too easy...and of course, the only purpose this time was to leave it outside his hideout for Batman's convenience.
For a recurring issue of costume discontinuity, see the way that Batman's Utility Belt suddenly grows much beefier pouches when he's pulling something practical out of it. This time it really stuck out at me when he was pulling out the Batarang and Batrope outside the museum...there were at least two oversized pouches to accommodate this, one on each side.
The stiffness of Robin's climbing cape is also much more obvious without Batman climbing behind him. Inside the museum, we get the novelty of an all-too-brief Robin solo fight. (Kato would have done better....)
Did they just add the Batram for this pair of episodes? I noticed it hanging there below the front of the Batmobile in both parts before the Caped Crusader finally used it.
The Batshadow is done less cheesily this time...but the Riddler shouldn't be so surprised that Robin lied about Batman's survival, considering that Robin survived. And hell, all he had to do was look out a window to see Batman standing around in broad daylight next to the Batmobile....
"The Hunters and the Hunted"
Originally aired November 25, 1966
The hunting motif is an interesting gimmick for bad guys on this show, and could have been put to better use in a two-parter and with a climactic hunt in a larger setting than what looked like somebody's yard in Beverly Hills.
Kato whips out his nunchuks for this one...has he used them before this? The Wiki article for the martial arts weapon credits Bruce Lee for popularizing it in his films.
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Batman
"The Ring of Wax"
Originally aired March 30, 1966
"Give 'em the Axe"Originally aired March 31, 1966
I know that Batgirl is two seasons away, but Moth, with her purple catsuit and stylized cape, looks like something of a dress rehearsal.
Another Batmobile theft...Riddler just snipping a couple wires makes it seem too easy...and of course, the only purpose this time was to leave it outside his hideout for Batman's convenience.
It was pretty hokey how everyone started coughing just long enough to deliver the exposition about the fumes, then all seemed fine.
That feature of the cowl came to my attention the other week when Mad Hatter's dummy of Batman lacked the cowl, but had the cape in place (which didn't look like much by itself...not unlike when I'd tie a towel around my neck with a safety pin as a kid).
For a recurring issue of costume discontinuity, see the way that Batman's Utility Belt suddenly grows much beefier pouches when he's pulling something practical out of it. This time it really stuck out at me when he was pulling out the Batarang and Batrope outside the museum...there were at least two oversized pouches to accommodate this, one on each side.
The stiffness of Robin's climbing cape is also much more obvious without Batman climbing behind him. Inside the museum, we get the novelty of an all-too-brief Robin solo fight. (Kato would have done better....)
Did they just add the Batram for this pair of episodes? I noticed it hanging there below the front of the Batmobile in both parts before the Caped Crusader finally used it.
The Batshadow is done less cheesily this time...but the Riddler shouldn't be so surprised that Robin lied about Batman's survival, considering that Robin survived. And hell, all he had to do was look out a window to see Batman standing around in broad daylight next to the Batmobile....
I've had Police Story on in the background, but haven't had a chance to sit through an episode (as usual). It's funny how little things trigger memories, though. I had completely forgotten about how they end every episode with that same staticky radio exchange and hearing it again puts me right back in the 70s-- especially that little "8-9-9" at the end. 
It did not matter that Penguin did not know about GCPD's plan--he's a crook, so "this might be part of a set-up" does not come to mind when stealing the Batmobile.
Well the site was the grounds of the exclusive club.....
Charles Bateman (Quentin Crane) might be best known (to 60s TV fans) as the KAOS ape turned into a CONTROL agent in "The Apes of Rath," a 5th season episode of Get Smart.
Just re-using the same materials. At the time this episode was shot, there was no idea of a Batgirl on the series at all.
To be fair, how often do TV series ever accurately show the effects of fumes or anything else? Ever notice that on action series, the heroes suffer a number of head blows causing them to lose consciousness? It happens so often, that in real life, they would suffer permanent brain damage or worse, but in the same episode, or maybe after a couple, everyone is back on their feet, ready for action.
Think of any era of James Bond--that guy should be brain damaged or dead a dozen times over.
That attachment was introduced in the pilot, but to avoid the "here one minute, gone the next" issue, Batman should have concealed it in the back of the belt in the way Robin did--or seemed to reach that far back when getting his Batarang.
Robin often fights villains toe-to-toe for longer periods of time (even in the big, final fights), so the ease of his capture was out of place (plot convenience) considering fights seen before and after this episode.
Yes. The original car was not outfitted with all of the attachments used in throughout the series. In-series, the duo would occasionally mention that something was added (e.g. Batman mentioned attaching the Bat-Armor in "Better Luck Next Time"), but if not needed for the story, it was not a permanent addition.
Robin surviving does not necessarily mean Batman did. The Riddler's usual confidence probably implies he would never allow his mind to even consider total failure.
But the Penguin was pretending to have gone straight...so if it hadn't been a trap, he could have tipped his hand early by committing a criminal act of opportunity like stealing the Batmobile.
So it looks like Decades is continuing their weekday Mini-Binges in December, though December's theme would appear to be sitcoms/comedies rather than cop shows. It would seem that they've pretty much given up the format of playing the same six-hour block four times a day on weekdays, though they still have that formatting going on at the beginning and end of the weekdays, with Mini-Binges in-between.
A typical Mon.-Thurs. schedule starting 12/05
7:00 a.m.: Through the Decades
8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Programming block unrelated to Mini-Binge
2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.: Mini-Binge
6 p.m.: Rowan & Martin's Laugh In (likely specific to December's theme)
7 p.m.: Through the Decades
8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.: Mini-Binge
12 a.m.: Rowan & Martin's Laugh In
1 a.m.: Through the Decades
2 a.m. - 6:30 a.m.: Repeat of 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. block
Fridays lengthen the Mini-Binges by varying amounts. Saturdays and Sundays are still full-on Weekend Binges from 1:00 p.m. Saturday through 6:30 a.m. Monday. But the Weekend Binges apparently tie into the monthly theme.
Mini-Binges and Weekend Binges currently scheduled
Mon., 11/28: Vega$
Tues., 11/29: T.J. Hooker
Wed., 11/30: Wiseguy
Thurs., 12/01: Burke's Law
Fri., 12/02: The Mod Squad
Sat., 12/03 - Sun., 12/04: 77 Sunset Strip
Mon., 12/05: The Abbott and Costello Show
Tues., 12/06: The Beverly Hillbillies
Wed., 12/07: The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Thurs., 12/08: The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Fri., 12/09: The Donna Reed Show
Sat., 12/10 - Sun. 12/11: The Phil Silvers Show
Mon., 12/12: Car 54, Where Are You?
Tues., 12/13: I Love Lucy
Wed., 12/14: The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
Thurs., 12/15: My Three Sons
Fri., 12/16: The Brady Bunch
Sat., 12/17 - Sun., 12/18: The Lucy Show
A typical Mon.-Thurs. schedule starting 12/05
7:00 a.m.: Through the Decades
8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Programming block unrelated to Mini-Binge
2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.: Mini-Binge
6 p.m.: Rowan & Martin's Laugh In (likely specific to December's theme)
7 p.m.: Through the Decades
8 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.: Mini-Binge
12 a.m.: Rowan & Martin's Laugh In
1 a.m.: Through the Decades
2 a.m. - 6:30 a.m.: Repeat of 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. block
Fridays lengthen the Mini-Binges by varying amounts. Saturdays and Sundays are still full-on Weekend Binges from 1:00 p.m. Saturday through 6:30 a.m. Monday. But the Weekend Binges apparently tie into the monthly theme.
Mini-Binges and Weekend Binges currently scheduled
Mon., 11/28: Vega$
Tues., 11/29: T.J. Hooker
Wed., 11/30: Wiseguy
Thurs., 12/01: Burke's Law
Fri., 12/02: The Mod Squad
Sat., 12/03 - Sun., 12/04: 77 Sunset Strip
Mon., 12/05: The Abbott and Costello Show
Tues., 12/06: The Beverly Hillbillies
Wed., 12/07: The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Thurs., 12/08: The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Fri., 12/09: The Donna Reed Show
Sat., 12/10 - Sun. 12/11: The Phil Silvers Show
Mon., 12/12: Car 54, Where Are You?
Tues., 12/13: I Love Lucy
Wed., 12/14: The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
Thurs., 12/15: My Three Sons
Fri., 12/16: The Brady Bunch
Sat., 12/17 - Sun., 12/18: The Lucy Show
Wow, they've got Laugh-In. Really bad time slot for me, but I'll try to catch it. I loved that show.