Why do people think it's so terrible?

[BruceBatman]

Why do people think that the 1960's Batman T.V. show is so terrible?
I don't think it's that bad!
Everybody complains that it's campy, but few like to mention the comics of that age were to (they're good too)!!!
Also I think it's pretty funny!
It may be different but that's no reason to hate it!
I mean that's why Batman is so great, he has different sides so that at least one appeals to you!
That's why he has such a great audience and fan base!!
Am I right?

[coliv1977]

Yeah, it's just really campy, I think most people are just used to "The Dark Knight" Batman. The darker, more serious version, and the darker villains, like Joker. It's all relative to when you grew up, I guess

[Batlaw]

brucebatman3 said:

Why do people think that the 1960's Batman T.V. show is so terrible?
I don't think it's that bad!
Everybody complains that it's campy, but few like to mention the comics of that age were to (they're good too)!!!
Also I think it's pretty funny!
It may be different but that's no reason to hate it!
I mean that's why Batman is so great, he has different sides so that at least one appeals to you!
That's why he has such a great audience and fan base!!
Am I right?

Yeah youre pretty right... so is Crane. You gotta keep a fair perspective. the show wasnt Nec. "terrible". At least not for what it was and when it was. It had it's own charm and relevance at the time and remains endearing and entertaining. It just may not represent everyones taste overall or approach to this character.

I may not consider that approach to the character accurate nor prefer it, and I would personally lose interest if it became the standard. But as long as there are other flavors to choose from and options I'm happy. The only thing I care about or that matters is commitment to whatever direction they take. Take it "seriously", whether your approach it silly or serious, either can be poorly executed... Batman 1966 was pretty well done.

[BruceBatman]

Well I do LOVE the darker batman but the 66 batman is not as bad as people say and by the way I was born in1993 not in the 60's!

[Eric]

There is always debate over the 60's West incarnation. Actually the whole 60's Batman era, comics included. I think alot of stems from the fact that most of the internet posters on sites like LoG are a younger generation who has been introduced to the much grittier, urban Batman. They havent really been exposed to the more light hearted versions of the character, therefor have little appreciation for whats come before. There are certain periods in Batmans long history that are benchmarks, 66, 89, those were turning points. Its nice to hear that you acknowledge the past.

[arkhaminmate]

I liked the West series, I can remember watching the movie on tv every time it came on as a kid. Although I don't prefer that incarnation of Batman it's still enjoyable for what it is, & it's an important era too, from a historical standpoint. The one thing I didn't like was the producer due to lack of knowledge he bought random new issues as opposed to "various vintages" as he claims, which resulted in the West series. At it's conception the show was meant to be more serious. I still like the show regardless

[DrGreenEvil]

Yeah the show would not be as contested if it hadnt have gone even farther down hill in campyness starting in season 2. You can tell a definate difference in styles between early season one and later season 2.
But still, I used to love as a kid when TBS would have their marathons leading up to the movie and when FX would show this with Wonder Woman before it and Green Hornet afterward.
I really liked the villians, they were so memorable and colorful. Really hoping Fox and WB would end their litigations over this show so some of those villians might become mainstream. Who wouldnt love an adventure of Batman where he has to keep King Tut and Maxie Zeus from going at each other.
Still even this show stuck to the characteristics and psychological profile that is Batman.
Different times different rhymes.

[The Shadow]

[shadow=red,left,300]I loved this show. It had a great car, hot girls and a unique style.

Without this show, Batman would've never became the huge cultural icon he is today.

-The Shadow[/shadow]

[RJ]

theshadow said:

[shadow=red,left,300]
Without this show, Batman would've never became the huge cultural icon he is today.

[/shadow]

I think that fans often forget that before they talk down about the '66 series. The Batman comics were tanking up to 1966 and were about to be shut down. If it weren't for the show and it's immediate success, we probably wouldn't have Batman today. And like Shadowbat was saying earlier, this show influenced an era in Batman that was necessary to bring it back into balance. Those crazy stories in the 60's help to influence the writers of the 70's/80's into not doing what was done before.

It's an interesting decade to look at in Batman history, one of the most important.

[catfanbogota]

The 1966 series was not overly campy in its first season. The premiere episodes, "Hi Diddle Riddle"/"Smack In the Middle," was edgy, with a moll (Jill St. John) falling to her death. After the first season, the show seemed to decline.

Fundamentally, there was nothing wrong with the 1966 series, but I think the producers did not take the show as serious enough as they should have.

[BruceBatman]

Thanks for all of your opinions, all of you have good points!

[BruceBatman]

You know what? The movie was great too!
Especially the 35th anniversary DVD.

[batmaster]

In amsterdam there's a museum, and its a museum of the 60's and it with BATMAN!

[BruceBatman]

Really? I didn't know that! Thanks.

[MauledVader]

rj09 said:

theshadow said:

[shadow=red,left,300]
Without this show, Batman would've never became the huge cultural icon he is today.

[/shadow]

I think that fans often forget that before they talk down about the '66 series. The Batman comics were tanking up to 1966 and were about to be shut down. If it weren't for the show and it's immediate success, we probably wouldn't have Batman today. And like Shadowbat was saying earlier, this show influenced an era in Batman that was necessary to bring it back into balance. Those crazy stories in the 60's help to influence the writers of the 70's/80's into not doing what was done before.

It's an interesting decade to look at in Batman history, one of the most important.

You guys are right! If it weren't for the 60's show, the comic would have been gone, there would have been NO Batman and Superfriends cartoons, and between those cartoons and the TV series, there would have ZERO interest in bringing Batman to the big screen in '89! I doubt that Tim Burton would not have known who Batman even was if it weren't for Adam West! Without the series, the last Batman incarnation on film were the old black and white serials and those wouldn't have inspired ANY Batman revamp in the 80's!

Batman would be that no bigger than The Phantom in terms of pop culture!...

...and there wouldn't be THE GREATEST BATMOBILE EVER MADE EITHER!!!

[Christopher Jones]

I *love* the 1960's series - but like many shows of that era, it started out great and went downhill. The first season had better stories and production values than what it became by the end. If you took the campy jokes out and played it straight, it would have been a pretty good Batman show. Unfortunately as the writing deteriorated and the budget was trimmed, the show became a caricature of itself. As much as I loved Yvonne Craig as Batgirl, by the time you got to season 3 the episodes were pretty lousy.

Chris

[darkclaw]

I'm right there with ya Chris! I also think Ceasar Romero played the perfect pre-crisis Joker

[Christopher Jones]

I think the Joker got much more violent and crazy before Crisis. There are plenty of 1970s and early 1980s stories that are more extreme than Cesar Romero. But he's *definitely* a great 1950s/1960s Joker!

C.

[kilowog52]

I never found the show all that campy, but I haven't seen it since I was small. It is a good show. I like anything with superheroes in it. My favorite is the DCAU version.