Her long dancer's legs and body didn't hurt none either nor did her appearance as the Green Orion dancer on SToS. I was in my mid-teens when she joined the cast and became the subject of a "crush."
@@robertf3479 Yvonne told me, that of all the costumes she ever wore, the one she wore as Marta was the one she would like to have kept. (she never kept anything.. she said.. as it was not hers) Also, she choreographed the dance she did on the show herself.
A while ago, I met Yvonne at a convention and talked with her a bit. I asked her of a memorable time on set and she said on one episode they were doing a scene involving an alley. Batman (Adam West) was to lead them down it and stop at the end before going on. So, it was Batman, Batgirl and Robin going down the alley. When they got to the end, Batman put his hand back to stop them.... right on Batgirl's ample bosom! Adam totally lost it and they had to stop the shoot until he got it together! Funny!
@vickanid1862; I read somewhere, I think in West's biography/an interview, that he actually did it deliberately. He figured as the star of the show he could get away with it. It seems to me that even if it was an accident, he was quite pleased with himself over it. 🦹♂️🫂🦹♀️😈
let's face it, the reason Batgirl was brought onto the show and with that particular outfit was to increase viewership from pre-teen and teenage males. I remember seeing studies that the higher watched episodes were the ones with Catwoman in them. They couldn't have the sexy Catwoman in every episode, so they needed a substitute that made sense and could be in every episode.
@@superstrangevideo Exactly, in season 2, the Wednesday Episodes went from a Top 10 to a #58 while the Thursday Episodes went from a Top 5 to a Top 40 at #37. In the 1st season, both shows beat their competitors The Virginian (which was in the Top 25) and Daniel Boone (which was in the Top 30), but in the 66/67 season, Batman's ratings on both nights were decreasing while their competitors The Virginian and Daniel Boone saw their ratings increase with Daniel jumping up to the Top 25 and The Virginian going up from a Top 25 to being in the Top 10 at #10 tied with abc's Bewitched (abc's highest rated show) and CBS' Gomer Pyle USMC and The Ed Sullivan Show. Plus the production cost was hurting them, the cliffhangers were absolutely ridiculous, too many horrible bat villains (The Archer, Colonel Gumm, Black Widow, The Minstrel, The Clock King, The Puzzler, Ma Parker, The Sandman, Marsha Queen of Diamonds), John Astin replacing Frank Gorshin as The Riddler (Frank Gorshin backed out due to a salary dispute only to return to the final season), and most of all, no Lorenzo Semple, Jr. as the head writer (who was the key to their success).
I think the reason her costume looks so light in colour is, at least in part, because of the faded film. It looks about as different as the other regular costumes in the pilot to me. Beyond that I really like this version of Barbara and I think it’s a shame the series wasn’t picked up. I also love that the hair coming from her cowl is a wig to aid the disguise. It’s as camp as anything else in the show but it also makes plenty of sense and I’m surprised it was never used in the comics (to my knowledge at least).
The pilot has her yellow cape almost looking green. I don't think that's how any of it looked in real life. I think the colors are faded. But you are right, the darker purple looks much better as a costume.
@@AnthonyJackson-v5l There's a really good episode of the animated series that addresses this. Look up "Over the Edge". Very dark and super interesting.
I have seen the Batgirl pilot before, there is one scene that you did not show where Batgirl use items from her civilian clothes like turning her hat into her Batgirl cowl and turning her skirt into a cape. I remember than this was repeated scene for scene in her series in Detective Comics. Batgirl had a series of solo adventures than ran a backup feature in Detective Comics in the 1960's. I'm old enough I bought them on the newsstand at the time.
I have the collectors box set of Batman 66 and this episode is included on the first of the season 3 DVDs! Huge fan of this unaired episode because it’s a surprisingly accurate adaptation of the first appearance of Batgirl in comics.
I’ve always heard about this pilot but never saw it til right now. It’s wild to me that she never even existed til the Batman 60s series cause it feels like she’s always been around
As fas as I’m concerned, Vee is spot on his Batman/Batgirl romance take. There was more romantic chemistry in this never seen introduction versus her entire run on the actual series.
I remember an episode where Bruce Wayne was on a date with Barbara Gordon before the bat-calll came, though the forbidden romance angle was often played up between Batman and Cat Woman.
@@markanthonytierno Yes I've remember that episode as well, but we why does Robin and Batgirl seen always staring at each other especially during the Beach episode? 😂That's why in the animated they've made Robin and Batgirl start dating ( Dick and Barbara)?
Honestly, Batgirl would've worked way better in a solo show with occasional crossover. I never liked the way she worked alongside Batman and Robin in the third season and the shortening from one hour episodes in two parts to half hour episodes especially made it feel crowded and unfocussed. Separate Batman and Batgirl shows back to back would've probably worked far better, there's one for the boys and one for the girls, and naturally both parties would've tuned in for both because it's just more of the same, that kind of brand-synergy worked pretty well years later with He-man and She-ra. Of course, I do understand them not wanting to take such a risk given that season three was notorious for its extreme budget constraints, what with such masterful writing that brought us Joker and Batman's surfing contest where they're just stumbling around in front of a projection screen of the ocean for three minutes, or the daring fight scene where Batman and Robin take on a room full of invisible goons so the studio wouldn't have to hire any stuntmen. Who knows, maybe if they went forward with a season 4 we'd have gotten a Batgirl spinoff a little farther down the line. Too bad we'll never see it, I miss the campy fun Batman, before all this Dark Knight Returns, Killing Joke, and Batman Who Laughs nonsense, it's all just a bit too gritty at best and far too edgy at worst.
@Flyboy1953not every plot was cut to a half hour there was at least 1 3 episode plots in the third season when they go to Londinium that was their version of London to help Scotland Yard on a case and the 2 episodes plots still appeared but more one episode plot did appear also
@Flyboy1953nbc did express interest in continuing the series but by the time they did the production had begun dismantling sets and nbc wouldn’t spend the money to have them put back together so they ultimately decided not to acquire the series from abc
My youthful TV crush. They made good changes to her costume to make her look more appealing on tv, including changing her boots to a skinnier heel, which was sexier. Loved seeing her rock that revised tight purple costume and stiletto boots. The eagle eye in me also noticed that in many of the more intense stunts/jumps she did, they changed her boots back to a thicker heel (you can see this in frame by frame shots). I'm assuming they didn't want her landing on her feet in a small, skinnier heel. They edited the scenes fairly well, but it's noticeable.
I'm not sure where the Batgirl show rumor started, but this video was actually a presentation reel to convince ABC to renew Batman for a Third Season. This presentation reel for ABC loosely adapts Batgirl's actual origin from her first comic book appearance "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl". According to Yvonne Craig, Batgirl's mask in the presentation reel was changed for the show because it left dents in Yvonne's Craig's face that took a while to go away.
This was not a pilot for a proposed spin-off. It was a presentation made for ABC executives to renew Batman. Producer William Dozier came up with the concept of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl and asked DC comics to design the character.Batgirl debuted in Detective Comics number 359, December 1966 "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl" 9 months before the TV episode " Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin"
… Batgirl (not Bat-girl) was developed specifically for the show with the aid of those in charge of comics. She may have appeared in the comics prior to the big screen but she was literally invented for this series. This was a presentation of the character but it was also a pitch at a spin off set to air before new Batman episodes that would cross over with the series. Those plans didn’t pan out and instead the character was brought into the series directly. Adam West has said as much in interviews.
I always liked the animation sequence when Batgirl drives by on her Batgirl Cycle. Batgirl is looking straight ahead as she drives, then quickly turns her head to look right in the "camera". It happens very quickly, so watch it closely, pause it if you can. Also, in the opening and closing animation sequence, her mask is pointed like in this "pilot", and not rounded like the mask she wore in the series.
I read Batgirl's debut comic last year and I had no idea this existed! It's practically the same story. They probably originally intended to release it around the same time.
Well considering the joker was less psychotic in this version of batman a villain like killer moth really doesn't fit the show. Killer croc doesn't work either because no one gets killed in this version.
Batgirl's fight scene is so unrealistic. No Librarian would throw books around and topple entire bookshelves... knowing that the next day she would be the one who would have to put them all back in order!
She was requested as a love interest for Batman. The first mention of the character is actually the last episode of the 2nd Season of Batman where Commissioner Gordon is trying to fix her up with Bruce Wayne. In her first appearance, the actual first mention of her is them talking about Bruce Wayne and her having a date planned.
Storytime: I read an interview with Yvonne in Starlog magazine that was done in the 70's. The interviewer asked about the Autoshows and she responded that she toured with the Batmobile and Batcycle signing autographs. He said "I still have the autograph I got then." and she stted "That is one of the few legitimate a\ autographs of mine out there. If you sent anything to Paramount and got it back signed, it is a forgery. Paramount never gave me anything to sign for anyone." This has influenced hoeI look at getting autographs ever since. A few years later a dealer friend of mine found a custom made photo print of her from Star Trek he knew I would want and I did. A few more years and she comes to town with the Men in the Masks Star Wars tour so I took my picture to get it signed. Therewas a horrible line but almost nobody was there for her, so I got to spend about 45 minutes talking with her. When the took mt photo, she held it up to look at and said :This is the first picture anyone has ever brought me to sign that shows the whole costume. Usually they are cit off here |(indicating with her hand about waist high) You know, I had the chance to keep that costume when I left there. ( Long dramatic pause) I'm glad I didn't" She never had the motivation to tell that story before and she was gone 6 years later and who knows if she ever told it again or wrote it down, so I am probably the only person who knows this and If I do nt share ut, it will be lost This is why we go geet\\t autographs, these shared moments.
There was TWO of the Moths that was Riddler's henchmen. Tim Herbert (Killer Moth) was in the clip you showed. Joey Tata was a henchman for a few villians in Batman. Riddler and Penguin, as far as I know. He also in Beverly Hills 90210. He played the owner of the hangout the kids went to.
For a second, I thought you were gonna say Birds of Prey from The WB. I was like I’ve seen that show! I would’ve loved to have seen this spin-off of the ‘66 series. Ty again for the videos and content man and keep up the great work please!
This is indeed a very interesting look at the potential spinoff of the 66 series. Your channel is truly fantastic! Thank you for sharing this with us! Definitely for sure while I do love Batgirl as a character I certainly will never support the idea that she should be setup as a potential love interest for Batman! It’s just way too creepy for my personal tastes! However once again your channel delivers a fantastic recap of her story, complicated matters aside!
I've been in love with Yvonne Craig ever since I first saw her in my 20s. She was, to me, perfect in every way. I think if I had ever met her the first words out of my mouth would have been, "Will you marry me?" She was incredible in every way.
Thank you, Thank you!! I grew up back in the day when "Batman" came on after Dark Shadows! I love it when "Batgirl" pops up out of nowhere, and the theme song of "Batgirl!" Thank you again for posting this find. 😃
I remember on the dubious Filmation cartoon of Batman, Batgirl tells the Catwoman “Not on your nine lives!” A great line in an otherwise dull cartoon! Now onto this video. It did make me want to check out the Batgirl video. Those voice overs at the end were a nice touch!
I think Batgirl's costume besides the pilot looks so much better in the regular purple 🟣💜 and her cowl masks looks better with the curve eye bottom rather than the pointed eye bottom but also Yvonne Craig played her Batgirl role at her best there will never be another person like Yvonne Craig to play the Batgirl role like she did she will always be the original classic one Thank you for being our favorite Batgirl Yvonne Craig and may she continue to R.I.P.
In Batman Beyond, Barbara Gordon has become the commissioner, & in one of the early episodes, she tells Terry (the new Batman) that she had been Bruce/Batman's lover. BTW, Batgirl predates the TV series. She debuted in 1961 as a Robin like sidekick to the original 1956 Batwoman. She wasn't Barbara Gordon, but Betty Kane, niece to Batwoman/Kathy Kane. Batwoman was a love interest to refute accusations that Batman was gay, & I think Batgirl was supposed to be a parallel love interest for Robin.🦇❤
I have never heard anything about this "proposed spin-off". Everything I've ever read about this "pilot" (and I first saw it a few decades ago, finding a copy on VHS at a con), is that the film was put together to show ABC executives and advertisers to show them "this is the character we're planning on adding". It's well known in comic fan circles that Dozier approached DC about wanting to add a female Bat character, and that Julius Schwartz, Gardner Fox, and Carmine Infantino obliged by introducing Barbara/Batgirl in the comics. Having Batman and Robin in the short was a given if it is what I described above, not a pilot for a solo series. All three of Killer Moth's henchmen were also stuntmen/actors who had played henchmen in multiple episodes. They clearly were repeat hires the production team knew. Killer Moth was adapted badly from the comics, including the cheap villain costumes, but again, I don't think this was a true pilot. Also, being well done is a given, as it was done after the series had been on for two years. The cowl was changed, yes, but the bodysuit wasn't changed. I think you were watching a faded copy (as my VHS tape was). Some of the footage you show looks like it came from such a faded copy. Her pointed cowl in the short is closer to how it looked in the comics. Bruce and Barbara went on dates in multiple episodes of the series.
It was sort of both. This was a pitch for the character in general. The initial idea was to have a batgirl show that would often cross over with the main show. Adam West said as much in interviews.
You mentioned that Batgirl was a hit but not good enough to not get the show cancelled. I think I saw something once that said that they were waiting to hear if the show would be cancelled after Season 3. They heard that they got the go ahead for 4 but when they went to the set…it was already taken down and destroyed. They did not want to re do everything so they ended it there. That is what I remember…I might be wrong!
That's the story. That it was going over to another network, but because the sets had been destroyed or sold off, the new network for it then didn't want it. They would have to pay for all that again.
I saw the "Killer Moth" episode once and assumed it was part of the Batman series and not a new show. Unfortunately, Batgirl has yet to prove that she can sustain a movie or TV of her own.
Well, if they make a mess of the character, as they did in the now cancelled movie, then I hope we never see Batgirl revived on screen. From the promo shots of the new Batgirl movie, she looked like some punk in a snowmobile suit more than anything else. In the current atmosphere, it is no longer possible to have a strong, beautiful female character it seems, they all have to have this gritty, asexual look to them.
Oh how I do remember as a young kid watching BATMAN & of course the introduction of BATGIRL back in the 70's... Such a long long time ago, and now I'm 60 today.
One person already said it best, there will never ever be a Adam West “ aka Bruce Wayne/ Batman” Yvonne Craig “aka Barbara Gordon/Batgirl” like 👍🏾 that even if the show was campy. Burt Ward is still with us “aka Richard Dick Greyson/Robin The Boy Wonder”. But what really made the show worth watching was a couple of items the the Legend the Mystery, the Myth, the Ride, the One and Only the Original the BATMOBILE and also the BATBOAT. Oh I can’t forget about their Arch Rivals in crime fighting even though they were on the same side and didn’t know it, and it was a good thing they were not in town every week. Guest Crime Fighters the Green Hornet and Kato and their rolling arsenal and tank the Black Beauty. To this very day I still watch the show on weekends on MeTV.👍🏾👍🏾👏🏾👏🏾✌🏾✌🏾🤘🏾👊🏾👌🏾🖖🏾 Sincerely Yours Truly Ivan I J 👨🏾🦱🧔🏾♂️🕵🏾♂️👨🏾💼👨🏾💻🤵🏾♂️🕺🏾
Thanks for COOL video!!! One thing I do not undetstand is how could the series have lost so much popularity after only 3 seasons? I understand that things these days (music, bands, movies, etc.) have mastered the art of staying power but what i dont get is how, with so few tv channels, tv not airing around the clock, the uniqueness of the show...how did it fall out of favor so fast? Maybe tine ticked at a different pace back then. Insights appreciated.
Killer Moth should have been female. As I recall, in the comics, she was seen on a poster on the wall with two other dangerous female villains. One being poison Ivy. This may have been the introduction comic to Poison I've too. Too bad the Batman TV series missed out in showcasing Poison I've. Or at least got Killer Moth right.
They say Adam West is the best Batman. Well, as far as the voice, Kevin Conroy wins. Even Adam West did the voice for Batman in the mid-1980s, superpowers show, and in the 1990s Batman, the animated series as a different character. But as far as animated series, Kevin is Batman, and it's not easy to hear someone else to do this character. RIP to all who were involved with Batman in some form or another.
When I was a kid. my 1st super hero was a batman stand up. Which my dad bought me. But I had save up for the Robin. This is in the 60s. And I had the 1st comic which batgirl was in. Wow. If had that now. That be worth some money. Good bit of history 👽👍
In the 1966 Batman series there was more of a spark between Batman and Catwoman it was even present in the movie. It even led you to believe that Catwoman and Batman knew who each other was they just never said it to each other.
@@seed.meditationyes it was a black and white serial.... I love❤ the 1966 Batmobile it was so cool I used to dream of Batman doing me in that car. I'm Generation X so I grew up with the reruns. I even dressed up as the original Batgirl Yvonne Craig for one Halloween husband cried over the price of the costume.
@@taramcblakeshire8516 We have such similarity. I love 1966 Batman also ! Adam West did superb in it as well as Yvonne Craig & Julie Newmar. Those golden days are memories you know. I have lots of collection of Batman. That 1966 Batmobile I have collected as a small car which is same as that one ! I got lots of Batman comics also. We can be great friends then. You can jam in my world. Also I have the first ever Batman movie which appeared in screen from 1943, that I posted in my another world called Angon's frames. Respect towards you & hi five !
@@taramcblakeshire8516 Hi five ! we have similarity ! I love 1966 Batman & love Yvonne Craig, Adam West & Julie Newmar. I have a Batmobile in collection from 1966 Batman. You can jam in my world.
One time at a friends house he showed me a hacked firestick that had all this tv on it and I spent the night just trying to outsmart it and think of a show it didn’t have. I gave up after 1- it had an episode of an old dating show that was never aired because one of the contestants after they filmed it died on 9/11, and 2- I typed in Batman for the animated series and it had that, a bunch of other stuff, the 66 show and this pilot.
According to what I have read about this clip it was made for ABC executives to convince them the new character was needed. I've also read that the character was created in the comic books for the sole reason of adding her to the TV show.
In the first season of Batman, the fight scenes had those excellent **POW! ** ***BAM! *** writings. I liked that a lot; but, if I'm correct, they didn't have it in seasons 2 and 3. What? (WHAT! WHY!! .. ha, ha). It might be that they were trying to cut back on costs, and that's a small and simple thing I think made a difference.😢
It was extremely enjoyable, seeing Yvonne Craig, in that skin tight suit, especially as a kid, watching the show for the first time. As far as what she brought to the table as the character batgirl, batgirl, fights exactly like Diana Prince, when she hasn’t changed into wonder woman. I did enjoy the shows only spinoff of the green hornet and kato .
4:39. Had never heard of Killer Moth. Also, IIRC, they gassed Batgirl B4 going into the Batcave so she wouldn't know where it was, but she knew Alfred; can't remember if Barbara Gordon knew Alfred already or not. Good Series!
I've seen the pilot. In the late 80's and early 90's I worked at Forbidden Planet Comics in NYC... We had a wall full of hard to find bootleg VHS tapes. Mostly old TV shows that weren't available yet... and Godzilla movies in Japanese.. We had a complete set of the Adam West Batman show and it contained the Batgirl pilot. It also had the first Wonder Woman pilot.
The Batgirl Cycle in the short pilot is the same as the one in the Batman TV show animated opening. The cycle used on the Batman show was very different looking.
If I recall correctly, Robin was originally to be written out of the series at season three-because actors on an ongoing show get raises and become more expensive over time, and I believe the series had suffered budget cuts, as it wasn’t drawing as many viewers-so it was almost a trade-off! And-it’s been awhile since I watched the series, and _almost always_ jumped ship if Batgirl was on, but I think the scripts got even weirder-consider that strange episode where the Terrific Trio were tied together by their own bodies! I also think Aunt Harriet disappeared… EDIT: correcting myself: I recommend a good collection of essays called _Gotham City: 14 Miles,_ edited by Jim Beard. One essay is called “Jumping the Bat-Shark: the Demise of Batman,” by Will Murray, a writer in his own right, and something of a Pop Culture scholar. Murray asserts that Robin probably would have disappeared had there been a fourth season, and Aunt Harriet, having already made few appearances in season three likely would have disappeared, along with Chief O’Hara. Again, due to a waning audience and budget cuts.
Madge Blake who played Aunt Harriet, became ill and had to leave the series at the beginning of the 3rd season. I believe she died the next year in 1969. I believe she's only in the 3rd season's 1st episode for a brief time. Regarding the series, the '60s were changing, and there was only so much you could do week in and week out fighting mostly the same villains. I loved the show as a kid. I was 4 when it 1st aired. As much as I liked Yvonne Craig, she was horribly miscast as Batgirl. She was 30 already and Burt Ward was 10 years younger. They should have cast a younger actress for Batgirl but probably wanted someone athletic and somewhat known as a guest star/character actress who had guest starred on many '60 TV series. Even if ABC hadn't dismantled the sets and NBC had brought the show to their network as they did with "Get Smart" for the '69-'70 season, the show would have probably been canceled by mid-season. Plus Congress had passed the 1968 TV anti-violence act due to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, and that would have affected the '68-'69 mid-season. As much as Eartha Kitt was considered a very good Catwoman, she wasn't Julie Newmar, and I think a lot of viewers checked out without that chemistry between Newmar and West. Batgirl wasn't a good substitute as a romantic interest for Batman. Newmar had been in 10 episodes of the 60 2nd season episodes. Just like another commenter expressed in these comments, when I see the opening credits and know Batgirl is in the episode, I usually don't watch any of season 3. Even though "The Green Hornet" had been canceled, it would have been nice to bring The Green Hornet and Kato back for an episode in season 3. The show was terrible by the end of season 3 and That's why it was consequently canceled.
@@edg4441 Yvonne Craig was the perfect age for Babs. Whether you believe it or not, Batgirl wasn't always a teenager or early 20s. That started in "The Animated Series" where she was gradually de-aged to be younger and paired up with Dick Grayson. In fact, she was 8 years older than him in the Silver Age comics. Plus, Lego Batman Movie Babs was the "truer to the text" comic accurate Batgirl regarding her age, profession, and independence from Batman. Much like the 1966 show.
Amazing how these actors made the campiness of this show work for them. This cannot be tried today. RIP Adam & Yvonne.
Yvonne Craig was drop dead gorgeous, with her beautiful big eyes and high cheekbones and bod. Rip Batgirl.
Her long dancer's legs and body didn't hurt none either nor did her appearance as the Green Orion dancer on SToS. I was in my mid-teens when she joined the cast and became the subject of a "crush."
@@robertf3479 Same here--lol
Yvonne had the best walk ever. Her sister said that her family even commented on her "first position" ballet type walk.
@@robertf3479 Yvonne told me, that of all the costumes she ever wore, the one she wore as Marta was the one she would like to have kept. (she never kept anything.. she said.. as it was not hers) Also, she choreographed the dance she did on the show herself.
i watched the batman show as a little kid in the early 1980s, i liked it when i saw the batgirl bike show up in the opening cartoon credits
A while ago, I met Yvonne at a convention and talked with her a bit. I asked her of a memorable time on set and she said on one episode they were doing a scene involving an alley. Batman (Adam West) was to lead them down it and stop at the end before going on. So, it was Batman, Batgirl and Robin going down the alley. When they got to the end, Batman put his hand back to stop them.... right on Batgirl's ample bosom! Adam totally lost it and they had to stop the shoot until he got it together! Funny!
@vickanid1862; I read somewhere, I think in West's biography/an interview, that he actually did it deliberately. He figured as the star of the show he could get away with it. It seems to me that even if it was an accident, he was quite pleased with himself over it. 🦹♂️🫂🦹♀️😈
I remember watching a behind the scenes on nick at nite a long time ago
Ample, they were!
Yes, accidentally...accidentally-on-purpose! Holy Sexual Harassment!!!
NO ONE wore a Batgirl costume better than Yvonne Craig.
As did Julie Newmar’s Catwoman costume.
@@stephenadamsmusicalinterpr4203
Agreed 110%!!!
@@stephenadamsmusicalinterpr4203🦇 👀 L😂L
Down boy! 😂
let's face it, the reason Batgirl was brought onto the show and with that particular outfit was to increase viewership from pre-teen and teenage males. I remember seeing studies that the higher watched episodes were the ones with Catwoman in them. They couldn't have the sexy Catwoman in every episode, so they needed a substitute that made sense and could be in every episode.
They did it because by the end of season 2, the ratings were in the gutter dude. Nothing more.
Actually it was to get young females to see a female as a role model but ratings were also an issue. 🤔😉
YAO ZAA !
That “lighter” color of her suit really brings out the curves !
Still, I like the darker purple one better.
Studies? Of who watches Batman? Hopefully not done with tax-dollars!
@@superstrangevideo Exactly, in season 2, the Wednesday Episodes went from a Top 10 to a #58 while the Thursday Episodes went from a Top 5 to a Top 40 at #37. In the 1st season, both shows beat their competitors The Virginian (which was in the Top 25) and Daniel Boone (which was in the Top 30), but in the 66/67 season, Batman's ratings on both nights were decreasing while their competitors The Virginian and Daniel Boone saw their ratings increase with Daniel jumping up to the Top 25 and The Virginian going up from a Top 25 to being in the Top 10 at #10 tied with abc's Bewitched (abc's highest rated show) and CBS' Gomer Pyle USMC and The Ed Sullivan Show. Plus the production cost was hurting them, the cliffhangers were absolutely ridiculous, too many horrible bat villains (The Archer, Colonel Gumm, Black Widow, The Minstrel, The Clock King, The Puzzler, Ma Parker, The Sandman, Marsha Queen of Diamonds), John Astin replacing Frank Gorshin as The Riddler (Frank Gorshin backed out due to a salary dispute only to return to the final season), and most of all, no Lorenzo Semple, Jr. as the head writer (who was the key to their success).
I was a 12 year old boy when Batgirl made the scene, and to me, Batgirl was a hit.
At the risk of TMI, I had a sexual dream about Yvonne Craig when I was in 2nd grade.
I was 10. Ditto.
All those racing hormones! 😂
I think the reason her costume looks so light in colour is, at least in part, because of the faded film. It looks about as different as the other regular costumes in the pilot to me. Beyond that I really like this version of Barbara and I think it’s a shame the series wasn’t picked up. I also love that the hair coming from her cowl is a wig to aid the disguise. It’s as camp as anything else in the show but it also makes plenty of sense and I’m surprised it was never used in the comics (to my knowledge at least).
Kate Kane stole the wig idea, but it made a lot more sense for a crimefighter to have different colored hair than her secret identity.
It’s also used in Batman the animated series isn’t it? I know I’ve seen it used elsewhere
Black Canary used a blonde wig.
Yeah all of the colors look a bit off.
The pilot has her yellow cape almost looking green. I don't think that's how any of it looked in real life. I think the colors are faded. But you are right, the darker purple looks much better as a costume.
Yvonne Craig was by far the best & most appealing woman to grace the screen as "The Bat Girl"!!!! 😜
And just like Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon’s secret identity as BATGIRL was known only to Alfred, the faithful butler.
@@johnrobinsoniii4028 😄 Right!! I always wondered what would happen if Commissioner Gordon found out about his "little-girl!!" 🤭
Were there others?
@@AnthonyJackson-v5l There's a really good episode of the animated series that addresses this. Look up "Over the Edge". Very dark and super interesting.
I have seen the Batgirl pilot before, there is one scene that you did not show where Batgirl use items from her civilian clothes like turning her hat into her Batgirl cowl and turning her skirt into a cape. I remember than this was repeated scene for scene in her series in Detective Comics. Batgirl had a series of solo adventures than ran a backup feature in Detective Comics in the 1960's. I'm old enough I bought them on the newsstand at the time.
I have the collectors box set of Batman 66 and this episode is included on the first of the season 3 DVDs! Huge fan of this unaired episode because it’s a surprisingly accurate adaptation of the first appearance of Batgirl in comics.
It’s on the blu ray release to
@@mikecrawford1247 too
I got the box set for my 50th birthday!
Yvonne Craig was THE Batgirl. No actress today can hold a candle to her!
Yvonne Craig was a babe.
Hell yeah!
RIP!!
complete and utter !
Bat babe.
Always wanted to know how Batgirl’s revolving wall and motorcycle ramp was built in apartment building without public knowledge
I’ve always heard about this pilot but never saw it til right now. It’s wild to me that she never even existed til the Batman 60s series cause it feels like she’s always been around
As fas as I’m concerned, Vee is spot on his Batman/Batgirl romance take. There was more romantic chemistry in this never seen introduction versus her entire run on the actual series.
I remember an episode where Bruce Wayne was on a date with Barbara Gordon before the bat-calll came, though the forbidden romance angle was often played up between Batman and Cat Woman.
@@markanthonytierno Yes I've remember that episode as well, but we why does Robin and Batgirl seen always staring at each other especially during the Beach episode? 😂That's why in the animated they've made Robin and Batgirl start dating ( Dick and Barbara)?
She looked more like Robin's age to me.
Yvonne Craig, best Batgirl ever. RIP.
RIP, Yvonne Craig. It was a pleasure to meet you
Yvonne Craig was awesome playing Batgirl, R.I.P. Yvonne Craig!!
Honestly, Batgirl would've worked way better in a solo show with occasional crossover. I never liked the way she worked alongside Batman and Robin in the third season and the shortening from one hour episodes in two parts to half hour episodes especially made it feel crowded and unfocussed.
Separate Batman and Batgirl shows back to back would've probably worked far better, there's one for the boys and one for the girls, and naturally both parties would've tuned in for both because it's just more of the same, that kind of brand-synergy worked pretty well years later with He-man and She-ra.
Of course, I do understand them not wanting to take such a risk given that season three was notorious for its extreme budget constraints, what with such masterful writing that brought us Joker and Batman's surfing contest where they're just stumbling around in front of a projection screen of the ocean for three minutes, or the daring fight scene where Batman and Robin take on a room full of invisible goons so the studio wouldn't have to hire any stuntmen.
Who knows, maybe if they went forward with a season 4 we'd have gotten a Batgirl spinoff a little farther down the line. Too bad we'll never see it, I miss the campy fun Batman, before all this Dark Knight Returns, Killing Joke, and Batman Who Laughs nonsense, it's all just a bit too gritty at best and far too edgy at worst.
@Flyboy1953not every plot was cut to a half hour there was at least 1 3 episode plots in the third season when they go to Londinium that was their version of London to help Scotland Yard on a case and the 2 episodes plots still appeared but more one episode plot did appear also
@Flyboy1953nbc did express interest in continuing the series but by the time they did the production had begun dismantling sets and nbc wouldn’t spend the money to have them put back together so they ultimately decided not to acquire the series from abc
My youthful TV crush. They made good changes to her costume to make her look more appealing on tv, including changing her boots to a skinnier heel, which was sexier. Loved seeing her rock that revised tight purple costume and stiletto boots. The eagle eye in me also noticed that in many of the more intense stunts/jumps she did, they changed her boots back to a thicker heel (you can see this in frame by frame shots). I'm assuming they didn't want her landing on her feet in a small, skinnier heel. They edited the scenes fairly well, but it's noticeable.
I'm not sure where the Batgirl show rumor started, but this video was actually a presentation reel to convince ABC to renew Batman for a Third Season. This presentation reel for ABC loosely adapts Batgirl's actual origin from her first comic book appearance "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl". According to Yvonne Craig, Batgirl's mask in the presentation reel was changed for the show because it left dents in Yvonne's Craig's face that took a while to go away.
This is correct. The short was more "proof of concept" than pilot, and a Batgirl series was never considered.
The charater was vreated for the series and added to the comics. The comic debuted with her before the third season of Batman.
This was not a pilot for a proposed spin-off. It was a presentation made for ABC executives to renew Batman. Producer William Dozier came up with the concept of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl and asked DC comics to design the character.Batgirl debuted in Detective Comics number 359, December 1966 "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl" 9 months before the TV episode " Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin"
… Batgirl (not Bat-girl) was developed specifically for the show with the aid of those in charge of comics. She may have appeared in the comics prior to the big screen but she was literally invented for this series.
This was a presentation of the character but it was also a pitch at a spin off set to air before new Batman episodes that would cross over with the series.
Those plans didn’t pan out and instead the character was brought into the series directly.
Adam West has said as much in interviews.
I always liked the animation sequence when Batgirl drives by on her Batgirl Cycle. Batgirl is looking straight ahead as she drives, then quickly turns her head to look right in the "camera". It happens very quickly, so watch it closely, pause it if you can. Also, in the opening and closing animation sequence, her mask is pointed like in this "pilot", and not rounded like the mask she wore in the series.
The pointed mask is "battier."
I thought Batgirl comics came after the Batman tv show. I learned something new on that
Yvonne Craig and Carolyn Jones cost me gallons of DNA in the early 1970s.
😊
Care to elaborate?
U whack off to a t.v shoe 😅😅😅😅😅
Not just you, Elvis too! They reportedly are two of the only women who said no to him!
I read Batgirl's debut comic last year and I had no idea this existed! It's practically the same story. They probably originally intended to release it around the same time.
It's a shame Killer moth wasn't used in a aired episode.
Well considering the joker was less psychotic in this version of batman a villain like killer moth really doesn't fit the show. Killer croc doesn't work either because no one gets killed in this version.
Yvonne Craig was so pretty!
Simple comment, and so very true. She may well have been my first crush at like 4?
I always thought Craig was wearing a corset or something…until I saw a beach photo of her.
Batgirl's fight scene is so unrealistic. No Librarian would throw books around and topple entire bookshelves... knowing that the next day she would be the one who would have to put them all back in order!
Call it job security.
She was requested as a love interest for Batman. The first mention of the character is actually the last episode of the 2nd Season of Batman where Commissioner Gordon is trying to fix her up with Bruce Wayne. In her first appearance, the actual first mention of her is them talking about Bruce Wayne and her having a date planned.
Thank God for the Bat Raincoats in his utility belt!!!
@@anglomik LOL!!!
Storytime: I read an interview with Yvonne in Starlog magazine that was done in the 70's. The interviewer asked about the Autoshows and she responded that she toured with the Batmobile and Batcycle signing autographs. He said "I still have the autograph I got then." and she stted "That is one of the few legitimate a\ autographs of mine out there. If you sent anything to Paramount and got it back signed, it is a forgery. Paramount never gave me anything to sign for anyone." This has influenced hoeI look at getting autographs ever since. A few years later a dealer friend of mine found a custom made photo print of her from Star Trek he knew I would want and I did. A few more years and she comes to town with the Men in the Masks Star Wars tour so I took my picture to get it signed. Therewas a horrible line but almost nobody was there for her, so I got to spend about 45 minutes talking with her. When the took mt photo, she held it up to look at and said :This is the first picture anyone has ever brought me to sign that shows the whole costume. Usually they are cit off here |(indicating with her hand about waist high) You know, I had the chance to keep that costume when I left there. ( Long dramatic pause) I'm glad I didn't" She never had the motivation to tell that story before and she was gone 6 years later and who knows if she ever told it again or wrote it down, so I am probably the only person who knows this and If I do nt share ut, it will be lost This is why we go geet\\t autographs, these shared moments.
Even though i was only 6 when Batman was on in 1966 i caught on that Batgirl had a thing for Batman , Robin liked Batgirl , but she liked Batman
The Julie Newmar Catwoman also had a thing for Batman too.
J. Geils Band wrote a song about that : "You love her
But she loves him
And he loves somebody else
You just can't win" - Love Stinks
Yvonne Craig was Batgirl, there is no other. My era of childhood is gone, but I have the Blu-Rays to keep them.
I would run home from school just to catch a few minutes of Yvonne in that tight Batgirl costume! 🙄😀
There was TWO of the Moths that was Riddler's henchmen.
Tim Herbert (Killer Moth) was in the clip you showed. Joey Tata was a henchman for a few villians in Batman. Riddler and Penguin, as far as I know. He also in Beverly Hills 90210. He played the owner of the hangout the kids went to.
Joey Tata...owner of the Peach Pit???
@@kevinwalsh4652 Yes ... that was him.
Don’t think it would work as a solo. She was like bread at dinner. Everyone looked forward to it showing up. Genius addition
For a second, I thought you were gonna say Birds of Prey from The WB. I was like I’ve seen that show! I would’ve loved to have seen this spin-off of the ‘66 series. Ty again for the videos and content man and keep up the great work please!
This is indeed a very interesting look at the potential spinoff of the 66 series. Your channel is truly fantastic! Thank you for sharing this with us! Definitely for sure while I do love Batgirl as a character I certainly will never support the idea that she should be setup as a potential love interest for Batman! It’s just way too creepy for my personal tastes! However once again your channel delivers a fantastic recap of her story, complicated matters aside!
I've been in love with Yvonne Craig ever since I first saw her in my 20s. She was, to me, perfect in every way. I think if I had ever met her the first words out of my mouth would have been, "Will you marry me?" She was incredible in every way.
Yvonne Craig, was a beautiful woman!
REST IN HEAVENLY PEACE 🙏❤😢
Thank you, Thank you!! I grew up back in the day when "Batman" came on after Dark Shadows! I love it when "Batgirl" pops up out of nowhere, and the theme song of "Batgirl!" Thank you again for posting this find. 😃
I remember on the dubious Filmation cartoon of Batman, Batgirl tells the Catwoman “Not on your nine lives!” A great line in an otherwise dull cartoon!
Now onto this video. It did make me want to check out the Batgirl video. Those voice overs at the end were a nice touch!
I think Batgirl's costume besides the pilot looks so much better in the regular purple 🟣💜 and her cowl masks looks better with the curve eye bottom rather than the pointed eye bottom but also Yvonne Craig played her Batgirl role at her best there will never be another person like Yvonne Craig to play the Batgirl role like she did she will always be the original classic one Thank you for being our favorite Batgirl Yvonne Craig and may she continue to R.I.P.
In Batman Beyond, Barbara Gordon has become the commissioner, & in one of the early episodes, she tells Terry (the new Batman) that she had been Bruce/Batman's lover.
BTW, Batgirl predates the TV series. She debuted in 1961 as a Robin like sidekick to the original 1956 Batwoman. She wasn't Barbara Gordon, but Betty Kane, niece to Batwoman/Kathy Kane. Batwoman was a love interest to refute accusations that Batman was gay, & I think Batgirl was supposed to be a parallel love interest for Robin.🦇❤
In the Silver Age comics, it was Bat-Girl. The rest is correct.
Huge fan of the 60s batman tv series 😊
I have never heard anything about this "proposed spin-off". Everything I've ever read about this "pilot" (and I first saw it a few decades ago, finding a copy on VHS at a con), is that the film was put together to show ABC executives and advertisers to show them "this is the character we're planning on adding". It's well known in comic fan circles that Dozier approached DC about wanting to add a female Bat character, and that Julius Schwartz, Gardner Fox, and Carmine Infantino obliged by introducing Barbara/Batgirl in the comics.
Having Batman and Robin in the short was a given if it is what I described above, not a pilot for a solo series.
All three of Killer Moth's henchmen were also stuntmen/actors who had played henchmen in multiple episodes. They clearly were repeat hires the production team knew.
Killer Moth was adapted badly from the comics, including the cheap villain costumes, but again, I don't think this was a true pilot.
Also, being well done is a given, as it was done after the series had been on for two years.
The cowl was changed, yes, but the bodysuit wasn't changed. I think you were watching a faded copy (as my VHS tape was). Some of the footage you show looks like it came from such a faded copy.
Her pointed cowl in the short is closer to how it looked in the comics.
Bruce and Barbara went on dates in multiple episodes of the series.
Also, Batgirl leaving right after the fight, while Batman and Robin are distracted happened a LOT in the third season.
It was sort of both. This was a pitch for the character in general. The initial idea was to have a batgirl show that would often cross over with the main show. Adam West said as much in interviews.
You mentioned that Batgirl was a hit but not good enough to not get the show cancelled. I think I saw something once that said that they were waiting to hear if the show would be cancelled after Season 3. They heard that they got the go ahead for 4 but when they went to the set…it was already taken down and destroyed. They did not want to re do everything so they ended it there. That is what I remember…I might be wrong!
That's the story. That it was going over to another network, but because the sets had been destroyed or sold off, the new network for it then didn't want it. They would have to pay for all that again.
Don't remember but long time ago I heard something about set being dismantled so they cancelled the show
Cat woman was beautiful Julie Newmar.
A lot of great women have played Catwoman over the decades but Julie was the first.
I saw the "Killer Moth" episode once and assumed it was part of the Batman series and not a new show. Unfortunately, Batgirl has yet to prove that she can sustain a movie or TV of her own.
Well, if they make a mess of the character, as they did in the now cancelled movie, then I hope we never see Batgirl revived on screen. From the promo shots of the new Batgirl movie, she looked like some punk in a snowmobile suit more than anything else. In the current atmosphere, it is no longer possible to have a strong, beautiful female character it seems, they all have to have this gritty, asexual look to them.
Yeah, I wish they’d kept her as Batgirl. Like Girl from Uncle she brought a lot of carbonation to the screen
She was ULTRA FLY!!! Yvonne Craig was and will always be the only Batgirl for me!
Back in 2003 or 2004. They was airing Batman 66 on Nick-at-night and I remember watching that first airing of Batgirl, leading into season 3
Oh yes we love us some Batgirl and Catwoman
At least she got into Star Trek as the green Orion slave girl Marta.
She was also in a Mod Squad episode. Had a blond wig for part of it.
Thanks and thank you mr. Kevin Conway
you should look at the Wonder Woman Pilot "Who's Afraid of Diana Prince" dome by the same company behind the '66 batman.
Growing up in the 80s adam west batman was a breath of fresh air. My OG Batman. RIP
Oh how I do remember as a young kid watching BATMAN & of course the introduction of BATGIRL back in the 70's... Such a long long time ago, and now I'm 60 today.
I would love to see the now scraped Batgirl film.
Me too
@@Pirategod23
I wonder if it is as bad as they say.
@@anubusx from the pre-release stills that made the net, I think it was even worse than what was said. Poor casting, poor concept, terrible costumes.
@@barcham
Not surprised.
One person already said it best, there will never ever be a Adam West “ aka Bruce Wayne/ Batman” Yvonne Craig “aka Barbara Gordon/Batgirl” like 👍🏾 that even if the show was campy. Burt Ward is still with us “aka Richard Dick Greyson/Robin The Boy Wonder”. But what really made the show worth watching was a couple of items the the Legend the Mystery, the Myth, the Ride, the One and Only the Original the BATMOBILE and also the BATBOAT. Oh I can’t forget about their Arch Rivals in crime fighting even though they were on the same side and didn’t know it, and it was a good thing they were not in town every week. Guest Crime Fighters the Green Hornet and Kato and their rolling arsenal and tank the Black Beauty. To this very day I still watch the show on weekends on MeTV.👍🏾👍🏾👏🏾👏🏾✌🏾✌🏾🤘🏾👊🏾👌🏾🖖🏾
Sincerely Yours Truly
Ivan I J 👨🏾🦱🧔🏾♂️🕵🏾♂️👨🏾💼👨🏾💻🤵🏾♂️🕺🏾
I heard that WB is producing a new BATGIRL, starring Jenna Ortega.
In the opening of season 3 of Batman used the cartoon version of Batagirl taken from this pilot for the costume and the scooter design
Thank you very much, Vee Infuso, for uploading this interesting video so that I can see it again in the near future.
Please have a nice weekend. ™
I swear Killer Moth was in The Batman cartoon. He was Penguins henchman and he got mutated by toxic gas or something like that???
Love how all of the show was recorded with the camera, on a bit of a tilt at times.
R.I.P. Kevin and Arleen. You will always live in our memories and our hearts!
Yvonne Craig what a girl.
Have watched it. Batgirl was great.
Thanks for COOL video!!! One thing I do not undetstand is how could the series have lost so much popularity after only 3 seasons? I understand that things these days (music, bands, movies, etc.) have mastered the art of staying power but what i dont get is how, with so few tv channels, tv not airing around the clock, the uniqueness of the show...how did it fall out of favor so fast? Maybe tine ticked at a different pace back then. Insights appreciated.
She was so hot.
r.i.p yvonne craig🙏
Killer Moth should have been female.
As I recall, in the comics, she was seen on a poster on the wall with two other dangerous female villains. One being poison Ivy. This may have been the introduction comic to Poison I've too.
Too bad the Batman TV series missed out in showcasing Poison I've. Or at least got Killer Moth right.
So right
I'm a big Batgirl fan ..it was good to see the original pilot ...thx
I got this as a bootleg dvd from Emerald City Comic con.
THE ONLY BATGIRL!!!!!!!!
I laughed at the Penguin’s henchmen being labeled “henchman” 😂😂😂
RIP Kevin Conroy, we'll miss you.
They say Adam West is the best Batman. Well, as far as the voice, Kevin Conroy wins. Even Adam West did the voice for Batman in the mid-1980s, superpowers show, and in the 1990s Batman, the animated series as a different character. But as far as animated series, Kevin is Batman, and it's not easy to hear someone else to do this character. RIP to all who were involved with Batman in some form or another.
@madmanmark8387 He and Burt Ward also voiced their characters in a 1970s cartoon on a CBS TV series.
Yvonne Craig was the HOTTEST and BEST triple threat character ever created.
When I was a kid. my 1st super hero was a batman stand up. Which my dad bought me. But I had save up for the Robin. This is in the 60s. And I had the 1st comic which batgirl was in. Wow. If had that now. That be worth some money. Good bit of history 👽👍
In the 1966 Batman series there was more of a spark between Batman and Catwoman it was even present in the movie. It even led you to believe that Catwoman and Batman knew who each other was they just never said it to each other.
Yes you are right. Have you seen the first ever Batman film ?
@@seed.meditationyes it was a black and white serial.... I love❤ the 1966 Batmobile it was so cool I used to dream of Batman doing me in that car. I'm Generation X so I grew up with the reruns. I even dressed up as the original Batgirl Yvonne Craig for one Halloween husband cried over the price of the costume.
@@taramcblakeshire8516 We have such similarity. I love 1966 Batman also ! Adam West did superb in it as well as Yvonne Craig & Julie Newmar. Those golden days are memories you know. I have lots of collection of Batman. That 1966 Batmobile I have collected as a small car which is same as that one ! I got lots of Batman comics also. We can be great friends then. You can jam in my world. Also I have the first ever Batman movie which appeared in screen from 1943, that I posted in my another world called Angon's frames. Respect towards you & hi five !
@@taramcblakeshire8516 Hi five ! we have similarity ! I love 1966 Batman & love Yvonne Craig, Adam West & Julie Newmar. I have a Batmobile in collection from 1966 Batman. You can jam in my world.
Yvonne Craig played an excellent role of Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl.
Please post only positive comments over here. ™
Great.
Thanks for sharing us the vídeo.
Congratulations.
Rio-Brazil
One time at a friends house he showed me a hacked firestick that had all this tv on it and I spent the night just trying to outsmart it and think of a show it didn’t have. I gave up after
1- it had an episode of an old dating show that was never aired because one of the contestants after they filmed it died on 9/11, and
2- I typed in Batman for the animated series and it had that, a bunch of other stuff, the 66 show and this pilot.
According to what I have read about this clip it was made for ABC executives to convince them the new character was needed. I've also read that the character was created in the comic books for the sole reason of adding her to the TV show.
In the first season of Batman, the fight scenes had those excellent **POW! ** ***BAM! *** writings. I liked that a lot; but, if I'm correct, they didn't have it in seasons 2 and 3. What? (WHAT! WHY!! .. ha, ha). It might be that they were trying to cut back on costs, and that's a small and simple thing I think made a difference.😢
Of course we've seen it. If you own the box set or the season 3 dvds, it's on there
It was extremely enjoyable, seeing Yvonne Craig, in that skin tight suit, especially as a kid, watching the show for the first time. As far as what she brought to the table as the character batgirl, batgirl, fights exactly like Diana Prince, when she hasn’t changed into wonder woman. I did enjoy the shows only spinoff of the green hornet and kato .
and holds her own to Emma Peel.
Yvonne Craig.... Rrrrrrrrroooooooowwwwwwwwwrrrrf!
I liked the voice actors at the end. Nice touch. Same bat time, same bat channel.
Rip sister
I usually dont like these female versions of classic heroes but i think Batgirl is an exception.
I always thought they came up with Batgirl so they wouldn't have Bat Man going around punching Catwomen and Poison Ivy
4:39. Had never heard of Killer Moth. Also, IIRC, they gassed Batgirl B4 going into the Batcave so she wouldn't know where it was, but she knew Alfred; can't remember if Barbara Gordon knew Alfred already or not. Good Series!
I've seen the pilot.
In the late 80's and early 90's I worked at Forbidden Planet Comics in NYC... We had a wall full of hard to find bootleg VHS tapes. Mostly old TV shows that weren't available yet... and Godzilla movies in Japanese.. We had a complete set of the Adam West Batman show and it contained the Batgirl pilot.
It also had the first Wonder Woman pilot.
That was a huge store. I was in it at least once, but sadly, I barely remember how it looked.
So Fun , Thank You
The Batgirl Cycle in the short pilot is the same as the one in the Batman TV show animated opening. The cycle used on the Batman show was very different looking.
If I recall correctly, Robin was originally to be written out of the series at season three-because actors on an ongoing show get raises and become more expensive over time, and I believe the series had suffered budget cuts, as it wasn’t drawing as many viewers-so it was almost a trade-off!
And-it’s been awhile since I watched the series, and _almost always_ jumped ship if Batgirl was on, but I think the scripts got even weirder-consider that strange episode where the Terrific Trio were tied together by their own bodies! I also think Aunt Harriet disappeared…
EDIT: correcting myself: I recommend a good collection of essays called _Gotham City: 14 Miles,_ edited by Jim Beard.
One essay is called “Jumping the Bat-Shark: the Demise of Batman,” by Will Murray, a writer in his own right, and something of a Pop Culture scholar.
Murray asserts that Robin probably would have disappeared had there been a fourth season, and Aunt Harriet, having already made few appearances in season three likely would have disappeared, along with Chief O’Hara. Again, due to a waning audience and budget cuts.
Madge Blake who played Aunt Harriet, became ill and had to leave the series at the beginning of the 3rd season. I believe she died the next year in 1969. I believe she's only in the 3rd season's 1st episode for a brief time. Regarding the series, the '60s were changing, and there was only so much you could do week in and week out fighting mostly the same villains. I loved the show as a kid. I was 4 when it 1st aired.
As much as I liked Yvonne Craig, she was horribly miscast as Batgirl. She was 30 already and Burt Ward was 10 years younger. They should have cast a younger actress for Batgirl but probably wanted someone athletic and somewhat known as a guest star/character actress who had guest starred on many '60 TV series. Even if ABC hadn't dismantled the sets and NBC had brought the show to their network as they did with "Get Smart" for the '69-'70 season, the show would have probably been canceled by mid-season. Plus Congress had passed the 1968 TV anti-violence act due to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, and that would have affected the '68-'69 mid-season.
As much as Eartha Kitt was considered a very good Catwoman, she wasn't Julie Newmar, and I think a lot of viewers checked out without that chemistry between Newmar and West. Batgirl wasn't a good substitute as a romantic interest for Batman. Newmar had been in 10 episodes of the 60 2nd season episodes. Just like another commenter expressed in these comments, when I see the opening credits and know Batgirl is in the episode, I usually don't watch any of season 3. Even though "The Green Hornet" had been canceled, it would have been nice to bring The Green Hornet and Kato back for an episode in season 3. The show was terrible by the end of season 3 and That's why it was consequently canceled.
$300 a week for Burt Ward he had no place to go but up.
I feel Yvonne Craig made this happen if it were another actor it would not have worked.
@@edg4441
Yvonne Craig was the perfect age for Babs. Whether you believe it or not, Batgirl wasn't always a teenager or early 20s. That started in "The Animated Series" where she was gradually de-aged to be younger and paired up with Dick Grayson. In fact, she was 8 years older than him in the Silver Age comics. Plus, Lego Batman Movie Babs was the "truer to the text" comic accurate Batgirl regarding her age, profession, and independence from Batman. Much like the 1966 show.
Awesome video! I love Batgirl and am sorry that we didn't gain more Batgirl too! #Classic