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====''Batman'' television series====

====''Batman'' television series====

In January 1966, ABC released a ''Batman'' television series starring Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin.  During the series pre-production, there was a heated debate over which direction the Caped Crusader should be taken.  Eventually, producer William Dozier's vision won out - "Batman" would be a high budgeted, camp series which often made the character more droll than stern.   This portrayal of the character, while it was in line with the comics of the time, came in later years to be reviled by fans, particularly during the 1980s and '90s.  During the summer of 1966, Dozier released a ''Batman'' feature film, also starring Adam West.   

In January 1966, ABC released a ''Batman'' television series starring Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin.  The series would feature a recurring series of villains, mainly The Joker (Cesar Romero), The Penguin (Burgess Meredith), and Catwoman (Eartha Kitt/Julie Newmar).

 

During the series pre-production, there was a heated debate over which direction the Caped Crusader should be taken.  Eventually, producer William Dozier's vision won out - "Batman" would be a high budgeted, camp series which often made the character more droll than stern.<ref>As an example, one occasional "villain" featured was "King Tut", who was a professor of Egyptian studies, but upon suffering a blow to the head would change into a villain (a subsequent blow would return him to his normal state; thus, he would be the only villain not to face legal consequences).</ref>  This portrayal of the character, while it was in line with the comics of the time, came in later years to be reviled by fans, particularly during the 1980s and '90s.  During the summer of 1966, Dozier released a ''Batman'' feature film, also starring Adam West.   

Although the series caught on quickly, its ratings fell just as suddenly.  During the series' third season, Yvonne Craig was hired to portray Batgirl/Barbara Gordon, but this did nothing to slow the ratings plunge.  The last few episode of "Batman" were among the lowest rated television series of the 1960s.   

Although the series caught on quickly, its ratings fell just as suddenly.  During the series' third season, Yvonne Craig was hired to portray Batgirl/Barbara Gordon, but this did nothing to slow the ratings plunge.  The last few episode of "Batman" were among the lowest rated television series of the 1960s.