August 9, 2020

Batman (1966) Episode 51&52


Episodes 51 & 52
Hizzonner the Penguin/Dizzoner the Penguin


 


Plot:Penguin runs for mayor of Gotham City (and you thought Batman Returns did it first!!!)


Guest Stars:Burgess Meredith as Penguin.


Trivia: Apparently Gordon’s office is on the 13th floor. T his episode is loaded with cameos of stars as reporters or media including famous game show host/announcers Don Wilson, Allan Ludden and Dennis James.

 

Niitpick:I don’t remember who made the great comment but they were right, Penguin appearing to reform is a common theme. To common!

 

Bat Silliness:The whole episode honestly (ok that’s harsh). Writer Stanford Sherman did several scriptts for the show but he gets a little to much into the silliness. Just wait till you see what he does in Marsha, Queen of Diamonds.

 

Bat Gadget:They’re costumes are made out of acid proof material. I always loved all the things hidden in that utility belt. In the episode, a portable wire phone tap.

 

Bat Trap:Batman and Robin over a vat of sulfuric acid. A petty basic trap as if the writer put it in because he had to.

 

Final Thoughts:Again, I give credit for a script doing something different but man this story is..out there. Batman says that Gotham citizens aren’t simple minded enough to vote for Penguin. Except they do, after a few good deeds. Did his criminal career get forgotten? The incumbent mayor encourages Batman to run against him, which makes less sense. The episode then gets stupid when his politeness makes him look like a jerk. He refuses to kiss a baby because its unsanitary (??) and then gives a boring ass speech. Penguin has Paul Revere and the Raiders (seriously) in an over the top rally. Then the episode becomes a farce and I was out before the end of Part 1. Fortunately Part 2 was better but political satire is a turn off for me. We get a long fight that is commented on by reporters, including on the floor interviews (was this a riff on political conventions?). There’s commentary on poling inaccuracies when Batman does win despite polls to the contrary. And it’s only when he’s about to lose Penguin finally does something illegal. And don’t get me started on that final fight.

 

Grade:B-, Again I want to be fair and it’s not a bad episode but not a favorite of mine that’s for sure. It was written well and it’s always nice to see a story without padding added. And as always Penguin is fun. It was almost impossible to resist a political joke regarding the current election while watching this!

 

 

Mr.Freeze is back tomorrow, Same bat time Same bat channel!

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