Batman (1966) Episode 98&99

 

Episodes 98 & 99

The Sport of Penguins/A Horse of Another Color

Plot:Penguin teams up with Lola Lasagna to rig a horse race

Guest Stars:Burgess Meredith as Penguin and Ethel Merman as Lola Lasagna

Trivia:Yvonne Craig wanted to do her own horse riding but changed her mind when she saw the horse. How does Batgirl have the qualifications to be a jokey? Hell if I know.

Niitpick:First boxing with Riddler and now horse racing with Penguin. What’s next, surfing with the Joker? (uh oh!)

Bat Silliness:Batman wants to see what Penguins end game is..for whatever reason

Bat Gadget:Batgirl has a trouble alert of sorts. Batman has anti-percussion asbestos bat flax

Bat Trap:None

Final Thoughts:I’m not sure why they act like we have any idea who Lola is but Ethel Merman is always a delight. Why does the teaser try to fake us out about her working with Penguin when yesterday’s tag made it clear they were. Again, see why that doesn’t work?? Penguin tries to steal a book in front of Barbara and she calls Gordon. You know I noted the repetitious openings where Gordon calls Batman and we’d get that stock footage but the truth is I miss it. When Batman and Robim drive off to find Penguin, Alfred calls Barbara to help as Batgirl. Why? Why did she have to be used so often, it was like she was taking over the show. Originally Batgirl was going to be a spin off but instead they mashed her into season 3. I wish they had kept it as a spin-off. Penguin and Lola are buying a horse at a glue factory when the Dynamic Duo interrupt. Penguin gets away and smears glue all over the Batmobile. For no reason really. The plans is to switch horses and make a fortune betting on the fake horse. Or something the plot makes no sense. It gets worse in part 2. It looks like Batman is playing some kind of long game with Penguin but it never pans out. I do like how the previous episode with Penguin is far from forgotten in the one. The horse race goes on. With Batgirl as a jokey, and honestly got bored and stopped caring.

Grade:C- Penguin and Lola are a great pair but the story is lame. Batgirl’s role in the ep is beyond ridiculous. By the way I will not dignify our villain cameo at the end of these episodes, like how we meet Tut here as a setup for the following episode. It was a stupid idea and they’re just lame. It makes it look like Gotham’s villains use a revolving door and just take turns with no break.