Batman-Online.com

The Batman TV series had various colourful villains throughout its run.  Who was your favourite?

I'd also be interested in whether you think any of the characters designed for TV would have made decent villains in any of the films.  Alternatively, who do you think should have been added to the TV series (i.e. Poison Ivy, Two-Face, The Scarecrow etc), and who could have played them?

Apologies to those of you who never caught the series.  I've only really seen the odd episode myself, but I am fairly familiar with the characters, old and entirely new.

I voted for Penguin. Not because I like the character but because Meredith (IMO) gave the best performance.  Not even that, his make-up was great. My lady even commented on it when we watched the 66 movie together.

You know, as far as I am concerned most of the villians were protrayed great.  I give the actors a lot of credit for while at times the show was incredibly 2-D some of the performances were quite layered.  Sanders as Freeze is one that stands out the most for me - not just a black and white bad guy.

God I love that show (even for all it's daftness).  Actually I was talking with someone in work last week about old TV shows and the conversation fell on Batman - I went on for ages about the show, giving trivia, and by the end of it the other guy was praising it too.

It'd be great to read some trivia about the series Ral.

duhhhh :P

I was torn between The Penguin and Catwoman, though to be honest, and I realise this is heresy to some, I was never that keen on the Julie Newmar version.  I preferred Lee Meriwether in the 1966 film.  Eartha Kitt was OK.  Michelle Pfeiffer is still the best Catwoman so far though.  Consequently, I plump for Burgess Meridith's Penguin.

This was a toughy but I picked King Tut.  LOL  Yeah, as villians go he would be considered "lame" by most, but I find him hilarious and can't help but smile every time he walks onscreen.  For years my favorite was The Penguin because I liked his style but as I grow older I find myself enjoying Tut's humor much more. 

I'm a big fan of Frank Gorshin's Riddler. So naturally, I voted for him.

Frank's Rids hands down.

Quote from: johnnygobbs on Sat, 31 Oct  2009, 01:32
I realise this is heresy to some, I was never that keen on the Julie Newmar version. 

*puts on catwoman stilleto and kicks gobbsy in the crotch*

Quote from: Catwoman on Sat, 31 Oct  2009, 18:48

Quote from: johnnygobbs on Sat, 31 Oct  2009, 01:32
I realise this is heresy to some, I was never that keen on the Julie Newmar version. 

*puts on catwoman stilleto and kicks gobbsy in the crotch*

I prefer Ertha Kitt...  :-X

if she wasn't dead and i didn't love "santa baby" i'd do the same thing.

Quote from: johnnygobbs on Sat, 31 Oct  2009, 01:32
I was never that keen on the Julie Newmar version.  I preferred Lee Meriwether in the 1966 film.

Oh, same here.

I liked what Newmar did with the role, but I just generally prefer Lee Meriwether's version more. Don't know if it was Miss Kitka or what?  ;D

As far as my favourite, I guess that would have to be Burgess Meredith's Penguin. Such a memorable villain, even though it's tough to beat the awesome 'stache of Cesar Romero.  8)

Frank FTW! He got the Emmy nomination and HE DESERVED IT. That giggle...

Quote from: Darrell Kaiser on Sun,  1 Nov  2009, 23:45
Frank FTW! He got the Emmy nomination and HE DESERVED IT. That giggle...

Now here's a man with style and class!

I dig on Frank and all but... well, let's just say I was, ah, "coming of age" when I started watching the show... which had Julie Newmar... wearing tight black leather... walking around (with a little something extra) dripping sex off her, ahem, whiskers.

...

Yeah, easy choice.  Mmm, Julie Newmar...

I have said before and I'll say again, that Frank Gorshin and Burgess Meredith could have still played their characters exactly the same way even if the show had been done seriously.

I also really digged David Wayne's Mad Hatter.

Quote from: gordonblu on Sun, 21 Feb  2010, 22:46
I have said before and I'll say again, that Frank Gorshin and Burgess Meredith could have still played their characters exactly the same way even if the show had been done seriously.

I also really digged David Wayne's Mad Hatter.

In order
1. The riddler- turned a minor villain into a major one
2. King tut- best villain not a comic adaptation
3. The penguin- Meredith was a fantastic actor

Despite the warning about the date of the topic, I'll weigh in.

QuoteI have said before and I'll say again, that Frank Gorshin and Burgess Meredith could have still played their characters exactly the same way even if the show had been done seriously.

QFT.  One of the things I thought the TV show had going for it was that there was such a depth of villains/characters in the piece.  Yes, you had the big four (Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Riddler) showcased in the film, but there were so many interesting characters given life in the series. 

I voted for Catwoman, in particular Julie Newmar for reasons similar to Colorsblend.  I also found that she was the only villain who had a character 'arc.'  Most villains appeared without a reference to their previous appearance.  I've recently looked at all the Julie Newmar episodes, and there is an arc--Batman saves her, she suddenly has feelings for him. And even as their enmity continues, there is clear confusion, sexual chemistry, and even a dash of smitten-kitten in her later episodes.  Sadly, after her character takes on fall too many she is replaced. 

I really like Eartha Kitt, but given the racially charged 60s, it's a shame they had to table the romance angle. I think they could have had some fun.

Quote from: Kamdan on Sun,  1 Nov  2009, 23:45
Frank FTW! He got the Emmy nomination and HE DESERVED IT. That giggle...

I just wished he won it!! He deserved it!