Batman 1969 (2007)

Batman (1966-68)

Batman made its debut on ABC on 12 January 1966, and immediately became a television sensation. Batman 1969 will follow the show as it could have been developed had it adhererd to the serious tone of the first season. In particular, Batman 1969 is designed to reflect the sensibilities of the pilot episode “Hi Diddle Riddle”/“Smack In The Middle.” The series had its humourous moments, but it also had a serious (or even dark) tone.

Catwoman herself played a major part of the second season, and her episodes were especially memorable. By this time, the show became campier and campier. By the third season? It had slipped into a parody at times.

However, think of Batman 1969 as the Batman series, only “One Year Later” (to use a DC Comics term). Actually, this episode is “Eighteen Months Later.”

The FBI (1965-74)

The FBI was a crime drama that ran on the same network as Batman did, ABC. This underrated series was a cross between Naked City and Dragnet, in that it both probed the criminals’ minds, and showed police procedures. This show ran for nine years, from 1965 to 1974, and was cancelled because of the political fallout from Watergate. Too bad, because the show seemed to keep up with the times. Its quality remained consistent. And it still had respectable ratings in 1974.

In 1969, The FBI featured the characters of Inspector Lewis Erskine (middle), played by Efrem Zimbalist Jr. His superior, Assistant Director Arthur Ward, was played by Philip Abbott (at right ), while his sidekick, Special Agent in Charge Tom Colby, was played by William Reynolds (left).

Placing Erskine and Colby in Gotham City will also reflect the sensibility of another noted series, The Twilight Zone. William Reynolds had a role on the series in early 1960, and there will be some reference to the show.

Catwoman comic (2001-2008)

Catwoman was rebooted as a comic in 2001. She has become a hero and defender of the East End of Gotham City. While Selina Kyle is currently out of action as Catwoman (as of June 2006), the basic idea is that she is a heroine with an edge.

Bringing in Catwoman as a heroine is inspired in part because of the character of Emma Peel in The Avengers. It also reflects the sensibilities at the end of the 1960s, when women’s roles were changing rapidly.

The Avengers (1961-69)

And speaking of The Avengers, the 1961-69 British television series should rightfully be cited as an influence because of the interaction between John Steed, the male lead, and his female associates. The show was also introduced on the same TV network as Batman was, and in the same season.

The Twilight Zone (1959-65)

And finally, we need to cite this Rod Serling creation, because of its “touch of strange,” to quote George Clayton Johnson. Batman: Thrillkiller can attribute some of its visual style to this noir series, and its 1961 setting would place it right in the middle of the series’ run.

This page updated 22 August 2008.