The Joker Goes to School

Last updated
"The Joker Goes to School"
Batman episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 15
Directed by Murray Golden
Written by Lorenzo Semple Jr.
Production code8715-Pt. 1
Original air dateMarch 2, 1966 (1966-03-02)
Guest appearances
Donna Loren
Kip King
Greg Benedict
Bryan O'Byrne
Tim O'Kelly
Cherie Foster
Linda Harrison
Sydney Smith
Glenn Allan
Donna Di Martino
Dick Bellis
Joan Parker
Breeland Rice
Jim Henaghan
Special Guest Villain: Cesar Romero as The Joker
Episode chronology
 Previous
"Batman Stands Pat"
Next 
"He Meets His Match, The Grisly Ghoul"
List of episodes

"The Joker Goes to School", a first-season episode of the Batman television series, first aired on ABC March 2, 1966 as its 15th episode, with an encore telecast later occurring on August 10. It guest starred Cesar Romero as The Joker.

Contents

Lorenzo Semple Jr. gives a subtle backstory for the Joker: when Batman shows the Joker's mugshot to the kids, the Joker is wearing a normal suit, and there is a reference to him being a "master of disguise", leading one to believe this version wears clown makeup (not unlike Heath Ledger's version in The Dark Knight ), instead of having his skin discolored by chemicals (as was the original comics character and the Jack Nicholson version in Tim Burton's 1989 film).

In November 1965, Semple concocted a new villain named The One-Armed Bandit, "whose peculiar kick is gimmicked coin machines of all sorts". The idea ultimately wound up in these episodes with Joker in charge of The One Armed Bandit Novelty Company and vending machines that churned out silver dollars, quarters, answer sheets to exams, and knockout gas.

The Joker originally was scheduled to be the first villain to appear, but a scheduling conflict prevented Cesar Romero from appearing on the debut episode.

Plot synopsis

The Joker, attempts to undermine student morale at Woodrow Roosevelt High School in order to recruit high school dropouts for his gang of "Bad Pennies" by rigging the school vending machines to give out silver dollars and negotiable stocks and bonds instead of milk. Alerted by Commissioner James Gordon, Batman races out to the school; an immediate assembly is made by the school's student leaders, including Richard "Dick" Grayson, Pete, and Susie, the school's head cheerleader.

Batman shows up to show slides of mug shots of The Joker, when suddenly, out of the blue, he pops up right in full view of everyone. Batman attempts to arrest him for loitering on school grounds, but the Joker manages to get off on a mere technicality. Meanwhile, across Gotham City, a bar is held up by a gimmicked jukebox which when activated spouts a double-barrel shotgun; then two stocking-masked hoodlums, actually two of Joker's henchmen, Nick and Two-Bits (both high school dropouts), rush in to rob the bar's receipts from the register.

The Joker reconvenes with Nick and Two-Bits at their hideout, the "One-Armed Bandit Novelty Company"; unbeknownst to everyone else, Susie is also the Joker's henchwoman. She arranges to swipe some important exam papers so The Joker can use them in a blackmail scheme, and also leads Batman and Robin into a trap set by the Joker. He and his henchmen snag Batman and Robin with one of the rigged vending machines which, instead of giving out silver dollars, locks them in shackles and emits sleeping gas.

Batman and Robin are transferred to the inside of a moving van, where they are strapped to electric chairs; on the wall is a slot machine, which when activated will win them their freedom and $50,000 cash with 3 liberty bells; just their freedom with 3 oranges, and instant and inescapable 50,000 lethal volts of electricity with 3 lemons, automatically on the last lemon. As bad luck would have it, 2 lemons have turned up already...

Notes

Related Research Articles

<i>Batman</i> (1966 film) Film directed by Leslie H. Martinson

Batman is a 1966 American superhero film directed by Leslie H. Martinson. Based on the television series, and the first full-length theatrical adaptation of the DC Comics character of the same name, the film stars Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin. The film hit theaters two months after the last episode of the first season of the television series. The film includes most members of the original TV cast, with the exception of Julie Newmar as Catwoman, who, in the movie, was replaced by Lee Meriwether.

<i>Batman</i> (TV series) 1966 American action comedy television series

Batman is an American live-action television series based on the DC Comics character of the same name. It stars Adam West as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Burt Ward as Dick Grayson/Robin—two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City from a variety of archvillains. It is known for its camp style and upbeat theme music, as well as its intentionally humorous, simplistic morality aimed at its preteen audience. It was described by executive producer William Dozier at the time as "the only situation comedy on the air without a laugh track". The 120 episodes aired on the ABC network for three seasons from January 12, 1966, to March 14, 1968, twice weekly during the first two seasons, and weekly for the third. In 2016, television critics Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz ranked Batman as the 82nd greatest American television series of all time. A companion feature film was released in 1966 between the first and second seasons of the TV show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penguin (character)</span> DC Comics supervillain

The Penguin is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman. The character made his first appearance in Detective Comics #58 and was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. The Penguin is one of Batman's most enduring enemies and belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up Batman's rogues gallery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cesar Romero</span> American actor (1907–1994)

César Julio Romero Jr. was an American actor and activist. He was active in film, radio, and television for almost 60 years. His wide range of screen roles included Latin lovers, historical figures in costume dramas, characters in light domestic comedies, and the Joker on the live action Batman television series of the mid-1960s, which was included in TV Guide's 2013 list of The 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time. He was the first actor to play the character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mad Hatter (DC Comics)</span> Fictional DC Comics character

The Mad Hatter is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman. He is modeled after the Hatter from Lewis Carroll's novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a character often called the "Mad Hatter" in adaptations of Carroll. A scientist who invents and uses technological mind control devices to influence and manipulate the minds of his victims, the Mad Hatter is one of Batman's most enduring enemies and belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up Batman's rogues gallery.

<i>Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker</i> 2000 superhero film by Curt Geda

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is a 2000 American direct-to-video superhero film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. It is the third film in the DC Animated Universe and is based on the animated series Batman Beyond while also serving as a continuation of and resolving plot points from The New Batman Adventures. The film features the DC Comics superheroes Batman and Terry McGinnis, as they try to unravel the mysterious return of the former's archenemy, the Joker, preparing a climatic showdown with the villain.

<i>Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt</i> 2003 American television film by Paul A. Kaufman

Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt is a 2003 American made-for-television biographical action-comedy film based on the 1966–1968 Batman television series which features the original stars Adam West and Burt Ward as themselves, with Jack Brewer and Jason Marsden portraying the young West (Batman) and Ward (Robin) in flashbacks. It was broadcast on CBS on March 9, 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fine Feathered Finks</span> 3rd episode of the 1st season of Batman

"Fine Feathered Finks" is a first-season episode of Batman, first airing as its third episode on ABC January 19, 1966. It was repeated on August 31, 1966 and May 17, 1967. Burgess Meredith made his debut as The Penguin in this episode.

The Joker Is Wild (<i>Batman</i>) 5th episode of the 1st season of Batman

"The Joker Is Wild" is an episode of the Batman television series in its first season, most notable for being Cesar Romero's debut as the Joker. It was first telecast as the fifth episode on ABC January 26, 1966, and was rerun on May 25, 1966, and May 24, 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batman Is Riled</span> 6th episode of the 1st season of Batman

"Batman Is Riled" is the sixth episode of the Batman television series in its first season, originally airing on ABC January 27, 1966 and repeated on May 26, 1966, and May 25, 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Zodiac Crimes</span> 71st episode of the 2nd season of Batman

"The Zodiac Crimes" is the 71st episode of the Batman television series. It first aired on ABC January 11, 1967 in its second season and repeated on June 14 the same year. The first of a three-part story, it was dubbed a "Batman special", simultaneously celebrating the show's first anniversary and helping to open ABC's "second season". It featured both Cesar Romero as The Joker and Burgess Meredith as The Penguin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Joker's Hard Times</span> 72nd episode of the 2nd season of Batman

"The Joker's Hard Times" is the 72nd episode of the Batman television series in its second season. Part 2 of a three-part story, it first aired on ABC January 12, 1967 and repeated on June 15 the same year. It guest-starred Cesar Romero as The Joker. Its ending cliffhanger was the first for the series that would not be resolved until the following week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Penguin Declines</span> 73rd episode of the 2nd season of Batman

"The Penguin Declines" is the 73rd episode of Batman, the conclusion of a three-part story in its second season on ABC. Its original telecast occurred on January 18, 1967, with a rerun on June 21. It guest-starred Cesar Romero as Joker and Burgess Meredith as Penguin.

"He Meets His Match, The Grisly Ghoul" is the 16th episode of the Batman television series, first airing on ABC March 3, 1966 and repeated on August 11 in its first season. It guest starred Cesar Romero as the Joker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joker in other media</span> Adaptation of DC character Joker in media

The Joker, a supervillain in DC Comics and archenemy of the superhero Batman, has appeared in various media. WorldCat records over 250 productions featuring the Joker as a subject, including films, television series, books, and video games. Live-action films featuring the character are typically the most successful.

<i>Batman: Cacophony</i>

Batman: Cacophony is the title of a three-issue comic book limited series starring Batman. The series was written by Kevin Smith with art by Walt Flanagan, and ran from November 2008 through March 2009 due to delays with issue #3. The comic chronicles Batman as he attempts to stop a turf war between the Joker and crimelord Maxie Zeus. Batman also encounters a new adversary, Onomatopoeia.

<i>Joker</i> (graphic novel) 2008 graphic novel by DC Comics

Joker is an American graphic novel published by DC Comics in 2008. Written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Lee Bermejo, it is based on characters from DC's Batman series, focusing primarily on the title character. It is a unique take on the Batman mythos, set outside regular continuity and narrated by one of the Joker's henchmen. The miniseries Batman: Damned is a stand-alone sequel to the graphic novel, with the miniseries incorporating certain details, settings, and designs that hint at the two stories sharing a connected narrative.

<i>Batman XXX</i> 2010 pornographic film directed by Axel Braun

Batman XXX: A Porn Parody is a 2010 pornographic superhero comedy film that parodies the 1960s Batman television series. It features many of the recurring characters, settings, and production elements of the series. The film is the first of several films by Vivid Entertainment to feature parodies of well-known superhero portrayals in movies and television. The positive reaction to the film caused Vivid to announce plans for an entire line of similar films, to be released under the new Axel Braun-led imprint Vivid Superhero. Braun later directed another Batman-themed porn parody: 2012's Dark Knight XXX: A Porn Parody, where Batman is portrayed by Giovanni Francesco, who reprises the role in the 2013 film Man of Steel XXX: An Axel Braun Parody and in the 2015 film Batman v Superman XXX: An Axel Braun Parody.

<i>Batman vs. Two-Face</i> 2017 American film

Batman vs. Two-Face is a 2017 American animated direct-to-video superhero film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and a direct sequel to Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders. It premiered at the New York Comic Con on October 8, 2017, was released digitally on October 10, and on DVD and Blu-ray on October 17. Based on the 1960s Batman television series, the film stars Adam West, Burt Ward and Julie Newmar reprising their roles of Batman, Robin and Catwoman from the series. It was West's final performance as Batman and was released posthumously.

References

  1. Batman at 45: A Milestone Tribute to Pow, Bam and Zap! (2011) Gould, Chris https://www.amazon.com/Batman-45-Milestone-Tribute-ebook/dp/B005YNPHCO
Preceded by
Batman Stands Pat
(airdate February 24, 1966)
Batman (TV series) episodes
March 2, 1966
Succeeded by
He Meets His Match, The Grisly Ghoul
(airdate March 3, 1966)