Episode 117: Holy Pied Piper!: November 20, 2023

Nora Clavicle and the Ladies' Crime Club
January 18, 1968
"Nora Clavicle, a women's rights activist, uses her influence to have Commissioner Gordon, Chief O'Hara, and the whole police force fired and replaced with women. She cuts ties with Batman and Robin, then launches her plan to blow up Gotham City with explosive-packed mice and collect on the insurance. The Terrific Trio look for a way to neutralize her mechanical hordes before it's too late."
48 minutes

RD: Worst Episode? Not a Chance! He calls who think otherwise fools, but NOT geeks, nerds, or poindexters living in Unabomber-style shacks. The episode may be a satire of the then very active womens' movement (Nora Clavicle being a parody name of Gloria Steinem [as Sternum]), but it's not as if the whole show was also a satire of the current times right?

The first Red Lobster opened on the airdate in Lakeland, Florida.

Narrator: "A festive day in Gotham City. And at a civic luncheon at the [big black warehouse] Gotham-Astoria, Police  Commissioner Gordon is being honored for 25 years of faithful service." (:06)

The main characters have large signs to identity them, in case viewers had suddenly forgotten. This includes the absent Mayor Linseed and Mrs. Linseed.
Gordon: "I really don't think I deserve all this."
RD: "NO YOU DON'T!"

The Linseeds arrive late, arguing loudly with each other. Mayor Linseed gives Gordon a gold watch - and then fires him, to be replaced by one Nora Clavicle.
Barbara: "I didn't realize her crusade for women had gone this far."
Gordon: "I'd say she's won that crusade."
O'Hara: "Saints preserve us! Saints preserve us all!"
Vince wonders where Mrs. Gordon is. There wouldn't be one until after the Crisis (On Infinite Earths) 20 years later. 

Nora then gives some words wearing a dull brown ensemble while someone pounds a large bass drum with "Women Power" on the side. Her first act is to replace O'Hara with Mrs. Linseed. Already RD approves.
Linseed: "I had no other choice, Mr. Wayne. My wife is such a devoted follower of Ms. Clavicle's  crusade for women that she refused to cook or clean or wash my shirts until I appointed Ms. Clavicle commissioner of police. I've worn this shirt for a week. I haven't had a decent meal in months."
Bruce: "It's all right, Mayor Linseed. We understand."
Vince: "The only thing this was missing was a barefoot joke."

In the Batcave Alfred answers the Batphone. To Batman with disdain: "It's her, sir."
Batman: "Yes, Ms. Clavicle?"
Clavicle: "Commissioner Clavicle, Batman, calling to tell you you can take an extended vacation. We  girls are handling things now and we won't need any help from you men, bat or otherwise. Goodbye, Batman."
She then cuts the phone line with scissors. For some reason Mrs. Linseed is in the Office wearing a police uniform. For some other reason two other women are in the Office wearing golden togas.

Batman: "There's something curious about this affair."
You don't say.
He asks Robin to go on a drive with him.
Alfred: "Well, good luck, sir. We men are counting on you, you know."

Narrator: "While, in the secret closet behind Barbara Gordon's bedroom, Batgirl has a very similar idea. But even as she starts her own investigation, what's happening in Commissioner Gordon's - er, Commissioner Clavicle's Office?" (:15)
Nora congratulates Mrs. Linseed for already replacing all the men with women. She takes her leave.
Nora (to the toga women): "Now that she's out of the way, you girls may proceed with Operation  Ransack while I proceed with Operation Disaster Insurance."
The women (named Angelina and Evelina) remind her she still has to deal with the Terrific Trio, and she can't just call them since she cut the phone line. So it's time to start a crime.

Narrator: "Later at the Gotham City Bank, Angelina and Evelina are making the scene. Of a crime."

Of course the policewomen don't have guns, even when led by other women.

Of course the policewomen have rolling pins instead. 

Of course the policewomen are checking their makeup and gossiping instead of doing anything. 

Of course the policewomen are going for clearance sales in their cars.

So despite the situation it's good to know that Gotham City's police are still just as useless.

Branch Manager: "Officer, chase them! They've just robbed my bank!"
Policewoman: "How can I chase them when they have the car? And all I have are my new Givenchy  shoes. And I'm certainly not gonna wreck them."

The Trio finally appear at the crime scene, having seen and heard everything.
Robin: "Holy bargain basements, Batman."
Batman: "Our concern is the bargain hunters at the Gotham National Bank."
He decides to use his "portable Batcomputer in the Batmobile."
Batgirl: "I think I'll tag along, Batman. The instruments in the Batgirl-cycle aren't as sophisticated as those in the Batmobile."
Batman gives a smug smile and nod at her complimenting his equipment.

Narrator: "Following the portable Batcomputer's lead, the Terrific Trio drop in on the [big black] warehouse of  Dropstitch & Company, manufacturers of fine knitting needles. But who has the drop on whom?"
Its the villains; the villains have the drop by putting a knitting needle to Batgirl's neck. This is somehow enough to stop a trained superhero.
Robin: "Holy knit one, purl two."
Nora: "All right, girls. Let's tie the Terrific Trio into terrific Siamese human knots."
This is done by having the Trio hold each other like they're playing Twister.
Nora: "You are wise to stay motionless. Or you will be the Terminated Trio. The slightest move by any one of you will only draw the human knot tighter, crush your bones, and strangle you."
Robin: "Holy hamstrings!"
Batman (trying not to move his mouth): "Exactly, Robin. This is torture at its most bizarre and terrible."

Now this is a good cliffhanger, or at least mid-way point for the episode. But first we get Batman goading the villain into revealing their actual plan.
Batman (trying not to move his mouth): "If I dared move my head, I might recognize it. But I daren't."
Somehow Nora got a $10 million insurance policy on the whole of the city for $200.

Vince: "If the city is destroyed, who's paying the $10 million?"

Nora then does the other villain thing in leaving the three by going to their blue van truck. The two women drive it while Nora deploys explosives on the roads - plastic mice bombs, set to detonate shortly before sunset.
Robin: "Do we dare breathe, Batman?"
Batman (trying not to move his mouth): "Cautiously, Robin. Cautiously. Talking has been dangerous  enough. A deep breath might prove fatal."
Meanwhile Batgirl is making the most exaggerated faces.

On a much more important note, Gordon and O'Hara now have to visit the unemployment office like all the other former police-men.
O'Hara: "What else can we do?"
Gordon: "Get other jobs."
O'Hara: "But we've been policemen almost all of our lives. We don't know how to do anything else."
Gordon: "True enough, Chief O'Hara. We only know one trade, and suddenly that trade is closed to us. Taken over by women."
O'Hara: "Begorrah, the shame of it."

Meanwhile Batgirl is having leg cramps, which gives Batman the avenue to release their Twister hold with him intensely focused on wiggling his ears and Robin bending a finger.
Batman: "Release us, Batgirl."
RD: "I bet he's been wanting to say that ever since he met her."
Vince wonders why they don't do similar holds in wrestling.

Thus freed they get outside, seeing one of the explosive mice.

Of course the policewomen are too scared of mice to do anything about them.

Batman: "There's a legion of these lethal mice whirring through Gotham City at this very moment. Robin, call Chief O'Ha... Chief Linseed on the police channel. Tell her to mobilize her entire force and send them out to gather up these mice. I'll be back by the time you finish that call."

Of course the policewomen in the police department are inundated with the mice on the floors, scaring them all up to their desks and tables. 

Batgirl: "I might have known you can't get policewomen to help you catch mice."
Robin: "It's diabolical."

Thankfully, Batman has a solution: play a flute like a Pied Piper, causing the mice to scatter.
Robin: "How did you do it, Batman?"
Batman: "There's no time to explain, Robin. I want you both to play exactly the same tune that you just  heard."
Robin: "But - "
Batman: "Just play, Robin! Play for all you're worth!"

So we spend several moments of the three jaunting around 'tooting', which the Bros greatly enjoyed.

Narrator: "With only moments left before disaster, the Terrific Trio and their retinue of rodents arrive at dockside."
This is shown by the mice props going in a straight line on a conveyor belt into the water. RD would be willing to pay $300 for one of them so he would show it on his desk. Vince would pay $1000 in a glass case.
One mouse remains, too good to follow the herd. Batman has to frenetically toot at it a few times to make it move. Vince wished he would have just kicked it into the water instead. 

Robin: "How did you know they'd follow us, Batman?"
Batman: " I was able to determine that the guidance systems in the mice was built around the principle of high-frequency radar. So by selecting the right combination of flute toots, I was able to cause those mice and their homing mechanisms to zero in on the source of the sounds: the flutes."

RD: "I don't understand how anyone could watch this episode and think it was the worst, whenever you had this specifically: I wasn't going to bring up the big black warehouse; I have to bring it up one last time. They're "walking through the streets" of Gotham, and it literally looked like someone took chalkboards and drew buildings on them. How on earth could someone say this is the worst? Not a chance!" 

And the truck is stopped by Alfred of all people, backed by the Undynamic Duo.
Alfred: "They were exceeding the speed limit by a considerable margin sir, so we thought it best to take them into custody."
Nora: "You can't arrest us. You have no power."
O'Hara: "Citizen's arrest, me fine-feathered females. Heh."
Robin: "You should have bought some prison insurance, Ms. Clavicle."
Gordon: "She'll need it where she's going, Boy Wonder. A long-term policy with Warden Crichton as the beneficiary."

And this was done without a single fight with the stunt doubles. RD thinks there was one with the mice.

Penguin waits until things are back to normal to call the Office: "Just let me ask you one thing, Commissioner. Did you ever hear of the lethal Lygerian fruit fly?"
Narrator: "And Commissioner Gordon certainly will hear of lethal Lygerian fruit flies. And so shall we  all when Penguin pulls his insidious insect antic...in our next episode!"

41 year old Barbara Rush did a lot of work in TV and film Vince gives her 6 Batpoles for her at least having fun with her role(He guesses 38).. RD gives 6.5.
She was at least far more noticeable than the "generic" women, who get 7. British June "Evelina" Wilkinson was a well known model of the time, eventually transitioning from that and acting to the business of fitness centers. Inga "Angelina" Nielsen was best known for being over 6 feet tall.

RD issues a challenge for people to meet and beat Santa at the Arcade.

RD wrote about TNA doing something funny for once.

• Special Guest Villain: Nora Clavicle (Barbara Rush)
  

  
  
• SPEAKING OFs: 1. Beautiful beautiful beautiful
  

Episode 116: Holy Clip Show!: November 13, 2023

Louie's Lethal Lilac Time
January 11, 1968
"Louie the Lilac is in town, planning to corner the lilac perfume market in Gotham City. His concoction requires the glands of several animals, so he kidnaps Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson to make the extractions. With "Batman and Robin" unable to respond, Batgirl attempts a rescue, only to be captured herself. The trio rely on their wits (and the latest bat-invention) to attempt an escape."
45 minutes

RD: LOUIE IS THE WORST. Even more than Lord Ffogg?

RD: "Let me ask you this. Let's say Frank Gorshin came in, he was gonna be Louie the Lilac. Do you think he would've played it the exact same way that Milton Berle did?"
Vince: "Sometimes we gotta make chicken salad out of chicken you-know-what."

Narrator: "Ambergris Bay outside Gotham City, where the elite flee the heat."

Perhaps in an attempt to counterbalance the episode quality, one of the first things we see is Yvonne Craig bent over while in a sports bra and very tight tights.
RD: "I went back and did some research. It was rated five stars in the Batman '66 Observer newsletter."
Barbara is visiting Bruce at his big black warehouse on the beach.
Vince: "I mean, bro, they are, I don't wanna say on a shoestring, but they are definitely budget conscious."
RD: "No, they're wearing loafers. They don't have enough money for shoestrings."
Bruce needs to use this warehouse more, since Dick "needs a place to entertain his friends," whatever that means. Barbara is just there to help chaperone, whatever that means. 

Sure enough Dick and friends arrive, but they're not yet in any mood to start the orgy immediately. He thinks they were being followed because they found some "soaked graham bread".
Bruce: "Soaked graham bread?"
Actually it's ambergris.
Dick: "You mean that stuff given forth by whales from which they make perfume?"
In so many words from Bruce: yes. (While Craig does her best not to corpse on camera at his delivery.)

Suddenly two goons appear for the "whale grease" under the auspices of Louie the Lilac, who is seen standing in a doorway. Cut to the goons saying more lines. Cut to Louie who is all of a sudden standing in a purple backdrop. The villains use this slipshod editing to kidnap Bruce and Dick. 

Cut to Gordon calling Alfred in the Batcave to inform him on the kidnapping. Unfortunately "Batman is out of the city for a day or so" with Robin unable to be reached.
Alfredd: "I'm sorry if I appear a trifle upset, sir but any citizen of Gotham City would be shocked at such appalling news."
Unfortunately we don't see Gordon's reaction, which is certain to be him on his Office floor crying and shrieking and pissing himself in terror. 

Louie's big black warelair is the Lilac Perfume Company with some big vats emanating pink smoke. (:10) Also in attendance is his lady named Lotus, who is to help him corner the perfume market of the city. "And the lilac soap market, Louie."
Louie: "The soap market too."
Lotus: "And the lilac cosmetics market."
Louie: "Cosmetics too. What do you need, baby?"
Lotus: "Well, I need scent pouches of a number of Abyssinian civet cats. The glands of as many muskrats as possible. And a large supply of beaver castor follicles. And the tonquin from a herd of muskdeer."
I don't know, these exotic ingredients sound more like she wants to corner the market of an MMO or two. Is Aunt Hilda not already out of prison/the monastery?
Louie orders his goons to get and get them and put them in the basement, despite their complaints that they have no idea what anyone is talking about. 

Meanwhile Bruce, the man who would actually know what anyone is talking about, is tied up on the floor with his youthful ward.
Louie: "I hear you're an international sportsman and an authority on animals."
He demands he helps his goons with tracking the animals down.

[Checks earpiece]

I'm sorry, I'm being told he just wants him to remove scent pouches, rather than just have his highly intelligent men do that. I'm sure they too are international sportsmen and authority on animals (even if unlike Bruce they don't have any official titles).

Dick (whispering): "I'm trying to reach Alfred on my two-way transistor wristwatch. I seem to be  getting a slight beep from the receiver, but the sender's dead."
Louie (showcasing above average hearing than most on the show): "What are you two mumbling about?"
Bruce: "Just passing the time of day, Louie."
Louie: "Let's hope the authorities pass over the million dollars I'm planning to ask for you shortly."
Bruce: "That's a high price for two average people."

Having managed to escape the scene, Barbara is once more in Gordon's Office. Her green dress is delightful enough for the man playing her father to feel quite a handful on her.
Of course the police have no idea where the Duo are. Instead they found "some filmed coverage of their most outstanding exploits" to play on their film projector. "Maybe we can find out some new crime-fighting techniques from it."

 

So yes, this is an excuse to pad the episode out with two minutes of clips. 

 

Vince: "Theoretically, who was shooting that stuff?"
RD: "Exactly. "Here's Robin getting eaten by a clam. I'm just gonna film this while that happens. "Help I'm dying! Can anyone help me?" No, I gotta get this on the film!""

There's also Shame almost trampling them in a stampede, Mr. Freeze trying to make wild Frosty Freezies, and the Batmobile just...driving down an exploding minefield road (supposedly after King Tut, but it's actually an early Catwoman story.)

RD: "I've said a lot of bad things about this episode. I will continue to say bad things about this episode. The fact that they added in this other footage, this highlight reel, if they would've just done that for the whole 25 minutes, it would've been ten times better."

Bonnie calls to patch through one Mr. Buck, the director of the Gotham City Zoo, to tell him someone's stolen all the animals in Louie's quest log.

At Stately Wayne Manor, Alfred tells the gathered reporters he has no word on the Duo. "Mrs. Cooper is upstairs in a state of shock and I appeal to you to respect what is left of our privacy."
Somehow Barbara managed to get there during the two minute clip segment. (Although if I had someone around giving a bad touch I'd probably have been gone far earlier.) She just lets herself in through the departing reporters into the study on the excuse that all the phones are busy. 

Alfred tries to cover the ringing Batphone with a cloth despite her easily hearing it (and even seeing it a couple of times).
Alfred: "The, uh, friendly ghosts of stately Wayne Manor play occasional tricks on one's ears."
She then reaches towards the Shakespeare bust.
Alfred: "NO, DON'T TOUCH THAT! I'm sorry, Ms. Gordon, but it's a prized possession of my missing employer, and, uh, in the distressing circumstances, I..."
Barbara: "Of course, Alfred. I understand. And those distressing circumstances are what I came out  here to talk to you about. For reasons too numerous to mention, I strongly suspect Louie, the Lilac has kidnapped Mr. Wayne and his youthful ward."
Alfred: "Louie the Lilac? Did you tell your father?"
Barbara: "No. My father wouldn't take me seriously. After all, he knows nothing of my other identity. Maybe Batgirl alone can do something."
For some reason Craig looked rather exhausted and worn-down. RD wonders if they had to fire the makeup lady for their budget. 

Narrator: "With Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson kidnapped and held hostage in the defunct fragrance  factory, while Louie, the Lilac and lovely Lotus plot to pillage and plunder the world of perfume, give  us a moment to untangle this trickily-tangled skein." (:21)

We get a shot in the lair to remind us that tied up Bruce and Dick have done nothing for half of the episode.

Cut to Barbara's Apartment, and Alfred is finishing his call where he somehow found out where the lair was. She goes to change in her room, only to find a maintenance man (named Gus).
Gus: "The people downstairs were complaining about the grinding noise up here. Did you know that this wall revolves? Apparently, it was built to do just that for a previous tenant."
Barbara: "I use it for extra storage space. Would you like to see it?"
Gus: "Sure. I'm a sucker for secret closets."
She hits the button for "Secret Batgirl Room, Instant Transformer" to show a regular closet.
Gus: "Well, I'm very sorry I surprised you, lady."
Barbara: "Well, it's not very wise of you. I keep several guns here. And an innocent maintenance man makes a pretty good target sometimes." (Emphasis mine)

They're the good guys!

Gus takes his hurried leave, giving Barbara the space to hit the "Secret Batgirl Room, Re-Transformer" now that this other piece of episode padding is done.

Narrator: "So once again, Barbara Gordon begins her tantalizing transformation. And shortly emerges  from her secret exit as Batgirl. Even as the Batmobile arrives in Gotham City during a passing shower, without a driver, which Alfred is explaining to his abducted employer."

Alfred is remote Bat-Controlling the vehicle, informing Bruce on his secret wristwatch. Meanwhile Louie has suddenly lost his above average hearing. Vince: "He's just very not interested in anything."
Meanwhile Lotus is making perfumes in the prop cauldron, the smells annoying the nearby goons.

Mrs. Deal thought Bruce's suit with an ascot made him look like Scooby-Doo's Fred.

All of a sudden Batmobile, Batgirl, and police all converge by the lair. O'Hara even brought his peashooter of a pistol, compared to another officer who has a giant assault rifle. Gordon demands Louie comes out over his bullhorn.
Louie: "I have my own bullhorn right here in my lilac boutonniere. One move to interrupt what I have
planned will result in the demise of millionaire Bruce Wayne and his youthful ward, Dick Grayson."

During the stalemate Batgirl suddenly vanishes in the middle of talking face to face with the police. RD: "Did I mention the editing of this show was awful?"
This is because she tries to break in all alone by herself with her smiling kicks.
She is overpowered within five seconds. 

Louie decides to put her in the hot oil vats for flower maceration to make her Cologne de Batgirl. Thankfully the prop, a glass case, is not too bad looking.
Before Louie can test the prop's effective further with whatever would be considered 'hot oil', Bruce says he will help with the "newly-perfected animal surgery" if it will ensure her safety. He asks for two glasses of warm water for the efforts. Louie decides to oblige his request.

Louie: "Batgirl dies anyway."
Lotus: "I was hoping you'd say that."
RD: "This woman is super duper evil and I love it."
Vince: "She might've been better to have been the villain that Louis."
RD: "Oh, she would've been a million times better."

Of course the goons just leave Bruce and Dick completely alone in a clearly empty room.
Dick: "Gosh, Bruce. Those muskrats and musk deer are sure musky."
Bruce has his newest invention: "Instant unfolding Bat-costumes complete with utility belts" that inflate in warm water.
Dick: "They're opening up. Like those paper Chinese flowers do when they're dropped in water."
And what a stunning visual effect! In one frame, a small piece of paper. Cut to the next frame and: presto! Batman and Robin fully outfitted! It's like magic!

Breaking out of their room with "Bathooks and laser but cutter" (offscreen of course), they make their way to the police out front.
Batman: "If you can loan us your shoulders, we'll break in the front way."

So they breach inside while Barbara observes while recovering from Louis' stunning invisible spray from earlier (or perhaps she's just bored, judging from her previous appearance in Stately Wayne Manor).
Seconds later in the fight she's suddenly swinging on a lamp without any in-between transition. She does have a slide whistle sound effect though.
Some lilac seed is spilled during the conflict, causing slippage: but only for the villains. 

During all this Louie does his own bored observing. Perhaps he accidentally hit himself with his stunning spray.

RD: "God bless Milton Berle, and props to him for getting this. I don't know what on earth they paid this man to do these three episodes, but whatever it was, was a million times more than the effort he put into this."

Batman: "Tell me something, Batgirl. How did you get out of that vat?"
Batgirl: "With my Batgirl vat opener."

Well at least there was a line in the script. 

The enemies subdued, the Duo go down to "get" Bruce and Dick and Batgirl vanishes. 

Louie continues to just sit there bored observing. He vaguely threatens a return which thankfully does not happen.

RD: "On this show called Batman, Batman and Robin do not show up until 20 minutes in. They are in for less than three minutes. That's got to be a record that you don't want."

Surprisingly Barbara is not back again at the Office, though Bruce and Dick are.
O'Hara: "Well, another canny, colorful crook is in the clink."
Gordon: "And a tuckered-out police commissioner is gonna breathe much easier on his West Cape cruise. I think I've earned myself a little vacation, Bruce. And the department's in good hands with  Chief O'Hara at the helm."
RD: "There are so many lies crammed into that one line of dialogue." 
Bruce: "It's just that Gotham City is planning a civic luncheon in your honor next week. It was supposed to be a surprise."
Gordon: "I'll certainly try to act surprised at this, uh, surprise luncheon."

Narrator: "Commissioner Gordon won't have to act surprised at the affair in his honor. He's going to  get the surprise of his life from that dauntless champion of women's rights, Ms. Nora Clavicle."
Nora: "He certainly is. Especially when he discovers he's EX-Police Commissioner Gordon!" 

Vince found Lotus gets "ho-hum" 6 Batpoles (and guesses 34 years). RD gives her 7.5, mostly due to her great evilness. 33 year old Nobu McCarthy, daughter of the then Japanese ambassador to Canada, and once Miss Tokyo, was most prolific on screen in the 60s to 80s. She was more well known as one of the influential East West Players, and was their artistic director for four years.

Next episode is considered to be the worst in the series, although compared to some of the earlier stuff the Bros have their doubts. We shall see.

RD enjoyed writing about Goldberg and Sid Vicious having a very wacky feud. 

 

• Special Guest Villain: Louie the Lilac [2] (Milton Berle) [2]
  

Episode 115: Holy Ace Attorney!: November 6, 2023

The Joke's on Catwoman
January 4, 1968
"Following a tip from Batgirl, the Dynamic Trio meet up at the Grimalkin Novelty Company, hideout of the Joker and Catwoman. There, they overhear the arch-criminals' plot and secretly trail them to a stash of hidden gunpowder. A careless mistake spoils the villains' evil plan, however, and they are captured and brought before the Gotham City judge. But when the jury seems less than interested in justice, courtroom mayhem ensues."
45 minutes

RD Is In Kitt's Corner. Is that the follow-up podcast to The Joker's Mustache? He wears his Catwoman shirt for her final show appearance.

Vince is old enough to remember The Ring magazine, now in digital form. He does not like extreme combat sports where people could get extremely injured. He does not ever want to see Sid Vicious' broken leg. RD was actually there to see it in person. Vince actually spoke for Sid in his ensuing lawsuit. Both prefer him now as a current happy grandfather on social media. 

Narrator: "What's this? An ambush outside the home of millionaire Karnaby Katz? Where Catwoman, the Joker, and their evil cohorts lie wickedly in wait for Batgirl and the Caped Crusaders." (:05)

Leaving their last cliffhanger of...arriving too late to a crime scene, the Dynamic Duo just...drive off without any hindrance. Apparently doing the gentlemanly thing of waiting for Batgirl to also leave is not in their agenda, because she finds her Batcycle's spark plug has been taken by Catwoman. The villains quickly tie her up and leave her on the ground. 

Catwoman (to Joker): "Those Cat's Whiskers, a fiendish invention of mine, they automatically contract  when placed in close contact with the heat of the body. So in seconds, Batgirl will be strangled to death, thereby ridding Gotham City of one-third of the Terrific Trio. You see, when I do a job, I do it right."
RD was easily amused by Kitt's rolling delivery as "she's giving herself a paw."

Now why wasn't this the cliffhanger?

After the titles, Batgirl sees a sprinkler control with two big buttons, which she manages to reach over to and turn on with her nose. This cools the rope, causing it to loosen and slacken, but more importantly gives the rather impressionable audience the visual of Yvonne Craig in a wet t-shirt (while her theme plays on a theremin). 

Meanwhile in the Batcave, Batman declines Alfred's offer of a snack. "You know I never mix crime-fighting with eating." Robin still reaches for one anyway.
Gordon calls on the Batphone: "Batgirl just called me, Batman. She wants you to meet her at the  intersection of Cattail Lane and Ninelives Alley. That's behind the novelty manufacturing center of Gotham City."
Batman: "The Grimalkin Novelty Company is on that corner."
Robin: "Grimalkin? What kind of a name is that?"
Batman: "An obscure, but nevertheless acceptable, synonym for "cat," Robin."

At the big black warehouse novelty company, the villains consult a map of Phony Island (to the south of the city) which was on the stolen nightshirt. The crib has the starting location in backwards French, which Catwoman has to read to a knowledgable Joker as they technobabble the destination.
Joker: "Ooh. That's the first time I ever heard a cat purr in French."
Catwoman: "Skip the flattery, Joker."

The Trio are already laying in wait watching the villains leave their lair.
Robin: "How about rushing the place, Batman?"
Batman: "I think not, Robin. All they've done so far is stolen a few items, attempted to kill you, me and  Batgirl. No, I think they plan something really big."
For some reason Batman asks Batgirl to sit with them in the Batmobile. Normally it's supposed to be quicker that way. But of course, the way he has such the look as she thinks it will be "cozy" speaks for itself.

RD as Batman: "Why don't you sit on the Batlap and let's talk about the first thing that pops up?"

The villains arrive at the big black warehouse Phony Island lighthouse where they look for the buried gunpowder. They are joined by the inhabitants, named Mr. and Mrs. Keeper, and their antics confused RD to no end, particularly the Mrs' desire to vacuum the upstairs bedroom. Vince kept seeing makeup on Mrs. Keeper's turtleneck in high definition. He actually knew who they were based on some of their work of the time (Louis Quinn and Christine Nelson, also a couple in real life).

The Trio finally appear as Joker complains they were supposed to be "kaput, finis, defunct." This would have originally been referencing the cliffhanger when it was supposed to be an actual cliffhanger of a deadly trap like of old, instead of what we got with them walking into a room.
Batman: "We're very much not defunct, Joker. Neither is Batgirl."
Catwoman: "This is some sort of perfidious trick. I'll bet it's done with mirrors."
Batman: "The mirror is broken, Catwoman. The last cat has crossed our path. From now on, all the luck is with us."

Joker accidentally hits another button, which just so happens to open a secret room revealing all the gunpowder. So he goes to inspect it.

By lighting a match. 

Batman: "Put that match out, you fool! It's going to explode!"

For once Joker listens to his archenemy.

By throwing the match inside. 

(Also the match is clearly shown to have been blown out after he throws it.) 

So the obvious happens. There is an explosion and everyone is unscathed.
Robin: "Holy return from oblivion! We're still alive!"
Batman: "Yes, Robin. Still alive. In the split second before the actual detonation of the gunpowder I was able to infuse this one room with Anti-Blast Batpowder."
Mrs. Keeper: "But what about the upstairs bedroom? I just vacuumed it."
Batman: "The city will make it up to you. They'll take the cost of your home out of Catwoman and  Joker's prison pay for making license plates."

Catwoman requests to make her one phone call to "Lucky Pierre, the world's greatest and luckiest criminal attorney. He's never lost a case." Batman gives her a dime for it.

Thankfully for her Pierre is his big black warehouse office to receive the call (as Louie the Lilac's theme plays). "Now, be still and don't utter a meow. I'll see you in court. And if all goes well, knock on  wood, I'll have you sprung before pussy-willow time."

As colorful as it may be, it is not as colorful as the actual actor. Well, 'actor' since he went uncredited. And he wasn't even an actor at all. Pierre Salinger was a journalist (initially known as Lucky Pierre), press secretary for Kennedy and Johnson, senator for California (for all of three months), and inadvertent conspiracy theorist about believing everything on the Internet (concerning TWA800).

Also he has a sight gag photo of his desk of Nixon.

One only knows how he would be a good fit for such an extended cameo, but needless to say he wouldn't be the first of his ilk in such a role. I guess even now not much has changed in that aspect.

So we immediately go to the big black courthouse (:24) as Pierre informs his clients that District Attorney Harvey Dent is taking his turn to choose the jury.

[Checks earpiece]

I'm sorry, I'm being told that Dent didn't actually appear in the Silver Age at all. That would be in the Bronze Age three years later. So he's not appearing here either.

So instead the attorney is...any guesses?

Yes, it is of course Batman "because of his familiarity with the case", despite his officer deputizing not covering prosecution in a court of law. Perhaps he put in a good word to millionaire Bruce Wayne, chairman of the Gotham City District Attorney's Office.

RD: "I have only been to court once, and it was because I was there for jury duty. Gotham City sounds like it has the worst judicial system ever. OK, Batman caught these alleged supposed crooks. Now he's going to be the DA or whatever for this? And then he also gets to choose the jury? What kind of kangaroo court is this?"

The totally unbiased and partial jury arrive with Batman, and West takes the opportunity to rehash the time he guest starred on Perry Mason with some extreme overacting.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. (He pauses, suddenly seeing that he did not choose any women for his jury.) Uh, gentlemen of the jury, we are gathered here today to prove that Catwoman, Joker, and  their men, are guilty of several major offenses. To wit: robbery, attempted murder, assault and battery,  mayhem, and overtime parking."

He calls Little Louie Groovy to the stand (full name Little Louie Groovy) to state that he was robbed "on the night of July 22nd of this year" by "those cats over there, the chick with the swinging outfit, the  creep with the green hair, and those four clowns."
Batman: "For the record, witness is pointing to the defendants."
Batgirl: "He's so authoritative. So confident."
Robin: "The more you work with Batman, the more amazing he seems."

Despite this...descriptive statement, Pierre doesn't ask for a cross-examination. In fact he doesn't do any for each witness, as we fade to the last of them of the Keepers, somehow both being questioned together in tandem.
Batman: "And that's your statement, Mr. Keeper."
Mrs. Keeper: "That's his statement, not mine. I had just vacuumed the upstairs bedroom. And now  there's no bedroom upstairs anymore."
There is no cross-examination here either, save just to keep this random joke thread going to pad out the runtime. Both Batman and Joker wonder what his game as he sits holding a (lucky) wishbone.

Batman: "Gentlemen of the jury, you've heard the evidence of 14 separate witnesses including Robin the Boy Wonder, and Batgirl. Each one of them corroborating the other's story that those defendants are guilty of all the crimes with which they are charged. In the interests of law, order, justice, good fellowship, and the flag, [emphasis mine] you must convict them to keep our streets safe from evil persons. Thank you."

Of course Robin is standing up and cheering for this 'immense' effort. Batman has to tell him to sit down. He says this mind you; the judge, who normally should be the one to say so, just sits there with a rather ridiculous puff of white hair that makes him look more villain than law person.

The totally not villainous judge calls on Pierre to give his closing argument...which he doesn't. So he orders the jury to go and deliberate.
Foreman: "No need for that, Your Honor. We have already made up our minds. ... We find the defendants, Catwoman, Joker, Giggler, Laughter, Smiley and Gus...not guilty of any of the charges."
Then the jury all laughs.
Catwoman: "There's something very cat-fishy about this whole thing, Batman."
Batman: "Every man is entitled to his day in court. We must abide by the jury's decision."
Judge: "Normally, after any case, I never make any statement to the jury. However, today I cannot resist. Never in my thirty years on the Gotham City bench have I seen a more callous disregard for the facts in a case. You are all to be chastised for making a travesty out of the judicial process."
Foreman: "Aw, stow it, Judge!"

He shouts this with such furor that his mustache drops, revealing that he is in fact someone named "Marvin the Moose" who had worked with Catwoman before, sitting next to a "Dave the Dummy" who had also worked with Catwoman before.
Batman: "Your Honor, I move for a new trial."
Judge: "On which of several grounds?"
Batman: "On the grounds of a prejudicial jury."
Catwoman: "You don't know how prejudicial, Batman!"
Why, it's almost as if Batman didn't do full due diligence when choosing his totally nonpartisan jury!

Marvin then pulls out a gun, leading up to our episode's fight. Thankfully this is a good one, once again featuring Joker's stunt double. RD will be sad to miss him after the show's end. Batgirl's smiling kicks on top of a table almost cause it to fall down. Catwoman swings on a chandelier, which every courtroom has. The judge provides his assistance by hitting Joker on the head with his gavel. 

Batman: "Will you never learn that you cannot outwit the law?"
Catwoman: "Maybe one day I will, Batman, perhaps."
Batman: "You'll never succeed in circumventing justice, Catwoman."
Robin: "Not as long as honest and dedicated law enforcers have a breath left."
Joker: "Oh, forget the morals! Just get us back to jail, so we don't have to listen to these corny jokes!"
Batman (to the camera): "But morals are the stuff men are made of. And until criminals learn that, our  job will not be done. However, if and when they do, we'll be only too ready to hang up our capes and  cowls."

At Gordon's Office, Robin remarks on the characters they met.
Batman: "Don't forget Lucky Pierre. If he hadn't gone so wrong, he might have had to find career in  politics. Won a gubernatorial race, or the White House even."
Hopefully the tenure would be longer than three months.
Gordon decides to call Barbara at the Library to check up on her.

Unfortunately once again a criminal is visiting the Library, in this case Louie the Lilac.
Barbara: "What are you doing with that boutonniere? I remember the time you stunned my friend  Princess Primrose with an invisible knockout spray."
Louie: "This is not an invisible knockout spray, Miss Gordon. It is essence of lilacs. A scent which I  intend to corner the perfume market of Gotham City. I thought that the police commissioner's daughter should be my first recipient."

So of course he immediately leaves.

RD: "Looks like he will be just as uninteresting as the last time."

Narrator: "Louie the Lilac is in indeed back in Gotham City and planning much more than just  cornering the perfume market...as you'll see in our next episode!"

Eartha Kitt gets an immediate increase to her rating because she was still looking and acting stellar at the age of 40. Despite the Bros usually judging on appearances, they also note on when characterizations work, like hers. For this RD gives her 7.5 Batpoles, Vince gives 8. RD wishes Kitt was playing another character instead to make all her own rather than just succeed Julie Newmar, which would have made her appearance much greater and better known. Still, they admired her work. 

Unfortunately for Kitt, two weeks after this episode aired (ironically on an episode parodying the womens' movement) she was at a White House luncheon with Lady Bird Johnson where she made quite a few remarks, including on civil rights and against the Vietnam War including Lady Bird Johnson. For this she was blacklisted in America for a decade (until Carter personally invited her back). She did quite a lot of voice acting in her later years, most notably Yzma in The Emperor's New Groove.

RD hates Santa Baby. Vince has to think on his worst before the season rolls around. 

Santa is training to beat all the children at the Arcade on December 16th. 

RD has to think on what to write about for Christmas.

• Special Guest Villain: The Joker [10] (Cesar Romero) [10]
• Extra Special Guest Villainess: Catwoman [9] (Eartha Kitt) [2]

 

• Brown Hornet Escapes: 1. We was too late.
• Window Celebrity: 1. Pierre Salinger

Episode 114: Holy Bat-Creep!: October 30, 2023

The Funny Feline Felonies
December 28, 1967
"The Joker, just released from prison, teams up with Catwoman. They follow the clues of an ancient riddle to retrieve a nightshirt and an antique crib, which together form a map to a hidden cache of gunpowder which they plan to use for their next crime. Batman and Robin, together with Batgirl, follow their trail, little knowing that they are about to walk right into an ambush."
43 minutes

RD: LEARNING THE BAT CREEP. Is that like the Batusi? He had returned from the South where he ate at the first Kentucky Fried Chicken, as shown by his Colonel Sanders cap. Both prefer the original Original Recipe.

Vince could never get malt vinegar with fish. RD has to hide his laughter, as did any other Listener suddenly finding themselves haunted by the Force Ghost of Sir Alec Heineken. 

RD then has to explain the old joke about vinegar douching to Vince.

Good Lord, lad. 

The Jungle Book was the #2 movie of the year, in between The Graduate and a re-released Gone With The Wind. Vince has to find his Baloo tattoo.

Narrator: "Morning at Gotham State Prison. And in the office of Warden Crichton, an old foe is saying his farewell." (:08)
The Joker is leaving in a grey suit after serving his long sentence of several..days months (according to the script). He shakes hands with the Warden and the chairman of the parole board, some millionaire named Bruce Wayne. You haven't heard of him.
Bruce: "I'm convinced that you've mended your former ways. And so in keeping with our liberal penological practices, we're releasing you considerably ahead of time."
Crichton then gives him the huge sum of 1 $10 dollar bill.
Joker: "I used to light my cigars with $10 bills. (pulling out a cigar) Oh, how about a cigar to celebrate the occasion?"
Bruce doesn't smoke "in any form" so Crichton takes the cigar to see if it will explode. It doesn't, but RD still doubts his competency at his job. Again. Vince was too distracted by the bad teeth on display.

Outside Joker meets Catwoman in her KittyCar, and as part of their plan she pretends to capture him at gunpoint.
Joker (loudly): "She's kidnapping me. Honest."
Bruce asks Crichton to try and "catch" the two, using the window to call Alfred to patch him through to the Gordons (since once again Barbara is visiting). In my opinion Bruce should have also called thes scriptwriter, since the last episode ended on Joker and Catwoman already riding around. Reagrdless, Barbara immediately disappears upon hearing the call. Cue titles as the Batmobile drives to the office.

Narrator: "And at the Sleazy Hotel, a sleazy hotel across the street from police headquarters..."
Joker puts on his regular suit as Catwoman observes Gordon's Office through her Catgun. Joker wants to kill the Duo but Catwoman knows how they operate, and she prefers to draw them out. So she just shoots a note through the Office window.

O'Hara: "Mother Machree, we're under attack!"
Batman crawls on his belly doing the Bat-Creep, which RD thinks can only be done with a skateboard with the way he is flowing around on the ground.
Batman (reading): ""This one was just a warning, Batman. The next one will be between your eyelids. Signed, a well-wisher.""
O'Hara: "Well, it seems like somebody's interested in your welfare."
Everyone gives him a well-deserved glare for his idiocy. 

Barbara enters in a lovely green dress: "Somebody lose a contact lens?" RD finds contact lenses were first used as far as the 16th century, though modern softer ones were first used from the 50s. 

Batman: "It must have come from the Hotel Sleazy across the street. Judging from the trajectory and the angle...and figuring the wind at six knots per hour, north by northeast...as per this morning's weather  report...X times six squared, over...Yes. (pointing) You see, it came from that room on that floor."

They go to the room finding Joker's prison suit left behind. (:20) Batman can smell Catwoman's trademark Cat Lily perfume, sensing they were in less than three minutes ago. Batgirl takes the opportunity to appear to assist. The men all say they can handle it on their own, so she does the lawful thing and takes a piece of paper from the crime scene.
Robin: "You think she's trying to double-cross us?"
Batman: "No, but she's a woman, Robin, with a woman's inborn desire to outsmart men."

Catwoman's lair is half cat half clown, and she asks her goons Giggler and Laughter to meet Joker. The Clown Prince managed to steal from the Library a poem "written by Garçon Maltese, the famous crook," who stole 1 million pounds of gunpowder during the French and Indian War to hide it within Gotham. Catwoman wants to use it to blow an entrance inside the federal depository building to loot it.
Joker: "Why don't we just heist a bunch of dynamite?"
Catwoman: "Far too simple, Joker. And not half as much fun as being devilishly clever. After all, we're  not common thieves. Now, our next move is to purloin and if possible permanently purge Batman,  Batgirl and Robin, the Boy Wonder. The missing corner of this parchment was intentionally left in that fleabag of a hotel room."

This Catwoman is definitely one to kill Batman rather than be attracted to him, a sad byproduct of racial conflict during the time. An African-American woman with a White man? On 60s television? That's just science fiction!

 

Literally!

 

Regardless, Vince always loved how well Romero used his eyes for his manic facial expressions. RD adds Victor Bueno as King Tut.  

Meanwhile Barbara quickly checks the Library to find the microfiche of the document before turning into Batgirl to call Batman from the Office.
Batgirl: "Meet me immediately at the apartment of Little Louie Groovy 27 Disc Drive."
Batman: "Little Louie Groovy, the teenage tycoon who's never missed producing a million-seller record?"
Dick (loudly): "Gosh, Bruce, I've always wanted to meet him!"
Despite his loudness, Barbara makes no mention of hearing it.

Narrator: "Shortly, in the big black warehouse groovy pad of Little Louie, the young tycoon of the recording business..." (:26)
Louie has suddenly discovered a group 20 minutes earlier called "Gotham Boulevard Off-Ramp" which may or may not be a reference to Chicago (Transit Authority). "Look, I gotta make my money fast. Another couple of years, I'll be in my mid-20s. Too old for the music business, over the hill."

He tries to go to bed just as the villains break in.
Louie: "Look, if you're here to rob me, I ought to warn you that I'm a karate expert and I can hurt you. So stay back! Hyah!
Catwoman (to goons): "Karate isn't effective unless accompanied by yelling. Let him howl until he  sprains a vocal cord, then get him."
They need only wait a few seconds to get their chance, and then take his nightgown, leaving him completely bare just as the Duo show up. The fight allows Joker's stunt double to once again make his presence while the bed in the middle spins around.
The Duo succeed in smashing up the place, but don't know why their enemies wanted a nightgown. 

Joker (improvising): "Well, it was all Catwoman's fault, fellas. If you recall, it was she who kidnapped  me. She told me that Louie Groovy was a hip cat and that it might be fun if we stole the cat's pajamas. Well, you know how I am about practical jokes. I couldn't resist it."
Batman: "You must have flipped your raspberry, Joker. How could you allow anyone to talk you into  something stupid?"
Joker: "Agreed. You're absolutely and positively right. Oh, I made a dreadful mistake. Oh, let bygones  be bygones. I'd like to shake hands with both of you. Can't we be friends?"

Despite Robin's protests they do, and of course the Duo fall prey to his Joker Buzzer, electrocuting them.  Thus incapacitated, the villains leave before Batgirl appears on the scene to check their pulse. "Three beats a minute, not too good." Fortunately she has her Batgirl antidote pills for such a situation.
Batman: "What took you so long, Batgirl?"
Batgirl: "Rush hour traffic. Plus all the lights were against me. You wouldn't want me to speed, would  you?"
Robin: "Your good driving habits almost cost us our lives."
Batman: "Rules are rules, Robin. ... But you do have a point."

With her copy of the poem Batgirl knows they stole the nightgown for their treasure hunt. Now they need a cradle "in the possession of Karnaby Katz, devil-may-care men's clothing designer from  Londinium."

Of course by the time they get to Katz's mansion he's already been robbed of his antique cradle mere seconds earlier. 
Robin: "Where could they have disappeared to so quickly?"

Narrator: "Closer than you think! Just outside waiting to ambush you! Will Joker and Catwoman make  good their perfidious plan to steal millions? For the answer to these and other cataclysmic questions, watch the next episode!"

Next episode is also Catwoman's final appearance. The Bros can't remember watching it before. 

Santa is still set to challenge all the naughty little girls and boys at the Arcade. 

RD found some really bad Halloween costumes.

 

• Special Guest Villain: The Joker [10] (Cesar Romero) [10]
• Extra Special Guest Villainess: Catwoman [9] (Eartha Kitt) [2]

Episode 113: Holy Off-Screen!: October 23, 2023

The Ogg Couple
December 21, 1967
"Egghead and Olga, Queen of the Cossacks, kick off their return with several thefts from the Gotham City Museum. Egghead begins planning a series of heists - intended to provide him with the dowry needed to marry Olga. Swiping 500 pounds of dehydrated caviar goes off without a hitch. But when Batgirl attempts to outfox Egghead, she is instead captured by the villain. It's up to Batman and Robin to find the villains' hideout before Olga's Cossacks make mincemeat out of their crime fighting friend."
41 minutes

RD: A Clever, Crafty Coward. Vince was disappointed the episode had more Olga than Egghead. RD found it odd. Among the oddities: the show never did a proper Christmas episode.

Narrator: "A typically beautiful day in Gotham City. But the return of a dastardly duo and their deadly  dragoons bodes darkening clouds."

Like the last appearance, Eggy, his poor little donkey, Olga, and Cossacks thunderously march on the street just as a Boy Scout helps a little old lady across it, as they go to the Los Angeles County Art Museum and Historical Society.

[Checks earpiece]

I'm sorry, I'm being told by the Narrator that it's actually the Gotham City Art Museum. 

(Unless this was a name change by Gordon to try and confuse villains.)

Anyway the group breaks in so Olga can steal the Silver Scimitar of Taras Bulbul.
Security Guard: "You'll never get away with this, you scoundrel!"
Egghead: "Shh. This is a museum. Quiet, please."
His lot is the golden egg the scimitar is stuck in - that is, if she can pull it out of its eggshell stone. Eggy has to use his "Egg of Ogg Acid" so she can pull it out and be the rightful Queen of Bessarovia. 

Egghead: "Now let's get out of here fast before the Gotham City cops arrive."
Olga: "Oh, do not worry about cops, darling. My Cossacks are making cops-burgers from them if they  buttinski."
Egghead: "Fine, fine, but let's get out of here anyway."
Price sells the egg's weight by looking like he's getting a hernia.

Gordon gets the call in his Office. (:09)
O'Hara: "Begorra. I thought Egghead was behind bars and the Bessarovians had been sent back to  Bessarovia."
Gordon: "Bessarovia didn't want the Bessarovians. And Egghead's out on a legal technicality. There's only one person who can help us. But I can hardly bring myself to call him again. Give me a moment to summon my strength and courage. For if ever strength and courage were needed in Gotham City, Chief O'Hara...it's needed now."

In Stately Wayne Manor Bruce and Dick are actually reading in their Library. 
Dick: "Gosh, Bruce, that Genghis Khan was quite a guy. In the 13th century, he and his Mongol armies  almost conquered Europe."
Bruce: "Yes, Dick, the Mongols are fierce warriors. Even today you can find pockets of them scattered  throughout Asia."
Alfred gets the ringing Batphone despite it being within easy reach of Bruce. "To The Batpoles!"

Gordon: "[Egghead]'s a very stupid man, compounding all his felonies." (Emphasis mine, considering how smart Eggy's shown to be. Especially compared to the police at any rate.)
Batman: "Women like Olga have been the downfall of far wiser men than Egghead, Commissioner. No,  the invasion was just the beginning of the new nefarious plan of pilfer and plunder involving, no doubt,  more egg targets of some kind."
Gordon: "We'll make a list of every egg target left in Gotham City, Batman."

In the big black warehouse lair, Olga rubs Eggy's head rather vigorously while the Cossacks do their dancing thing.
Egghead: "The Scimitar of Taras Bulbul, the golden Egg of Ogg, are only the beginning of a series of  dastardly plans that will leave Gotham City begging for mercy."
Olga: "Mercy! Ha! My Cossacks are not giving mercy."
Egghead: "No, of course not. You lovely, evil woman, not a drop of mercy!"
Olga: "You are heartless, hairless man. I'm liking you more and more."
As part of getting more loot for his marriage dowry, Eggy plans to steal 500 pounds of dehydrated caviar, "a gift from the czar of Samarkand to the people of Gotham City. And it's worth $200 an ounce."

Meanwhile Barbara (in a nice yellow outfit) is now at the Office asking her father to have lunch with her. (:15)
Gordon: " I only wish I could, darling, but Gotham City is in too much danger."
Barbara: "Danger? ... I only wish there was something I could do to help."
Gordon: "There is something you can do. You can help...by going straight home and staying out of  trouble."
She does go home, where she talks to Charlie as she takes him into her room to change into Batgirl. RD found that odd for some reason. 

In the Batcave the Duo have finished warning every egg related business in the city. Batman's Bat-logic suddenly reminds him that Samarkand neighbors Bessaravia and thus they may go after the caviar. 

This is despite Bessaravia being in Moldova...a good 2900 km away from Uzbekistan. 

Hilariously, this is shorter than the distance from New Jersey (home of Gotham City) to Los Angeles (home of the Los Angeles County Art Museum and Historical Society) which is 3900 km.

Robin: "What's Gotham City gonna do with 500 pounds of dehydrated caviar?"
Batman: "No one could decide. So it's being stored in a specially-cooled vault at the Gotham National Bank."

This realization is so momentous that it needs a commercial break.  

Sure enough the Cossacks strike at the Bank.
Olga: "Do not draw revolver, little shmyerdski, or I am having Ossip bash you to beatniks."
The shmyerdski, er, branch manager laughs at them thinking they're going after the money which was transferred elsewhere, until Olga tells him otherwise. "Old Cossack saying: Do not make "ha" before eggs are safe. Snatch the caviar and make fast goodbye."

The group exits just as Eggy rides in late on his donkey. Then all of a sudden the branch manager remembers he has a security guard with a gun and orders him to shoot Egghead.
Just then Batgirl appears, so he pleads for her help.
Batgirl: "Not so brave when your henchmen aren't around, are you?"
Egghead: "Oh, I never claimed to be brave, Batgirl. No, I'm clever and crafty, but I'm a complete  coward. You won't let him shoot me?"
Batgirl: "That depends. Where are the Cossacks you've been running around with?"
Egghead: "They speak Bessarovian and I don't speak the language."
Batgirl: "Perhaps there are some other languages you do know, Egghead. The language spoken by that guard's gun!"
Egghead: "Do you expect me, a respected arch-criminal to fink on my friends like a common stool pigeon?"
Batgirl: "Of course."
Egghead: "(Beat) ...All right, I'll do it."
He gets on the Batcycle behind her, which really speaks for itself. 

Finally the Duo appear, and the branch manager catches them up to speed.
Batman: "Batgirl is a match for any gang of ordinary hoodlums, but for a wild band of Bessarovian  Cossacks even her extraordinary abilities might not be enough."

The Batcycle arrives at the lair first, showing Price having the time of his life, though wouldn't anyone?
Batgirl: "No tricks."
Egghead (appalled): "Tricks? Oh, Batgirl, how could you suspect me of trying to trick you?"
So of course the Cossacks try to surprise her, so she immediately...moves the other way.
Batgirl: "The ambush is on the other foot now, Egghead."
Egghead (appalled): "You tricked me."

Batgirl also does some barrel rolls in between her smiles and her kicks, so Olga has to trip her with some caviar. They then tie her up.
Olga: "And now, my little pipkin, you will do for us saber dance with frosted swords."
Cue some intense tap dancing to Russianized Batgirl theme. RD desperately wants a clip of it from the mythical vault.

Thankfully, Batman could track the Batcycle's "radioactive spark plug" with his Bat-Geiger Counter. Yes, this one time, and not all the other times he could have followed her back to her apartment with it. That sounds shaky at best.
RD: "Where do they buy all this radioactive fuel? Is it Neutrons'R'Us? What is this place?"
Sneaking inside the Duo save Barbara's tap dancing by...turning off the record player. 

Olga: "Very sad we meet at funeral."
Egghead: "Your funeral, Batman."

Batgirl doesn't do much this fight as the stunt doubles do their thing. Egghead takes the opportunity to grab her and drop her into the tub of caviar. The Duo have to save her, allowing the villains to flee.

Batgirl: "They almost turned me into a human hors d'oeuvre."
Batman: "What a chilling way to die."
Robin: "Holy cold creeps. Leave it to crooks like them to think of a trick like this."
Batman: "Yes, that's to be expected, Robin. The concept of decency is alien to the criminal mind."
Batgirl: "And thanks to me, they've escaped."
Batman: "Perhaps crime-fighting is better left to the men, Batgirl."
Batgirl: "Perhaps not."
Batman: "But this isn't exactly women's work."
Batgirl: "But I'm no ordinary woman, Batman."
Batman: (Looking her lustily up and down) "Agreed."

 

Now originally this whole endeavor of Egghead and Olga was supposed to be a three-parter, tying in to their other endeavors of stealing the Samovar of Genghis Khan and, er, trying to hatch a dinosaur. So the episode would normally end around here with the Trio recouping as the actual ending would be the third episode of the villains fleeing Batman in a dinosaur outfit.

Instead we cut to Gordon's Office, where he informs the Duo they've suddenly arrested the whole group.

Off-screen.

 

And not even by the Dynamic Trio.

O'Hara: "It's lucky you had me surround that building once more, Batman. Olga and Egghead ran right into the paddy wagon again."

RD: "I did not think that was the worst episode ever, but that was by far the worst ending ever."

Gordon: "I'm sure they won't find caviar on the menu at Gotham State Prison."
Batman: "Probably not, but they will get a well-balanced diet thanks to Warden Crichton's emphasis on  proper nutrition."
Barbara again walks in, this time in a nice lime green dress, having seen a green-gold car with "what looked like whiskers on its front fenders".
Gordon: "Sounds like Catwoman's Kitty Car to me, Batman."
This is the first we've ever heard of Catwoman having her own vehicle.
Catwoman: "And if I'm not mistaken, that arch-criminal the Joker was a passenger."
RD: "Seriously? The ending of the show keeps getting worse."
Robin: "Holy here we go again, Batman."
Batman: "I'm afraid you're right, old chum. If Catwoman and Joker have joined forces, it sounds like  there's trouble right here in Gotham City."
Narrator: "And how right he is! Trouble in a green fright wig! Trouble in a car with whiskers! More trouble than the Caped Crusaders have ever known! Coming up on our next episode!"

The Bros agree that with the split of the original three-parter, this standalone episode makes no sense. Or even any ending. It's especially a bad final episode for Egghead (and Olga). 

Only 11 more episodes remain for the show, including three new one-off villains.

Santa is returning to the Arcade to challenge all the naughty children.

Halloween sure has some weird costumes.

• Special Guest Villain: Egghead [3] (Vincent Price) [3]
• Extra Special Guest Villainess: Olga, Queen of the Cossacks [2] (Anne Baxter) [3]

 

• Brown Hornet Escapes: 1. Off-screen arrest by the Undynamic Duo.
  

Episode 112: Holy Eyes!: October 16, 2023

Catwoman's Dressed to Kill
December 14, 1967
"The Catwoman targets the fashion industry by first terrorizing a banquet honoring Batgirl and then attacking a fashion show. During the attack on the fashion show, Catwoman captures Batgirl and takes her back to her hideout where she threatens to kill her with a pattern cutter. She then tells Batman that if he attempts to rescue her that it will leave the visiting Queen Bess of Bellgravia vulnerable for attack. Now the Caped Crusader must find a way to save Batgirl and prevent any harm to Queen Bess."
45 minutes

RD: Needs No Snoods. Vince: "Is that like a nap?"

Narrator: "Noon in Gotham City. While millions of workers hurry to their midday meal at a posh private luncheon, the city's ten best-dressed women are being named by the town's top couturier, Rudi Gernreich."
Gernreich was an actual well known avant garde fashion designer, especially during this decade. Unfortunately that does not protect him from Gordon and O'Hara (and Mayor Linseed) also being in attendance, since they are to accept a "Batty" on behalf of Batgirl "for the best-dressed crime-fightress in Gotham City". Why she couldn't accept it directly is never explained.

Neither is it explained how Catwoman managed to sneak in. Neither neither is how she is now played by an African-American actress.
"Ridiculous. Nonsense. Foolish prattle. How can Batgirl be the best anything when Catwoman is around? No best-dressed list is complete without the addition of the queen of criminals, the Princess of Plunder, yours untruly."

The Bros appreciate Eartha Kitt really getting into the villainy of the character, including her tone and inflection of voice. Yet she still has to compare herself with Julie Newmar. She doesn't get her own love theme!

Catwoman: "You ladies with your fancy hairdos, what do you know about beauty? After you suffer the effects of my hair-raising bomb. you will never be able to raise your heads in public again. Then we'll see who's the fairest of them all!"
One of the women: "No! Not our hair! Anything but that!"
She throws a hair bomb which does just that, and gives an evil laugh.
O'Hara: "To the red Batphone!"

Narrator: "In a fashionable midtown men's shop, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson scan the new styles."
Dick is getting a tuxedo for his first prom despite not knowing how to tie a bow.
Bruce: "I wouldn't be too concerned about that. Alfred and I will give you the benefit of our vast years of experience."
Bruce's pen beeps, alerting them of Gordon trying to reach the Duo.
Bruce: "We'll change into our spare Batoutfits in the limousine and leg it to police headquarters."
Dick: "Leg it? How about a taxi?"
Bruce: "Arriving at Commissioner Gordon's office in a taxi might be deemed a trifle ostentatious."
Dick: "But that's three miles from here!"
Bruce: "A sound mind in a sound body."

Cue Batrun in front of a greenscreen, assuming it's not the exact same from the Movie.

Of course Barbara is already there at the Office awaiting the Duo just because. "Ruined their hair forever? Catwoman really knows a woman's weak spot."
RD: "Couldn't they go get a haircut or something?"
She suggests using Batgirl to bait her out, much to Batman's protest. "I wouldn't dream of endangering that fair lady's head. No, you'd better leave the crime-fighting to the men."

Narrator: "And in an abandoned loft in the big black warehouse heart of Gotham City's garment center, Catwoman is  fashioning her criminal conspiracy while her admiring henchmen, Angora and Manx, look on." (:15)
As Catwoman plots to catnap Batgirl and ultimately steal a piece of clothing called The Golden Fleece, the Bros continue to admire Kitt's way of saying things. The Fleece, "a million dollars' worth of 24-karat gold cloth", will be brought into town by its current owner Queen Bess of Belgravia, which she will purloin - and then sell back.
"Manx...take a telegram."

The telegram of Catwoman foretelling her appearance is for Gordon, who reads it over the phone to Batman.
Batman: "Let us handle it, Commissioner. And if you should hear from Batgirl, don't, repeat, don't tell her about this turn of events here."
Gordon: "Right. I won't tell Batgirl a thing."
Barbara (overhearing yet again): "Won't tell Batgirl what, Daddy?"
Gordon: "I guess I can tell you. After all, you're not Batgirl."

Narrator: "Having learned of Catwoman's plan from Commissioner Gordon, Barbara Gordon dons her guise as Batgirl, best-dressed crime-fightress in America. While Batgirl hurries to her fateful appointment, Batman approaches from another direction. In the showroom of Fashionation Magazine, Rudi Gernreich again regales the assemblage with his droll comments." (:18)

Rudi predicts (although he will be a few years off) that women will eventually be wearing minis, including shoes. This is enough for Catwoman to appear, still aiming to be best-dressed.

Batman: "There are no fashion shows where you're going."
Robin: "And how could a feline feloness like you also be a fashion model?"
Batman: "Credit where credit is due, Robin. She may be evil, but she is attractive. You'll know more about that in a couple of years. Now, are you coming quietly, Catwoman, or must we use force?"
Catwoman: "Your silver-tongued oratorio has convinced me, Batman. I hereby remit myself to your muscular custody."
Batman: "Don't try to pull the wool over our eye slits."
He might as well though, as the goons sneak up from behind and just...ensnare the Duo in a net. 

Batgirl then shows up to pull off the net.
Batman: "How did you find out about this? I specifically asked Commissioner Gordon not to involve  you. We can fight our own battles."

Catwoman has gone into the dressing rooms. "If the Dynamic Drips react the way I expect them to  react, they will not step into this most hallowed and forbidden no-man's land. But Batgirl will."
Robin: "What are we going to do? We can't step into that hallowed and forbidden no-man's land without closing our eyes. And if we close our eyes, we can't see anything."
Batman: "A sound observation, Robin."
Batgirl: "You can't go in there, but I can. And with my eyes wide-open."
She does, straight into some knockout gas.

The Duo wait a minute before deciding to go in. While covering their eyes. As Batman's theme plays in a minor key. 

Vince always disliked entering the ladies' locker room, sometimes even with his eyes closed.

Eyes covered, Batman walks into a mannequin. "Careful, Robin. I think it's a lady. Take my cape."
Finally one of the models tells him they are fully dressed, so they can stop with this 'comedic' act.
Robin: "Do you think she'll kill Batgirl?"
Batman: "Or worse, Robin. ... Or worse."
The situation and line delivery is so serious, one of the models corpses in the background.

In the lair Batgirl is tied up as RD notes how old Catwoman's goons are for some reason. "Did she go to a retirement community?" Kitt distracts by rolling her R's in such a manner.
Catwoman: "No hero worth his salt would let a lady expire. It's foolproof, I tell you. Perfectly  foolproof."
Batgirl: "And you, Catwoman, are an even bigger fool than I thought you were. We who enforce the  law would gladly lay down our lives for it."
Catwoman: "Angora, gag her. Crime-fightresses should be seen and not heard."
They prepare her to be cut into ribbons. For fashion! Catwoman puts a white flower on her body for some reason.

Meanwhile the Duo try to figure out the plot in the non-Londinium Batcave.
Robin: "It would appear she's on an apparel binge of some kind. Holy priceless collection of Etruscan snoods! Right, Batman?"
Batman: "Wrong. There isn't much call for Etruscan snoods these days, Robin."
Unfortunately Batman can't think straight with his deep in thought pose.
Alfred: "It would appear that your mind is not really on the subject you're pursuing."
Batman: "Very observant, Alfred. My mind's on Batgirl. Wherever she is, whatever dire danger she  faces..."

Anyway they have to meet Queen Bess at "exactly" 3 pm at her embassy "to discuss the rise in Belgravian misdemeanors". Because that's what they do now. Batman then remembers she has a Golden Fleece with her that Catwoman might target.
Batman: "Belgravia would be up a creek without a fleece. They might even declare war on our country. No doubt Queen Bess would mortgage herself to the hilt to get it back. (To the camera) Nobody wants war."
Robin: "Gee, Batman, Belgravia's such a small country. We'd beat them in a few hours."
Batman: "Yes, and then we'd have to support them for years."

At the Office Batman tells Gordon of the potential hit at the embassy just as Catwoman calls (the normal phone) to gloat. "Speak of the angel. You'd better get to 32 Pussyfoot Road, Batman, where a steel pattern cutter is just going to work on Batgirl."
Robin: "Holy dilemma! If we go to rescue Batgirl, Catwoman escapes with the Golden Fleece. And if  we go after Catwoman, Batgirl dies."
Of course Batman does not suggest having the Undynamic Duo go to save her, leaving their level of incompetence at the task unsaid. Gordon doesn't even offer to go get her. So Batman has to order the two to meet Bess.
Once gone, he calls Alfred on the Batphone to tell him to go to Batgirl. But he needs to be disguised, "something as alien as possible to your normal self."

As Catwoman appears at the embassy and gasses the staff ("Sorry queenie, but I'm antisocial,") Alfred appears in the lair...in a hippie janitor outfit and even hippier accent.
Batgirl: "You look very familiar to me."
Alfred: "Me? Oh, no. No, I'm the oldest living hippie in this country. You may have heard about my  being the first Boy Scout dropout at the turn of a century."
She gives him a confused look as she leaves.

Of course the Undynamic Duo have no idea at first that Catwoman has taken the Queen's place. She takes a feel of her dress as she threatens them before the Trio appear to fight. Craig actually fights with Paul as they do the arduous task of rolling a cart. Someone gets thrown through some flimsy painted paper of a wall. Catwoman hisses at Batgirl as everyone is taken away.

Back in the Office, everyone has received "the Royal Order of the Belgravian Garter" for whatever that whole situation was. O'Hara keeps talking until Bonnie calls to shut him up to alert them to the TV, which just shows Egghead and Olga. Sadly he is not riding a donkey here.

Narrator: "Egghead, Olga and her Bessarovian Cossacks are back with another assortment of devilish  plots. All happening here in our next episode!"

RD liked the story far more than Vince, who missed the villain dynamic, especially with this different Catwoman. RD thought she did fine with what she had.  

Vince bought a lot of 1-UPs from the recent Amazon Prime Day. 

RD: "I just inducted yet another ridiculous women's match."
Vince had to suffer through the latest Raw, which had 16 women not doing much.

• Special Guest Villain: Catwoman [8] (Eartha Kitt)

• Window Celebrity: 1. Rudi Gernreich
  

Episode 111: Holy Londinium!: October 9, 2023

The Londinium Larcenies
November 23, 1967
"Commissioner Gordon travels across the channel to Londinium by request of the President to assist in a spree of baffling burglaries. Also aboard ship are Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, their manservant Alfred and Gordon's daughter Barbara. Alfred sets up a make-shift Batcave under a rented mansion near Londinium while Batman & Robin visit Lord Ffogg and Lady Peasoup, who run a girl's finishing school that teaches their students a degree in shoplifting."
The Foggiest Notion
November 30, 1967
"Lord Ffogg and Lady Peasoup plan to steal a ship-worth of mod clothing material with which they can control the fashion world of Londinium. Ffogg and his men subdue Batman, Peasoup and her girls grab Robin and Lady Prudence uses the paralyzing fog on Batgirl."
The Bloody Tower
December 7, 1967
"Batman, ably assisted as always by Alfred, saves Robin from being crushed by a winch at the Tower of Londinium. He also rescues Batgirl from the dungeon at Ffogg Place. But Robin gets stung by an African Death Bee as Lord Ffogg and Lady Peasoup get ready to steal the crown jewels at the Bloody Tower."
55 minutes

RD: Better Villain than Lord Ffogg. Vince gives themselves some applause for having to watch a really bad trilogy. Thus the Bros will quickly go over all three in less than an hour.

Vince's internet meandering lead him to writer Keith R.A. DeCandido's introspective as part of his own look at the series. He gave the whole misadventure a 1/10, especially for the bad plot, the sets being more Los Angeles than London, and Rudy Vallee doing British by the way of Dick van Dyke. RD: "I feel like people need to be arrested over this."

Narrator: "The great metropolis of Londinium, mighty capital of the Old World, is enjoying another of its famous crystal-clear days. But in the queen's private museum in Chuckingham Palace, something's rather foggy about Lord Marmaduke Ffogg of Ffoggshire, and his sister, Lady Penelope Peasoup. But what are these twisted twigs of Londinium aristocracy up to? Purloining Her Majesty's priceless snuffboxes? And then covering their tracks with Marmaduke's own man-made fog?" (:05)

In order words, Ffogg covers his criminal activity by...smoking.

This is enough of a concern for the Prime Minister and Scotland Yard First Minister and Ireland Yard to beg the President. Of the United States. Another country. Who then begs Gordon to beg Batman.

Barbara has of course overheard the call, and she initially declines going with her father before he tells her that Batman is also coming with.
RD: "What happened to her surfer boyfriend?"
Gordon calls Stately Wayne Manor, just to set up a bit where Dick is playing drums while wearing a wig so Bruce can shout at him to "cool it, Ringo," and Alfred accidentally calls him "Master Robin".

As this is a matter of the utmost urgency on the behest of the President, the Gordons take a plane boat. Coincidentally so do Bruce and "Young" Dick and Alfred and Harriet and a giant crate.
Bruce: "I don't think that Dick should neglect his studies, so we brought along a thousand key works of literature, his biological specimens, and also his own desk."
O'Hara gives Gordon a parting gift "begorra" and Bruce takes the opportunity to flirt with Barbara. 

Meanwhile in the black warehouse "Easterland House", Ffogg walks around in an Inverness cape as he and Peasoup steal stuff while smoking. 

Of course Millionaire Bruce Wayne already has a mansion overseas to use as cover for a Batcave, assuming that's what the Narrator calls "the dungeon of a rented country manor house". (:14)
Bruce: "It will do the job, Alfred. And you did a great job unpacking Dick Grayson's books, biological specimens and desk. And not even a scratch on the Batmobile."
Alfred: "If I may, sir, remember to drive on the left, not the right."

Cue gratuitous stock footage of Londinium "which is suffering from a spell of unusually clear weather" including a soccer stadium that was last seen some weeks ago.

At Ireland Yard the Duo and the Gordons meet Superintendent Watson in what is clearly Gordon's Office (except his red phone is more old fashioned).
Batman: "These surroundings have a familiar feel."
Watson: "Yes, Batman, decor in a police department varies little the world over."

Through some trademark Batlogie linking the smoke fog to aftergrass, Batman decides to investigate Ffogg Place. Peasoup also has a girl's finishing school nearby, which of course teaches how to crime. And Ffogg's servants are also conveniently his goons.

We are halfway through the episode. As far as I can tell the second half consists of the following:

• The Batmobile pulls up as Bookworm's Theme plays once more. Somehow Watson and Barbara could fit in the back. (He's babysitting her while Papa Gordon is away at a meeting.)
• Batman expresses interest in Ffogg's nicely mowed lawn. 
• Somehow Barbara knew Alfred's number, and calls for his help.
• The women of the finishing school are all over Robin. "Holy contributing to the delinquency of minors!"
• Ffogg has a beehive of African death bees because in his spare time he's reading too much Fleming.
• Barbara manages to sneak out and somehow finds Alfred in a taxi cab ("borrowed from my second cousin Cuthbert") to take her to her rented flat.
• Yes, Barbara managed to find time to rent a flat.
• The villains think Barbara will join their school for scoundrels. 
  
• The departing Duo are stopped by "some rather unholy highwaymen" i.e. the goons.
• Of course Barbara manages to change into Batgirl and somehow finds the scene to help drive off the goons.
  
• Yes, she does vanish immediately afterwards.
• Robin: "What do you suppose she's doing in Londinium? And where do you suppose she went?"
  Batman: "I can't answer the first question, Robin, and I've never been able to answer the second."
• The Duo decide to return to the Londinium Batcave to investigate further.
• Then the Batmobile gets fogged up.
  
• Narrator: "Has Basil, Lord Ffogg's friendly butler, succeeded in befogging the Dynamic Duo? Is Batman up against a sticky wicket? Our next episode will give you much more than a foggy notion."

 

...

 

Narrator: "Another crystal-clear day in Londinium." (:21)

And suddenly the Duo are in Watson's Gordon's Office telling Watson that Ffogg is their villain. Batman worries what Barbara is getting into joining their school. Of course we don't see how the Duo managed to escape a cliffhanger of...a "Delayed Action Knock-Out Fog Capsule" by using...a "General Emergency Batextinguisher".  I guess that speaks for itself.

Coincidentally Barbara enters with a package for Batman, with thick smoke wafting from it.
Batman (nonchalantly): "Yes, it seems about to explode. You better all stand back."
Inside are three bells, which Batman links to The Three Bells pub.
Watson: "On the river in the dock area. Many's the pint of wallop I have there. Or had, I should say, before the hippies took over."
The dock is the same one seen in the Movie., one of its docked ships carrying clothes that could be a potential target for Ffogg.
Robin: "Holy rising hemlines! Are we being dared to stop a robbery of miniskirts, Batman?"

The Batmobile gets to the pub during a scene where the villains gloat over their plan.
Robin: "Let's go!"
Batman: "Not you, Robin. They have strict licensing laws in this country. A boy of your age is not allowed in a tavern."
Robin: "But if it's been taken over by the hippies and mod set - "
Batman: "You're far from mod, Robin. And many hippies are older than you are. Why don't you wait by  the Batmobile? I have a hunch that you'll be of good use there."

Ffogg and his goons have already arrived at the pub waiting for the Dark Knight to enter. Oh, also Ffogg said he had gout and had his foot in a cast. This lasted all of ten minutes, so he's completely "healed" enough to involve himself in the expected fight. Batman beats one of the goons with a bar tap before he gets overwhelmed.

During all this the fledging criminal girls arrive to rob the boat. Since Robin's one weakness is not fighting women, he instead cuts the boat's mooring line. So the girls grab Robin instead, and he protests as they all start feeling him up. The boat drifts away, which of course means someone turning on the motor and driving it halfway into the water. 

With the Duo captured, it's up to Barbara as she is driven by Alfred back to Ffogg Place.
Alfred: "How did you get away?"
Barbara: "It wasn't easy. I'll explain later."
(It's never explained later.)
Somehow Alfred has her Batgirl outfit for her perusal. She thinks Lady Prudence, the governess of the school, has her own agenda, and asks Alfred to inform Gordon and Batman. 

She waits for him to leave before she does her transformation sequence in the glamorous locale of behind a bush. She goes to Ffogg's cricket pavillion, where he conveniently has all his thefts displayed and labelled. Prudence, who sees this, uses her being distracted to knock her out with paralyzing gas for such a contingency.

Back at the pub, Batman is still tied up as Ffogg rambles on wondering what's taking the boat robbery so long. 

Then all of a sudden he pulls out a doohickey that can remove memories.

 

...I don't know.

Batman: "I know nothing about your remarkable device, Lord Ffogg. But your grisly game is almost  up. Proof of your villainy is inscribed indelibly on my mind!"
Ffogg: "Which will shortly be erased."
He uses it, and rather than then take the opportunity to take off the cowl to see who he's facing, he...just lets Batman stagger out of the bar like a certain deceased Co-Hosss.
Vince: "Blade was a hobo?"

With Barbara's help and the Batmobile Bat-Tracking Device, Alfred knows where he is, and takes him back to the Londinium Batcave. "Fortunately, I packed the Recollection Cycle Bat Restorer for this little overseas trip."
One zap is apparently enough.

In Gordon's Office now O'Hara is there to receive Gordon's report on the meeting for Mayor Linseed. He most definitely flew, making him the smartest by far of the heroic contingent.

 

That sure says a lot.

Vince: "He knows where the bodies are buried."

Of course now O'Hara has to take a flight back home. I'm sure it won't be fully taxpayer-funded in the slightest.
O'Hara: "There's nothing like an Irish carrier pigeon."
Cue everyone laughing. Batman then calls to inform of the (somehow vanished) boat, along with Robin.

Speaking of, Batgirl wakes in the dungeon below the Place alongside Robin. Ffogg has a better idea for the young man.

In the Londinium Batcave, the Batcomputer acts up, so Batman has to slap the machinery a few times. The printed word "winch" leads him to Tower Bridge's winch room, so off he goes to save his ward stuck in a bridge mechanism. 

Surely this is a good place for a cliffhanger no?

What do you mean, no?

Batman: "Quickly, Alfred, the Anti-Mechanical Batray in the Bat-Glove Compartment! To save his life, we'll have to zero the Bat-ray in on the mechanical apparatus, and render them useless."

He unties him in time for another (boring) fight. Not even the stunt doubles can help despite their efforts. Ffogg escapes once more in smoke.

Narrator: "What's this? Batman and Robin fogbound in the winch room of Tower Bridge? And Batgirl  still paralyzed by paralyzing fog in the dungeon of Ffogg Place? By Jove, it's disturbing. By Jove, it's  exciting. By Jove, it's mystifying. By Jove, watch the next episode. By Jove."

 

...

 

Narrator: "Nothing has changed with the weather in the great metropolis of Londinium. It's still clear as glass." (:34)

Robin and Alfred inform Batman of the cricket pavillion and Batgirl's capture.
Batman: "You two seem to know a lot more about Batgirl than I do."
He asks Robin to drive the Batmobile while Alfred follows in the cab. "And don't forget to drive on the left, not the right."

Batgirl is still tied up down there as they drive back to the Place.  The villains state loudly their goal to steal the Crown Jewels before they throw some "lethal fog pellets" at her.

At the Place Robin sees Barbara's suitcase next to Batgirl's suitcase, but doesn't put two and two together, let alone try to rummage through them for a panty raid. Thus distracted, he trips the African death bee beehive trap wire, causing a "bee" to appear on his head.

Batman also sees the suitcases and is equally tempted, but he stops himself. He sends Alfred to inform the police as he goes to check on Robin.

Meanwhile Batgirl shows no sign of reacting to "lethal fog pellets". Ffogg aims to get more because they worked so well already.
Ffogg: "Digby, Scudder, and Basil can handle Batman."
Peasoup: "Well, they didn't before."
Ffogg: "Since that little incident, I've given them a severe talking to."

RD: "Officially, on the record, Lord Ffogg is the worst villain ever on this show."

Batman enters the dungeon, and since West had horrible peripheral vision wearing the cowl of course they didn't edit out his accidently bumping his head. Ffogg tries throwing more pellets anyway.

Meanwhile back at Gordon's Office, now Aunt Harriet is there, looking for Bruce and Dick. She was on a a pleasure cruise having some fun far away from this mess of a story. And thus is her last appearance on the series.

Back in the dungeon, Batman uses his Anti-Lethal-Fog Batspray against the smoke and a Bat-file on Batgirl's chains. The two give each other such the alluring look. Even her.

As for Robin, he's in the girl's dormitory resting after having taken his last African death bee antidote pill.
The women still continue to gawk at him. "Man, I'm ape about you, Robin," says one of them. "Oh, you're duping my mind. I'm launched."
Robin: "Were you ape and launched when you waylaid me on that dock, shanghaied me and brought me back here when you knew I was being tied to a winch in Tower Bridge?"
Woman: "Merely scholastic exercises, Boy Wonder."
Robin: "Holy homework. I'm getting out of here."

As Gordon finally calls the Place to ask about his daugther, and the villains decide to make a break for the Tower of Londinium, Batman and Batgirl have a large oak door barring their escape from the dungeon. And Batman left his Batarang in the Batmobile because it's just that kind of day.

Luckily there is some of her own Batrope for he to do "the old Indian rope trick". She stands under some grating, he says some Hindi words, and the rope stiffens.
Batman: "There's more to old Indian fakir tricks than one might suspect."
Batgirl: "And concentration magnified by the power of yoga?"
Batman: "Yes, yes, that's enough talking, Batgirl."
They meet Robin up top so he does the trick again.

So they make it to the Tower just as the villains do. The Duo even disguise themselves as Beefeaters just because. They also fight with axes. Batgirl handles the criminal girls. Ffogg goes for the smoke, which Batman stops with 

...

his Pipe of Fog Bat-reverser.

...

By which he means he reversed the film.

...

I give up.

Watson: "Well, this is a jolly little beanfest. Take His Lordship, Her Ladyship and these girlships to the tombs."
Prudence: "I thought if I could play all sides against each other, I would come out on top and be Her  Ladyship of Ffogg Place alone. But it didn't work."
Robin: "No, Lady Prudence, it didn't. ... But cheerio!"
Batgirl vanishes, so the Duo look at the prop Crown Jewels.
Robin: "Pip-pip, chin-chin and toodle-oo."

Finally we go to actual Gordon's Office, having taken the boat back. He takes the call from the President first before giving it to the Dark Knight.
Batman: "A weekend in Texas, sir?...With a barbecue, sir?...And bring the Batmobile, sir?...That's a greathonor, sir, but, uh, I wonder, could Robin and I take a rain check, sir...sometime around Easter?...Oh, of course, sir. I'm sorry, I completely forgot. Yes, that's convention time. But thank you for calling, sir. (To Gordon) I'm sure he has plenty of problems right now without trying to entertain average citizens such as Robin and I."

Bonnie then calls: a "very feline character" stole some of the police uniforms. The Duo run out to check, as Catwoman, now played by Eartha Kitt, escapes by...getting into an elevator.
Narrator: "How catastrophic are the days and nights to come as you will see in the next episode!"

Lady Prudnce was supposed to be "young" despite being played by 26 year old Lyn Peters (Vince gueses 30). While she had a few roles in the mid-60s (and was a model), she had far greater success creating and running Custom Catering (until her passing in 2013). RD gives her 6 Batpoles. Vince gives 5, "mediocre at best."

As for our supposed "star" villain...to quote Craig:

"Rudy Vallee was one of the worst people I ever worked with, which was disappointing. I had looked forward to working with him. He'd been in the business for a hundred years, and he came on the set; he was an absolute churl, he was the meanest, just awful. It was a three parter and we couldn't get rid of him. His cohort, Glynis Johns, on the other hand? She was a delight."

Everyone agrees: he truly was the worst.

For a palette cleanser, how about Batista absolutely demolishing a guy?

• Special Guest Villain: Lord Marmaduke Ffogg (Rudy Vallee) 
• Extra Special Guest Villainess: Lady Penelope Peasoup (Glynis Johns)

• SPEAKING OFs: 1. Creepy
• Brown Hornet Escapes: 1. Concentration magnified by the power of yoga.