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PODCAST

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966

Like many who grew up in the "60s and "70s (and perhaps even "80s and later), Tim and Paul had the course of their lives changed by the 1966 Batman TV show, from the types of play they did growing up to their present-day interests. In this series, they discuss the show"s allure and its failures, the arc of the show from satire to sitcom, its influences (the "40s serials and the comic books themselves) and the things it, in turn, influenced. SUPPORT "To the Batpoles!" and DeconstructingComics.com via

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All Episodes

03:38

BAT BITS #22 NOW LIVE on Patreon: Advice to...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/10/30

Why Batman doesn't carry a gun, and focuses on reforming crooks. How to write Bruce Wayne (square, not stupid!) Keeping the camp incidental to the show; he only goes to the disco because that's where his crime investigation leads him. Our discussion of Lorenzo Semple's 14-page "Batnotes" memo continues! Listen to Bat Bits and see the memo we're discussing by subscribing to our Patreon for at least $2 a month! For $4 a month, you ALSO get our monthly discussion of silver age Batman comics as Paul or

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02:44

BAT BITS #21 NOW LIVE on Patreon: Advice to...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/10/16

Lorenzo Semple’s 14-page “Batnotes” memo to prospective Bat-writers lays out the basic things he wanted a writer to understand before attempting a Batman script. In our second episode digging into this memo, we discuss how the villian’s real goal often isn’t revealed until the end, some surprising revelations on how Semple imagined the GCPD and possible casualties among the henchmen, how murder isn’t an MO for Bat-Villains (except for their attempts to murder the Dynamic Duo), and more. Plus: how

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02:47

BAT BITS #20 NOW LIVE on Patreon: Advice to...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/10/02

We had heard before that it existed, and we’ve finally found it: Lorenzo Semple’s 14-page “Batnotes” memo to prospective Bat-writers about “a few simple rules and concepts” about what should or should not happen in a Batman script. Tim and Paul want to dig through this carefully, so in this episode they discuss the first few pages, with more to come. In this episode: Qualities of Gotham City, why the show shouldn’t move on to other settings, the mystery of our heroes’ other identities, and

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02:23

BAT BITS #19 NOW LIVE on Patreon: TV GUIDE's take on...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/09/18

In 1967, Yvonne Craig was added to the Batman cast as Batgirl, in an effort to boost the ratings. It wouldn’t fly today, but Batman’s producers and the media were pretty up-front, and a bit crude, about the effort to add sex appeal to keep the show afloat. This time on BAT BITS, we discuss a TV GUIDE article on Yvonne that serves as Exhibit A on that front, but also gives us some interesting glimpses of Yvonne’s personality. Listen to BAT BITS and see the article we’re discussing by subscribing to

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02:38

BAT BITS #18 NOW LIVE on Patreon: Semple sets the...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/09/04

Lorenzo Semple, Jr., is the writer entrusted by producer William Dozier with getting the writing side of Batman off the ground. This time, we take a look at a letter from Semple to Dozier, in which he discusses his plans for the script of “Zelda the Great”, a template for Bat-scripts, concerns about Adam West’s acting style, and more. Listen to Bat Bits and see the letter we’re discussing by subscribing to our Patreon for at least $2 a month! For $4 a month, you ALSO get our monthly discussion of

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02:22

BAT BITS #17 NOW LIVE on Patreon: "Fine Finny Fiends"...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/08/21

On the latest BAT BITS, we conclude our examination of Sheldon Stark’s final script for Fine Finny Fiends, including a scene setting relocated for lack of the right set, what Finella was supposed to be wearing in the final scene, the shifting explanations of who knows where the banquet will be held, and changes in the script to give the audience just enough information… Listen to BAT BITS and see the script we’re discussing by subscribing to our Patreon for at least $2 a month! For $4 a month, you

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01:55

BAT BITS #16 NOW LIVE on Patreon: "Fine Finny Fiends"...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/08/07

On the latest Bat Bits, we begin an examination of Sheldon Stark's final script for Fine Finny Fiends. Somewhat inexplicably, this arc’s theme is fish rather than birds. Maybe because penguins eat fish? Tim and Paul find some additional fish references that got cut, and some of them with good reason. Or maybe not? Also we find some gags that were added after this script, some puzzling stage directions, things that were changed to work better on television, and more. Listen to Bat Bits and follow

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01:51

BAT BITS #15 now LIVE on Patreon: Letters from Bruce Lee

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/07/24

On the latest Bat Bits, we wander out into the wider Dozierverse to look at the correspondence between William Dozier, producer of Batman and The Green Hornet, and Bruce Lee, whom Dozier tried several times to find a vehicle for before landing on the role of Kato. We get some of Bruce’s feelings about his 1965 screen test, get some of Bruce’s comments about how “Gong Fu” should be portrayed on the show, and more. Listen to Bat Bits and see the Dozier and Lee letters by subscribing to our Patreon

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01:51

BAT BITS #14 NOW LIVE on Patreon: Bookworm final...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/07/10

While Rik Vollaerts’ early draft of The Bookworm Turns was very different from what was broadcast, surely the final script is exactly what we saw? But no, that’s never true; some changes always occur at the hands of the director, and perhaps the actors. A significant scene (and significant henchman) disappeared from this story as broadcast. Was it simply cut for time, or were there questions of taste? In the latest BAT BITS, Tim and Paul discuss the differences and what may account for them. Listen

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02:00

BAT BITS #13 NOW LIVE on Patreon: Bookworm script pt...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/06/26

A lingering question from the Bookworm arc of Batman, as broadcast, is: Why was a Commissioner Gordon impersonator seemingly shot at the opening of the bridge? As we conclude our look at the draft version of the script, we finally get an answer! Listen to Bat Bits and follow along with a PDF of the script by subscribing to our Patreon for at least $2 a month! For $4 a month, you ALSO get our monthly discussion of silver age Batman comics as Paul or another in our stable of co-hosts joins me to

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02:29

BAT BITS #12 NOW LIVE on PATREON: Bookworm Script pt...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/06/12

On the latest episode of Bat Bits, Paul and I move into the second half of the early draft of Rik Vollaerts’ script “The Bookworm Turns”! We can see the vague outlines of this script in the broadcast version, including the use of the Bat Magnet! But does it make sense for Bookworm to steal “industrial diamonds”? And, if an implement is called a Bat Cutting Torch, wouldn’t it be better for us to actually see it cutting? We also notice how this version of the script keeps repeating the same themes

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01:55

BAT BITS #11 NOW LIVE on Patreon: Bookworm script...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/05/29

Now live on Patreon - part two of our look at the draft Bookworm script, featuring an overlong, over-complicated deathtrap scene! Join us on Patreon to hear our discussion and follow along with the script!

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02:05

BAT BITS #10 NOW LIVE on Patreon: The EARLY Bookworm...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/05/16

On the latest Bat Bits, we begin a multi-part look at an early draft of The Bookworm Turns! It contains some concepts seen in the broadcast version that may ring a bell, but there’s no Big Benjamin bell in this script! Join us on Patreon to hear about Rik Vollearts’ early shot at Bookworm and follow along with a PDF of the script at patreon dot com slash decon comics. Part one is available now!

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01:31

BAT BITS #09 NOW LIVE on Patreon: Begorra! Mercy...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/05/06

At last, we're back! This time we talk about a couple fantastic YouTube comments we received from people with close connections to two Bat-regulars, Stafford Repp and Madge Blake! Join us on Patreon for $2 a month to hear their revelations!

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01:16:22

#221 "The Joker Trumps an Ace" scripts: How Joker got...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2025/02/12

We’re back for a look at the first two draft scripts for The Joker Trumps an Ace/Batman Sets the Pace. As usual, scripts bring to light connections that the filmed episode didn’t quite make, lines we never heard clearly, abandoned bat-turns and wardrobe business, an absent moll, and much more. PLUS: we experience one of the better “surf rock” versions of the theme, read mail from listeners, and hear Adam West in 2014 discussing the newly-released Batman DVDs and BluRays! Read the scripts here

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02:34

BAT BITS #08 now LIVE on Patreon: What does BATMAN...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2024/12/23

For our final BAT BITS of the year, we return, after a two-year hiatus, to the BATMAN ’66 comics series, digging into issue 12. It’s certainly not the greatest issue of the series, but in its faults, it helps us identify aspects of how the TV show works. Listen for a clip from the show!

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01:44:07

#220 “The New Adventures of Batman” (1977): The one...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2024/12/05

The New Adventures of Batman, Filmation’s second Batman cartoon series, premiered February 12, 1977 on CBS. Tim and Paul, then 11 and 8 respectively, were thrilled at the idea of Adam West and Burt Ward voicing the Duo, but not so thrilled at the addition of Bat Mite to the cast. But… were we wrong about Bat Mite? This time we discuss this question, and the whole 16-episode series, with BAT 77 host J.B. Anderton! Plus, Burt Ward as Robin in 1976, the Japanese theme for this cartoon, and we read

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0:45

BAT BITS #07 now LIVE on Patreon: How to make a...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2024/11/17

Holy continuation! In the latest edition of Bat Bits, we attempt to come up with some guidelines for what makes a good “holy”. Also: Just because a holy was used on Batman 66, does that make it a “good” one? Join us on Patron for at least $2 a month to hear Bat Bits, as well as ad-free versions of future TO THE BATPOLES episodes! Go to Patreon dot com slash decon comics! Also in this promo, an announcement concerning TO THE BATPOLES!

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0:57

BAT BITS #06 now LIVE on Patreon: How to make a...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2024/11/10

Holy exclamation! On Batman 66, Robin used a lot of Holys. We have a sense of what formulations of holys work best, but can we put those formulations into words? Why do some holys from other sources, such as the 1966 album Jan and Dean meet Batman make us say “holy wrong note”? In this first installment of a two-part edition of “Bat Bits”, we analyze some of the holys from that record. Which ones work, and which don’t? Holy idiomatic expression! Support us on Patreon now!

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0:44

BAT BITS #05 now LIVE on Patreon! "The 'Batman' Movie...

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966 ·

2024/10/17

JOIN US ON PATREON to hear BAT BITS, morsels we find as we research the show for our book! Why was the world premiere of Batman, the Movie held in Austin, Texas? And just what went on at (and around) this July 30, 1966, event? This time, a deep dive on the movie premiere!

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