"Nora Clavicle and the Ladies' Crime Club" spoofs militant feminism and those women who pretend to champion same while seeking to enrich themselves, not that a male screenwriter could manage to do so in entertaining fashion. Byron Keith's ninth appearance as Mayor Linseed (first since "Batman's Anniversary") finds him dismissing Commissioner Gordon after 25 years of dedicated service and appointing as new commissioner Nora Clavicle (Barbara Rush), the name spoofing on the infamous Gloria Steinem, with Linseed's wife Millie (Jean Byron) replacing Chief O'Hara, in turn firing all men from the police force and hiring women to take their place. What results is a laughable excuse for feminism on display, policewomen more interested in applying makeup or discussing recipes to foil a bank robbery, to the consternation of harried bank manager Larry Gelman (THE ODD COUPLE, THE BOB NEWHART SHOW). The ultimate goal of Nora Clavicle is to destroy Gotham City using mechanical mice carrying tiny explosives set to go off after sunset throughout the city, then collect $10 million on a guaranteed insurance policy! Batman, Robin, and Batgirl get tied up in a Siamese human knot that looks kinky, if decidedly uncomfortable, and after being freed by wiggling two ears and one finger (insert inappropriate comments here!), the Caped Crusader hits upon a set of musical notes at the right frequency to lure the entire population of radar-like rodents to the dockside for a final splashdown, all three in effect becoming Pied Pipers to avert disaster. Even taken as satire it remains a chore to watch, virtually every policewoman frightened into a faint at the mere sight of one mouse, the men just as helpless in their clichéd way. Statuesque June Wilkinson is a pleasant sight, not to mention attractive twins Alyce and Rhae Andrece from STAR TREK's "I, Mudd," plus the early appearance from Elizabeth Baur, three years before her starring role opposite Raymond Burr in IRONSIDE. Its just inclusion as worst ever episode is a simple one, reminding me of a line uttered by Pam Dawber on assignment on MORK AND MINDY: "Feminism, myth or Mrs!"
