User Reviews

"Pop Goes the Joker" satirizes the 60s fad for pop art, which was funny in a way because the series itself was already a statement, making a colorful splash on its debut some 14 months earlier, inspiring greater sales in color TV sets. Cesar Romero's Joker makes his final two parter this second season, his latest caper seemingly over before it starts, invading the gallery of Bernie Park (Reginald Gardiner) just to cause a disturbance by spray painting the works of art on display. After Batman makes quick work of the grinning gargoyle, Park immediately tries to appease the artist Oliver Muzzy (Fritz Feld, later seen in "The Joker's Flying Saucer"), only for Muzzy to show his gratitude to Joker for improving his work! This unlikely turn of events leads Joker to enter a contest sponsored by wealthy socialite Baby Jane Towser (Diana Ivarson), opposite such challengers as the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gauche, Spanish Pablo Pincus (Duke Fishman), American Jackson Potluck (Mike Morelli), and Italian Leonardo Da Vinski (Chester Hayes), who simply stands back and lets his monkey do all the work. Three minutes isn't enough to create a masterpiece, but in producing nothing but a blank canvas, titled 'Death of a Mauve Bat,' The Joker wins more than a contest, starting a school of art for wealthy patrons only, with the backing of Baby Jane Towser (Da Vinski's monkey shows his extreme displeasure at losing!). Naturally, Bruce Wayne insists on joining Joker's classes, but his veiled insults almost have his tutor ready to pull out his green hair. The charade ends abruptly, with Joker holding his entire class hostage for a pretty penny, even Baby Jane, and when Robin alone shows up to do battle, he naturally assumes that Batman is too cowardly to face him. With Bruce Wayne a captive audience, Robin is tied up into Joker's new Mobile, filled with giant, razor sharp palette knives, rotating in circular motions to make mincemeat out of the Boy Wonder!

It is difficult to judge the quality of a show that is basically a parody of itself. The "Batman" series uses the comic book format to spoof comics and, with tongue in cheek, to comment on society. In this episode, the show spoofs modern artistic commentary. Gotham City holds an art contest between five supposedly renowned artists from around the world. Their names are take-offs on famous artists, e.g. Vincent van Gauche. Each has three minutes to create a painting that will be judged. During the competition, each slathers or slops paint upon a canvas (for example, Jackson Potluck rolls in paint then rolls on a canvas), except for The Joker. In an homage to "The Emperor's New Clothes", he never puts brush to canvas. It is the ultimate in minimalism, so of course he wins the contest.

When this series first played back in the sixties, much of the social commentary flew above the heads of young viewers, though some of its meaning probably seeped in.

The plot is silly, as usual, with illogical happenstances galore--and part of the fun.

The Joker and Bruce Wayne get into "pop art".

I have never been into paintings and I was a child of the 1970s instead of the 1960s, so many of the jokes in this two-parter went a bit over my head. To me atleast, some of the humour in this adventure seemed a bit too simple minded, such as the bit where the Joker "corrects" Bruce on his artistic skills. The wit of the Batman series is usually more clever than this. But again, this might just be me being out of my element. There is a lot to enjoy in this two-parter.

The parts where Robin and Bruce Wayne (not Batman) team up are well done and part two is actually better than part one.

I mainly know Fritz Feld from his three Lost In Space appearances, as "Mr Zumdish", and he seems to be playing almost the same character here.

And finally, the smash hit Batman movie of 1989 almost seems to be paying tribute to this episode as Jack Nicholson (The Joker) shares the same terrible sense of art as Romero does here.

This might not be my favourite Joker adventure, but this 1966 Batman series is just not capable of doing a bad episode...so enjoy!

The wacky pop art craze of the 60s is spoofed here, and I agree with the last reviewer that it all went over our heads back in the day! But, seriously, how many of us kids were taking notes? You just have to sit back and marvel at the evil egocentric Joker (Caesar Romero at his best) becoming an overnight artistic sensation. He messes up the gallery of Bernie Park (Reginald Gardiner), only to be hailed as a genius by one of its showcased artists (Fritz Feld). Gardiner, who was also appearing on Phyllis Diller's tv show (as Uncle Ned) at the time, is best remembered for playing flakey butlers and the like. Feld, likewise, a hoot in similar roles. The Joker, in turn, opens his own budding artist school --for people (with no talent), but with lots of money! Blonde Diana Ivarson plays one of the millionaires in cahoots with the Joker. Ivarson, according to some notes, may have been from the 20th Century Fox acting school that put students in tv parts, but whose career did not last too long. Look for veteran Jody Gilbert (as filthy rich Mrs. Putney), one of the Joker's goofy students. Keep an eye out for the painter Leonardo Da Vinsky? This was directed by George Waggner, best remembered for the iconic WOLFMAN starring Lon Chaney, and other B thrillers. He later went to tv and worked for Warner Brothers, directing such shows as 77 SUN SET STRIP. Another campy one you have to see, and the colors here are cool! This one goes by FAST! SEASON 2 dvd box set.