"That Darn Catwoman" was intended to be the finale for Julie Newmar's Catwoman, but was moved up in the broadcast schedule due to the presence of Lesley Gore, seen here singing her current (and last) Top 20 hit, "California Nights," one of the earliest successes for composer Marvin Hamlisch. Lesley is cast as the sexy Pussycat, over the hill rock and roll singer (at age 20!) turned Catwoman protégé, testing out the drug cataphrenic on Robin, which works to transform him into the opposite of what he was, now a lascivious criminal who gives Chief O'Hara (Stafford Repp) a shove he'd never forget. Catwoman embarks on a series of robberies to acquire a million dollar fortune for a specific purpose, even emptying the stuffed mattress of inventor Pat Pending (J. Pat O'Malley), whose valet (an unbilled Steve Franken) is named Rudy (as in Rudy Vallee!). The weighing ceremony for Prince Ibn Kereb of Gedallia (David Renard) is where Batman catches up with the gang, but is unable to fight back when it's the drugged Robin throwing punches. A gigantic mouse trap fit for a bat serves as the death trap, with Robin the one cutting the rope to become Batman's murderer! Writer Stanley Ralph Ross outdid himself with this one, extending to the name Ibn Kereb, which is the Arabic phrase for 'son of a b--ch' (the network having rejected the first name he came up with).
6 Reviews
IMO, the best episode of Season 2
tforbes-23 April 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not a huge fan of Stanley Ralph Ross; he tended to camp things up a bit. That said, however, he did the first Catwoman episode back in March 1966, and he has written what has to be the best episode of Season 2.
Basically, Catwoman has a sidekick, Pussycat, who manages to drug Robin and have him join her gang. The episode is about Batman's efforts to rescue Robin.
What makes this episode work so well is the overall pace of the story, and it plays more like a Season 1 episode. The cast also helps, especially pop star Lesley Gore as Pussycat. Eerily, Catwoman tells Pussycat that she was a washed-up 20-year-old singer; her "California Nights" that she sings in this episode was her last major Top 40 hit, released around the time of this episode. Ms. Gore, incidentally, was a nice of producer Howie Horowitz, which likely explains her casting.
Julie Newmar is in fine form here as Catwoman, and so is the rest of the cast. Overall, one of the best episodes of the series, and likely the very best of Season 2!
UPDATE, January 2017: The mention I made earlier about "California Nights" being Lesley Gore's last Top 40 hit is only too painfully true as we lost her nearly two years ago. RIP Lesley Gore.
And it remains the best of Season 2!
Basically, Catwoman has a sidekick, Pussycat, who manages to drug Robin and have him join her gang. The episode is about Batman's efforts to rescue Robin.
What makes this episode work so well is the overall pace of the story, and it plays more like a Season 1 episode. The cast also helps, especially pop star Lesley Gore as Pussycat. Eerily, Catwoman tells Pussycat that she was a washed-up 20-year-old singer; her "California Nights" that she sings in this episode was her last major Top 40 hit, released around the time of this episode. Ms. Gore, incidentally, was a nice of producer Howie Horowitz, which likely explains her casting.
Julie Newmar is in fine form here as Catwoman, and so is the rest of the cast. Overall, one of the best episodes of the series, and likely the very best of Season 2!
UPDATE, January 2017: The mention I made earlier about "California Nights" being Lesley Gore's last Top 40 hit is only too painfully true as we lost her nearly two years ago. RIP Lesley Gore.
And it remains the best of Season 2!
Lesley Gore Brings Substance, Delight to Pussycat Role
tr-8349525 April 2019
Radio was still going "Bat" crazy until this season of Batman and rock jocks told their audiences about some of the heavies guesting on the camp show.
My biggest recollection is a local DJ announcing Lesley Gore in 1967 as her new song "California Nights" ramped up the charts on its inevitable way to #5. This was Marvin Hamlisch's second success with Gore deciding to record a song of his. The first was the (almost) top ten "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows". This was also Gore's ninth top twenty hit since mid-1963, so she was the most well known young female singer in the United States.
The two Gore episodes sent Batman ratings higher and are still favorite playback episodes for the series. Gore and Burt Ward were a "small" couple and their evil side -- induced by cataphrenic -- worked well.
Julie Newmar was the tall and sexy companion to Adam West, as befitted the series. She was the quintessential Catwoman and deserved her own sidekick -- the Pink Pussycat.
My biggest recollection is a local DJ announcing Lesley Gore in 1967 as her new song "California Nights" ramped up the charts on its inevitable way to #5. This was Marvin Hamlisch's second success with Gore deciding to record a song of his. The first was the (almost) top ten "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows". This was also Gore's ninth top twenty hit since mid-1963, so she was the most well known young female singer in the United States.
The two Gore episodes sent Batman ratings higher and are still favorite playback episodes for the series. Gore and Burt Ward were a "small" couple and their evil side -- induced by cataphrenic -- worked well.
Julie Newmar was the tall and sexy companion to Adam West, as befitted the series. She was the quintessential Catwoman and deserved her own sidekick -- the Pink Pussycat.
Outstanding Two-Parter
StuOz3 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Catwoman (Julie Newmar) turns Robin (Burt Ward) into a criminal.
One of the best season two adventures as it is just loaded with amusing acting and lines from Newmar, Ward and Adam West. Part two has an hysterical moment when Gordon attempts to track down the true identity of Batman.
Ward is so pleasing as Bad Robin that you have to wonder why he did not go criminal more often in the series?? Maybe this was enough?
There is a moment when Catwoman's female assistant starts singing, much to the delight of the henchmen, and this is yet another outstanding moment in a true classic two-parter!
One of the best season two adventures as it is just loaded with amusing acting and lines from Newmar, Ward and Adam West. Part two has an hysterical moment when Gordon attempts to track down the true identity of Batman.
Ward is so pleasing as Bad Robin that you have to wonder why he did not go criminal more often in the series?? Maybe this was enough?
There is a moment when Catwoman's female assistant starts singing, much to the delight of the henchmen, and this is yet another outstanding moment in a true classic two-parter!
CATWOMAN WITH LESLEY GORE. FABTASTIC!
tcchelsey16 March 2024
Being an old DJ, this episode hits home, and it's REALLY good. In a clever move, the producers of Lesley Gore's record label, Mercury Records, got together with ABC to promote her latest song, "California Nights," also allowing Lesley to make her acting debut. Good trivia question for music buffs.
She is MOST excellent, playing Pussycat, in league with Catwoman --and what a team they make. Yes! I agree with the last reviewer, It's a shame Lesley did not become a semi-regular villainess on the show.
This episode is wild, and one of the most imaginative written by Stanley Ralph Ross, who wrote a total of 27 stories for the series.
Catwoman is at her diabolical best, testing out a new drug on Robin -- which turns him into a criminal. And Robin makes a solid bad guy. But best of the rest finds Catwoman making an outrageous offer to Batman; either get killed by Robin or use the drug and become her slave? Does not get any better than this.
Beware of the GIANT mouse trap. The production crew had some creative fun with this episode. Also makes you wonder what ever became of all these gag inventions? Look for popular character actor J. Pat O'Malley, a fixture on so many sitcoms.
The episode was a ratings hit, but Lesley's song "California Nights" did not reach the Top 10, peaking at #16 on the charts in February 1967, still a super song and one of her most requested to this day.
Lesley Gore's previous hit was "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" in the film, SKI PARTY two years earlier, so its understandable why Mercury Records got her on this show.
Classic all the way, and for Lesley Gore who was only 20 at the time! SEASON 2 EPISODE 40 remastered color.
She is MOST excellent, playing Pussycat, in league with Catwoman --and what a team they make. Yes! I agree with the last reviewer, It's a shame Lesley did not become a semi-regular villainess on the show.
This episode is wild, and one of the most imaginative written by Stanley Ralph Ross, who wrote a total of 27 stories for the series.
Catwoman is at her diabolical best, testing out a new drug on Robin -- which turns him into a criminal. And Robin makes a solid bad guy. But best of the rest finds Catwoman making an outrageous offer to Batman; either get killed by Robin or use the drug and become her slave? Does not get any better than this.
Beware of the GIANT mouse trap. The production crew had some creative fun with this episode. Also makes you wonder what ever became of all these gag inventions? Look for popular character actor J. Pat O'Malley, a fixture on so many sitcoms.
The episode was a ratings hit, but Lesley's song "California Nights" did not reach the Top 10, peaking at #16 on the charts in February 1967, still a super song and one of her most requested to this day.
Lesley Gore's previous hit was "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" in the film, SKI PARTY two years earlier, so its understandable why Mercury Records got her on this show.
Classic all the way, and for Lesley Gore who was only 20 at the time! SEASON 2 EPISODE 40 remastered color.
Purrrfect episode marred by insegrevious music
aramis-112-80488028 October 2022
In an attempt to be current, I suppose, "Batman" invited 1960s musicians to Gotham City. Paul Revere and the Raiders. Chad and Jeremy. In this episode it's "It's My Party" Lesley Gore.
Catwoman looks great as always when Julie Newmar plays her. When it comes to Catwoman, accept no substitutes. For boys growing up on the 1960s, she joined Mary Ann and Jeannie (and in my case Wrangler Jane) as an object of adoration. We all knew John Astin, talented as he was and as much as we loved Gomez Addams, was not really the Riddler but a mustachioed impostor. The same with neo-Catwomen.
Guest stars include J. Pat O'Malley and Steve Franken, the latter apparently channeling the great Stan Laurel.
But I didn't care for 1960s music when i was growing up in the middle of it so Gore's rotten song slows this episode to a glacial advance. Too bad. Like Catwoman, I didn't listen. Thank goodness for fast-forward. What a waste of time with Catwoman in the wings.
Catwoman looks great as always when Julie Newmar plays her. When it comes to Catwoman, accept no substitutes. For boys growing up on the 1960s, she joined Mary Ann and Jeannie (and in my case Wrangler Jane) as an object of adoration. We all knew John Astin, talented as he was and as much as we loved Gomez Addams, was not really the Riddler but a mustachioed impostor. The same with neo-Catwomen.
Guest stars include J. Pat O'Malley and Steve Franken, the latter apparently channeling the great Stan Laurel.
But I didn't care for 1960s music when i was growing up in the middle of it so Gore's rotten song slows this episode to a glacial advance. Too bad. Like Catwoman, I didn't listen. Thank goodness for fast-forward. What a waste of time with Catwoman in the wings.
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