User Reviews

This was the first episode of 1968 and the final appearance of Eartha Kitt as the Catwoman. Whether you liked her or not, Kitt made a sexy, slinking villain. She may have played the role more dark, more sinister than Julie Newmar ( that seems to be the complaint among critics) but let's face it, the producers would not have cast her if she didn't have the talent either. Here, the Joker and Catwoman trip themselves up big time, being followed by Batman and Robin as they try to retrieve the secret explosives stash. The neat twist, though, has the villainous duo put on trial in an outrageous courtroom scene. Gag guest star, former white house press secretary and senator Pierre Salinger plays "Lucky Pierre" --- who never lost a case--- now representing Catwoman? Salinger actually used the nickname years before when he was a racetrack reporter, later a reporter for ABC News, which may explain how he got the tv role. Veteran Rusty Lane plays the stern judge, a staple in many tv westerns and, in fact, played a judge in the iconic film I WANT TO LIFE. The over the top courtroom fight scene is not to be missed, a BATMAN classic. Comedy writer and actor Louis Quinn plays the eccentric lighthouse keeper, Mr. Keeper, naturally. Quinn was a regular on 77 SUNSET STRIP as Roscoe, the racetrack tipper, if you remember. His real life wife (actress Christine Nelson) plays Mrs. Keeper. Surprise! The next episode's nasty bad guy is revealed at the end, none other than cigar chomping Milton Berle as Louie, the Lilac. It's sad to note that Kitt was dropped from the show due to her outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War, and other issues, culminating during a "friendly" gathering at the White House, upsetting first lady Ladybird Johnson. That much publicized event cost her work in Hollywood and forced her to sing and act in Europe for many years. Another campy episode nonetheless, and don't you love the colors? SEASON 3 dvd box set, now restored with even brighter colors.

"The Joke's on Catwoman" is an improvement on the previous segment, Cesar Romero's Joker still saddled with Eartha Kitt's abominable Catwoman, both apprehended at the Phony Island Lighthouse of Mr. and Mrs. Keeper, played by real life husband and wife Louie Quinn and Christine Nelson, their banter one of the few highlights. The climax takes place in a courtroom, a novelty setting for BATMAN, with the surprise casting of former White House press secretary Pierre Salinger as Lucky Pierre, expert defense attorney, who has never lost a case. A surprising verdict is quickly undone, as the Dynamic Duo recognize the supposed jurors as lawless confederates of the accused, the usual catfight ensuing, the final assurance that we've seen the last of this unfortunate bogus Catwoman, easily held at bay by none other than the inept Chief O'Hara after a few seconds of clawing at Batgirl, who for once gets more to do and is at her sexiest yet, actually flirting with Batman since this Catwoman couldn't. Cesar Romero would be back once more in "The Joker's Flying Saucer," the best of his final season efforts, while Eartha Kitt would never be missed.

Once they have deciphered the clues to the stolen items, Catwoman and the Joker head to a lighthouse where the gunpowder shipment is hidden, but are caught by the Dynamic Duo. They all go to trial but Catwoman hires an unscrupulous criminal lawyer to bribe the jury. Although the production of this season was very poor, that of this particular episode is very poor, the scenery of the road that leads to the lighthouse and the lighthouse itself are almost non-existent, this added to the fact that the argument is very silly make this chapter in a very mediocre show.