Adam West is probably the most important adaptation of the character to date; it introduced The Dark Knight to a wider demographic and broader audience than his prior theatrical serials could muster. Basically, this TV show established Batman as a household name that would stay in pop-culture from then on, and would thus maturely evolve from this classic campy series.Batman is comic book fun done right: and even if it's not entirely accurate to its original source material in tone it doesn't need to be. Even the credentials for this show are interesting: Academy Award winner George Sanders played Mr Freeze, Bill Finger wrote the script for two of the show's episodes (the only Batman adaptation he was directly involved with) and the CLASSIC theme song that has become eponymous with Batman himself.This show is an adaptation with some serious balls in changing pretty much everything established about the character in the first place. But that's also part of the fun you have while watching this show.

The Caped Crusader battles evildoers in Gotham City in a bombastic 1960s parody of the comic book hero's exploits. I always thought that George Clooney as Batman was a bad choice well Adam West is even worse he isn't playing Batman he just plays an annoying cosplay of The Dark Knight and let's not talk about Robin which says the same thing like every 5 minutes or less. This show also ruined The Joker and every other villain long before Schumacher if you want to turn off your brain and sit in front of a screen and watch this be my guest but if not go watch Batman: The Animated Series or Batman Beyond or even better The Justice League: Unlimited. Batman the 1966 - 1968 TV Show gets a 6 out of 10.

You know what? If I didn't know better, I'd honestly swear that this decidedly over-the-top, 1960s, live-action, superhero spoof had been directed by the likes of schlock film-maker, Ed Wood.What I mean by that is (put plain & simple) TV's "Batman" was so bad that (Surprise! Surprise!) it was actually pretty-damn good! Clearly aimed at a very adolescent viewing audience - I'm glad to say that this did not, in any way, destroy Batman's overall appeal and charm to a critical adult viewer, like myself.One of this vintage TV show's greatest assets was that it actually dared to poke plenty of goofy, off-the-wall fun at all the annoying dead-seriousness that surrounds the likes of comic book superheroes. And if you ask me - It was certainly about time that someone finally got around to throwing a pie in the face of Batman. (I just wish this would happen more often) Starring Adam West and Burt Ward as the fearless dynamic duo, Batman & Robin - Believe me, this TV series was a real hoot. Watching these 2 caped crusaders bravely protect Gotham City from such diabolical super-villains as Penguin, Riddler and Joker was truly priceless crime-fighting fun."POW!"... "BAM!"... "ZONK!"

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday MorningWhat with this being the year of the release of The Dark Knight Rises, Christopher Nolan's final instalment of his Batman saga, it's interesting after all his dark, moody exposition on the tale (which, admittedly, suits it better) to travel way back in time with this first live action spin on the comics that you can catch every day on ITV4 in the afternoon. Given the cynical, sniping nature of people today, this poor show will be ripped to shreds in the manner of a pack of wolves pouncing on their prey, but that's not to say it still can't be seen as great fun, unintentionally (probably) hilarious in every way.It's curious, given how seriously everyone involved seems to take it, how silly and laughable it all comes off. Maybe in it's day it sounded more natural, coming from a more innocent time before swearing and violence became more commonplace, but it's hard to imagine even then it coming off without any derision. Adam West plays the part like it's Shakespeare, looking so ridiculous racing around in his silly Batman costume which looks like it came from a fancy dress shop, ditto Robin, Burt Ward's high pitched voice grating on the nerves, and seemingly saying 'Holy' everything. Add to that a 'Bat' this and 'Bat' that and the inevitably corny looking special effects and you've got the recipe for a hoot. And why, if Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson are trying to keep the Dynamic Duo's identity secret, does nobody twig that their voices sound exactly the same?Just like in The Dark Knight and Tim Burton's Batman, the Joker's what it's all about, and just like Heath Ledger and Jack Nicholson's respective takes on the villain made those films what they were, so Cesar Romero's campish maniac brightens this colourful show's style. I would quite gladly have done away with all the other villains who weren't fit to lick his boots, quite a few to get through considering all the other minor, truly pitiful villains, as well as other main players The Penguin and The Riddler. Given how Nolan has tried to give the series a more sophisticated, polished, mature feel in recent times, although the effect may not be the same, it's interesting to look back at when people didn't take things so seriously and the series had a, probably, unintentionally campy, funny edge it possesses tenfold by today's standards. ****