Help us snag a JOHN ASTIN interview

02/09/21 • 1 min

To The Batpoles! Batman 1966

We need help procuring an interview with John Astin - we have some questions about his "substitution" as Riddler that we'd like to ask him! But he doesn't do interviews for free, and we're not exactly a major media outlet. Listen for details and, if you've got a few bucks for the cause, donate them here by THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021, at 7 a.m. Eastern Time.

Previous Episode

#152 Defining the Riddler w/Wally Wingert

The Riddler, a one-off villain in a Bill Finger/Dick Sprang comic book story in 1948, languished for nearly two decades until, in 1965, Gardner Fox and Sheldon Moldoff happened to bring him back... just as a certain TV producer, William Dozier, was researching the idea of making a Batman TV show. Riddler ended up in the premiere episode, played by Frank Gorshin, and Gorshin was nominated for an Emmy for the role. Thus was the Riddler cemented as one of Batman’s greatest foes.

So the ’66 show is responsible for The Riddler’s prominence, but didn’t it also determine some specifics of the character? How he acts? How he dresses? How he talks? The show’s influence over how the Riddler was played lasted decades. In this episode, we’re joined by a voice actor who met Gorshin and has played several versions of the Riddler himself, Wally Wingert, to discuss these aspects of the Riddler, and explore the approach of his alter-ego, Frank Gorshin.

Plus, your mail about our discussion in episode 149 of Alan Napier’s memoir!

Brian Cronin article on the Riddle - find the inaccuracies!

Frank Gorshin performs "The Riddler" on Dean Martin's show

Frank Gorshin on American Bandstand, 1975

Evolution of the Riddler in cartoons in 11 minutes

Burt Ward on Conan O'Brien

1966 Batman Golden Records comic book + LP boxed set (submitted by Chris Cavanaugh)

Bat-Van submitted by Martin Noreau

Help Tim move away from his cough-inducing apartment

Next Episode

#153 Greg Patterson tries on the Penguin's "quack"

Burgess Meredith put glee and humor into his portrayal of the Penguin. Who knew it could be just as fun to play Meredith playing the Penguin? Greg Patterson, and attorney by trade, has also acted in some one-man shows at Mount Vernon Chautauqua in Ohio, playing historical figures including Meredith. He talks to us this time about his Bat-fandom and his portrayals of Meredith and Pengy.

Also: your mail about episode 150 on the "Astrologer" script, and we look (only as briefly as is warranted) at a 1966 Peter Pan record, Children's Treasury of Batman Musical Stories, by the Merriettes.

SCRIPTS

Batman Meets his Match

The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra

Thread to discuss scripts