In 1965, ABC was in trouble. Ratings were poor and they needed something to spice up their line up. What could be more foolproof than a superhero show? Batman was decided on as the way to go and William Dozier was brought in to oversee the project. Work went on at a hectic pace. Then at the screening for the show to test audience reaction, results were less than stellar. Despite the bad news, ABC went on a marketing bonanza to promote the first episode. Would it work??? Would Batman make it in the very competitive world of prime time television???



Most of us know that the answer to that question is yes. The first episode of Batman premiered on January 12, 1966 to an outstanding turnout. This would start a Batman craze that would sweep the nation, cementing itself in popular culture forever. The first season had it all---outlandish sets, vivid colors (viewers had been used to black and white), great scripts along with comedy and action. This made it a hit with both children and their parents. To cap of all of its success, a Batman motion picture was released towards the end of that year. With all of the momentum how could this show falter?



Sadly, the peak of anything can be determined only by the decline thereafter. The show would fall into a rut in the second season. Although guest stars were brought in to spice it up, ratings were starting to slump. What had been innovative and fresh in the first season was becoming mundane. The third season would mark several changes, as the show was cut to thirty minutes, and Batgirl was brought in. That wasn't enought to save it, as budget cutbacks and lackluster scripts turned viewers off. The show would stop at 120 episodes, basically due to the fact that it cost too much to make and a profit wouldn't be realized until the show was put into syndication. NBC did show and interest in picking up the show, but this could not be done because the Batcave set had already been destroyed. The show went in to syndication immediately where it has stayed for the last 20+ years, winning new fans, young and old alike.