Recently, as I’m apt to do, I was mindlessly flipping through the TV channels and I stopped on IFC (Independent Film Channel). Did my eyes deceive me or was IFC now showing one of the greatest TV series of all time?
Batman.
Yes, it is true IFC is broadcasting the seminal series “Batman” which first aired on ABC from 1966 to 1968 (thanks Internet). The series aired in re-runs when I was a kid in the 70’s and it’s right up there with “The Brady Bunch” and “The Andy Griffith Show” as the best shows on TV after school.
Batman was not alone, he lived with his young ward Robin – an arrangement that is totally cool for the 21st century. The two of them faced wicked, criminal geniuses each and every week. Despite battling these evil-doers they were able to work well within the constitutional rights and would never bend a role to apprehend the bad guy (or bad girl- which was hip for its time).
The Dynamic Duo teamed up to keep Gotham City safe and to remind kids to brush their teeth and never lie. Batman could quote Shakespeare one minute, and give a BLAM, WHAM to the face of a dastardly criminal’s goon. He was smart, compassionate, virtuous and was a good man as Bruce Wayne.
Since the original series, Batman has been portrayed as a depressed loner who fights crime to avenge his parents’ death at the hands of a criminal. He’s SO serious – all dark with a gravelly voice and driven by demons to do what he has too. I loved the Batman movie with Michael Keaton (big Keaton fan myself) and I really enjoyed the recent Batman movies with Christian Bale as they Caped Crusader.
But, c’mon fellows, lighten up a bit. Can’t we have a Batman who is a little ironic, a little hokey and most of all a little funny. New Batman, would it kill to make a joke or two, poke fun at yourself? I’m not a purist of Graphic Novels or Comic Books (hopefully, that’s not a derogatory term to the comic con crowd) but can’t we let Batman enjoy life a little? Get him on an anti-depressant, let him spend some time with Cat Woman (if that’s his thing – refer to 4th paragraph).
If the new movie “Guardians of the Galaxy” has taught us anything (full disclosure: I haven’t seen “Guardians of the Galaxy”) it’s that we like a little humor from our heroes. I prefer Iron Man nowadays cause he’s rather smarmy. Let’s see more of that. Let’s see Batman stop mopping and battling his demons – let’s see Batman get back to his TV roots and give all America someone and something to be proud.
If you don’t have IFC – run, don’t walk- to your cable company to get it.
Until next time, tune in again – same Bat-Blog address, same Bat-Blog author.
http://www.ifc.com/shows/batman
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