60 Years Ago, DC Launched a TV Show With an Awful Audience Test (But It Became a Success)

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Batman is DC Comics and Warner Bros. Discovery’s most profitable character, consistently earning billions of dollars from movies, video games, and comics. This success continues with new projects in development: a sequel to The Batman directed by Matt Reeves, and a separate The Brave and the Bold movie as part of the new DC Universe led by James Gunn and Peter Safran. The character’s popularity is also boosted by the Absolute Batman comic series, which is updating the classic stories for today’s readers. Interestingly, despite being a massive cultural icon now, the original Batman TV show from 1966 struggled to gain acceptance during its early stages.

As a huge fan of classic TV, I was shocked to learn how close the 1966 Batman series came to never making it! Apparently, early test screenings were a disaster. ABC got some of the worst audience scores they’d ever seen, and a lot of executives thought the show would be a total flop. People just didn’t get the humor – it was too campy and colorful, and they didn’t realize it was meant to be a satire, thanks to producer William Dozier’s vision. But, because so much money had already been spent making it, the network was stuck with it, even though they feared it would be embarrassing!

Facing a lack of other options, ABC aired the first episode of Batman on January 12, 1966. Although they weren’t entirely confident, the show became a huge hit and completely changed how people thought about superheroes. The series, with Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin, lasted 120 episodes over three seasons. For more than twenty years, it was considered the best live-action version of the character, until Tim Burton’s darker Batman film came out in 1989.

How 1966’s Batman Became a Success

The 1966 Batman series remains popular because it dared to be boldly colorful and artistic, setting it apart from other TV shows at the time. It created an exaggerated, playful world that appealed to everyone. Kids loved the bright costumes and cool gadgets, while adults enjoyed the dry wit and subtle social observations delivered by Adam West. Adding to its success, the show originally aired twice a week, creating cliffhangers that kept viewers hooked and eager to find out what happened next. This format made Batman a constant source of conversation and sparked a widespread cultural phenomenon known as Batmania.

The success of Batman wasn’t just due to its hero, but also its memorable villains. Actors like Vincent Price, Frank Gorshin, and Julie Newmar brought iconic personalities to characters like Egghead, The Riddler, and Catwoman, elevating them beyond typical criminals. The show’s impressive technical aspects, like the famous Batmobile designed by George Barris, also contributed to its lasting appeal. This dedication to a strong creative vision helped Batman overcome initial doubts and become a television classic. Interestingly, the show revitalized the Batman comic books. Sales had been declining before the series premiered, but the show’s popularity led to a huge increase in comic book purchases, effectively saving the character from fading into obscurity.

The 1966 Batman series is currently available for purchase on digital platforms. 

Do you like the fun, over-the-top Batman from the 1966 TV show better, or do you prefer the more serious and gritty versions we see today? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-12 22:42