Catwoman is back in Gotham, but she's looking a little different this season.  Eartha Kitt takes over the role, replacing Julie Newmar who was appearing in a film at the time.  Curiously, the dynamic between Batman and Catwoman is changed where the sexual tension is almost gone.  Instead, Catwoman is obsessed with Batgirl.

Joining John to discuss this episode is podcaster Michael Falkner (The Weekly Podioplex).  In addition to talking about the missed opportunities of this story (including the idea that Catwoman is literally invading a foreign country when she replaces the queen in her embassy), they also discuss the possible reasoning behind the change in the relationship with Batman and Catwoman.

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John is joined by Dan Greenfield of 13th Dimension to celebrate the birthday of Burt Ward.  While there are disputes over who is the best Batman, the best Alfred, even the best Commissioner Gordon, there is no disputing the definitive Dick Grayson/Robin is Burt Ward.  John and Dan discuss how that magic begin right from the beginning with Burt's audition.  They talk about what made him stand out, in particular his sense of timing when it came to humor.  Finally, they discuss Burt's legacy as we are in the middle of the 50th anniversary of the Batman series.

The Joker plans to become king of the surf by winning the championships at Gotham Point.  Didn't know he could surf, did you?  Well he can, thanks to the reverseramator, he's been able to steal the surfing ability of champion surfer Skip Parker.  It's all part of Joker's scheme to control the minds of the surfing community and in time, the world.  We've seen a similar theme this season with the Riddler, the Penguin, and even Louie the Lilac and this one is the most outlandish - but it works.

Joining John to discuss this episode is Dan Greenfield, creator and author of the 13th Dimension website.  In fact, Dan will argue that this may be one of the best episodes, not only of the third season, but of the entire series itself.  Take a listen and let us know what you think.

 Comment on the episode here or write thebatcavepodcast@gmail.com.

Dan Greenfield is the editor and co-creator of 13thDimension.com, a website devoted primarily to comics and pop culture, past and present. To him, the basic food groups are Batman, Planet of the Apes, Star Trek (the Original Series), James Bond, the Beatles and the Stones. But if he had to he'd be able to subsist on Batman alone. Channel 11 in New York was his favorite syndicated channel as a kid -- you can guess why -- followed closely by Channel 5. Channel 9 didn't really enter into it unless he was home sick and there wasn't much else on. He's married to his remarkably patient wife Wendy and his best sidekick is his son, Sam. They have two cats, Lex and Zod.

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John is joined by Dan Greenfield of 13th Dimension to talk with comic artist Michael Allred.  Allred recently completed his run as cover artist for the Batman 66 comic series.  In this interview, he discusses how Batman and 60s television influenced his artistic endeavours, how he approached the assignment of cover artist, favorite cover assignments, and working with his family in the comics field.  Take a listen and enjoy.

Michael 'Doc' Allred grew up in the 60's and 70's and was surrounded with the best in pop culture and a steady diet of music, movies and comic books including the three B's: Beatles, Bond and Batman to the point of obsession. 
 

So it should come as no surprise that he keeps a hand in film and music (He's the lead singer and guitarist for The Gear), but comic books have always been a seminal source of joy for Mike and that joy remains the main ingredient in most of his work. 

Allred first tasted success in the comics field with his wildly popular MADMAN series, which is currently being developed for a live action film with filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. His earlier work from GRAFIK MUZIK was turned into the cult hit movie G-Men from Hell directed by Christopher Coppola (featuring Robert Goulet as the Devil). Other work includes Red Rocket 7, his history of Rock and Roll told in the context of a sci-fi adventure storyl the Madman spin-off THE ATOMICS and his magnum opus, THE GOLDEN PLATES, where he's illustrating the entire Book of Mormon. 

Mike counts the secret to his success to be his wife, and creative partner, Laura Allred, who is is considered to be one of the best colorists in the business.

John sits down with Deborah Dozier Potter, the daughter of Batman 66 executive producer William Dozier.  They discuss his development of the series, the highs and lows, and his life after the series ended.  In addition, they also talk about Deborah's life as an actress, a Hollywood agent, and an author.  Finally, they talk about how Deborah overcame her Post Traumatic Stress Disorder thanks to the love of her dog, Buster, which led to her writing her book, Let Buster Lead.

Deborah Dozier Potter is a performing arts enthusiast and patron.  She was raised in a family of respected film, television and theatre professionals in New York City, Beverly Hills and Los Angeles.  She worked as a stage and film actress before becoming an actors' agent then starting her own talent agency and management company.  She has lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, since 1979 and is an active partner in Hotel Santa Fe and Five & Dime general stores, a multi-state retail business.  She authored the 2007 published memoir, Let Buster Lead, subtitled "my discovery of love, post-traumatic stress disorder and self-assurance".   Ms. Potter is a volunteer faculty member of The New Mexico School for the Arts and a political, charity and arts supporter. Her husband, Earl Potter, is a prominent business owner and a retired attorney.  Their son, H. C. “Cody” Potter, also lives in Santa Fe. Potter previously has served as a New Mexico representative to the President's Advisory Council on the Arts/Kennedy Center from 1993 until 2001 and from 2009 to the present. 

January 7th is the birthday of the late Alan Napier.  To celebrate, we here at the Batcave Podcast welcome author James Bigwood who contributed to Alan Napier's autobiography, Not Just Batman's Butler.  James talks about his experiences with Alan Napier, the writing of the book, and some of Napier's better roles.

James Bigwood first met Alan Napier in 1975, when he interviewed him for a profile that eventually appeared in Films In Review in 1979.  Building on his interest in film history, he co-wrote (with Stephen D. Youngkin and Raymond G. Cabana, Jr.) the book The Films Of Peter Lorre, published in 1982, as well as numerous articles on Salvador Dali’s largely unknown film career for such publications as American Film, American Cinematographer and the catalogue for the 1979 Dali retrospective at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.  After early attempts at an acting career proved less than successful, he moved into behind the scenes film production, starting as an assistant accountant on Francis Ford Coppola’s COTTON CLUB in 1983.  He has worked variously as Associate Producer, Line Producer and Production Manager on such films as NEW JACK CITY (Warner Bros 1991), JUICE (Paramount 1992), BOB ROBERTS (Paramount 1992), POSSE (Gramercy 1993), ASSAULT AT WEST POINT (Showtime 1994), ROAD TO WELLVILLE (Columbia 1994),  WAITING TO EXHALE (Fox 1995), DOUBLE PLATINUM (ABC 1999), BOYCOTT (HBO 2001), GATHERING STORM (HBO 2002), and the Emmy nominated BRIGHT SHINING LIE (HBO 1998).   In 1995, he co-produced WIDE AWAKE for Miramax, in 1998, he produced THE TEMPEST, starring Peter Fonda, for NBC.  In addition, he has produced six television series: TOUCHING EVIL (USA Cable 2004), THE BLACK DONNELLYS (NBC 2007), LIPSTICK JUNGLE (NBC 2008/2009), MERCY (NBC 2009/2010), THE RED ROAD (Sundance 2013) and BEING MARY JANE (BET 2014) and the mini-series REVELATIONS (NBC 2005).  Along the way, he has managed to keep acting, playing small roles in THE TEMPEST, ROAD TO WELLVILLE, ASSAULT AT WEST POINT, POSSE, BOB ROBERTS, ROANOAK, BOYCOTT, REVELATIONS and LIPSTICK JUNGLE as well as in three films that he wasn’t already working behind the scenes on: SEVEN MINUTES IN HEAVEN, NICK AND JANE, and PANTHERS.  In 1985, he directed the short film CHRISTMAS ON THE ROCKS WITH A TWIST, which he produced with writer Timothy Lonsdale.