page_title: Batman (TV series)
section_title: Teaser and exposition
hierarchical_section_title: Batman (TV series) / Production / Episode format / Teaser and exposition
caption_attribution_description: Photo of Burt Ward (Robin) and Adam West (Batman).
context_page_description: Batman is a 1960s American live action television series, based on the DC comic book character of the same name. It stars Adam West as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Burt Ward as Dick Grayson/Robin – two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City from a variety of archvillains. It is known for its camp style, upbeat theme music, and its intentionally humorous, simplistic morality. This included championing the importance of using seat belts, doing homework, eating vegetables, and drinking milk. It was described by executive producer William Dozier as the only situation comedy on the air without a laugh track. The 120 episodes aired on the ABC network for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to March 14, 1968, twice weekly for the first 2 and weekly for the third. In 2016, television critics Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz ranked Batman as the 82nd greatest American television show of all time.
context_section_description: The typical story begins with a villain's caper (such as stealing a fabulous treasure, kidnapping a prominent person, or attempting to take over Gotham City). In his office, Commissioner Gordon, along with Chief O'Hara, learn of the crime and the culprit. Helpless to stop the villain, they contact Batman via the Batphone – a bright red telephone that provides a direct phone link to Batman (be it at Wayne Manor, the Batcave or the Batmobile). At "stately Wayne Manor", Alfred (Wayne's butler) answers the Batphone and informs Bruce Wayne of the call. Frequently, Wayne and his ward, Dick Grayson, are found talking with Dick's aunt, Harriet Cooper, who is unaware of Bruce and Dick's secret identities. Alfred discreetly interrupts and they excuse themselves to go to the Batphone in Wayne's study. Upon learning the details from Gordon, Wayne turns a switch concealed within a bust of Shakespeare that stands on his desk to reveal two fireman's poles hidden behind a sliding bookcase. "To the Batpoles!" Wayne exclaims, and he and Grayson slide down the poles that lead to the Batcave.
  The title sequence features animated versions of Batman and Robin, drawn in the then-current style of the comic books, running towards the camera and then fighting an assortment of villains, including several "marquee" villains such as the Joker and the Penguin.
  Similar in style and content to the 1940s serials, Batman and Robin would arrive at the bottom of the Batpoles in the Batcave in full costume (a large painted sign hanging on the wall beside the Batpole, next to a lever that Batman pulls, on the drop, says: Instant costume-change lever). They then jump into the Batmobile. Robin checks the gauges and reports, "Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed." Batman responds, "Roger, ready to move out." With that, the two would drive out of the cave at high speed (cue dramatic camera angle). As the Batmobile approached the mouth of the cave (actually a tunnel entrance in Los Angeles' Bronson Canyon), a camouflaged door would swing open and a hinged road barrier outside the Batcave would drop down to allow the car to exit onto the road. The duo then speed to police headquarters to meet with Commissioner Gordon and be briefed on the criminal they must thwart. Most of the footage following the opening title sequence, from Batman and Robin sliding down the Batpoles through to their arrival at police headquarters was stock footage, reused in each episode. After the National Safety Council complained that Batman and Robin should set a good example, the stock sequence was changed to show them fastening seat belts (part of a national buckle-up campaign by the NSC) before starting out.
caption: Series stars Burt Ward (left) and Adam West (right), as Dick Grayson/Robin and Bruce Wayne/Batman, respectively.
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