Batman

thumb|300px|Baby Gonzo in a Batman parody
Batman is a DC Comics superhero who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. His true identity is Bruce Wayne, billionaire industrialist, playboy, and philanthropist. Witnessing the murder of his parents as a child led him to train himself to the peak of physical and intellectual perfection, don a costume, and fight crime. Unlike many other superheroes, he does not possess superhuman powers or abilities; he makes use of intellect, detective skills, technology, and physical prowess in his war on crime.
==Appearances==
Batman's association with Sesame Street predates the show's premiere. In DC Comics ads, alongside Superman, Batman urged young viewers to watch Sesame Street, especially "The Man from Alphabet" segments (which were dropped before the show's national debut).
Batman appeared in several Sesame Street segments in animated form (voiced by Olan Soule). In an Ernie and Bert sketch from the first Sesame Street test pilot, Ernie wants to watch Batman on TV, but Bert wants to watch something else. Batman interrupts them, suggesting they take turns in selecting a television program.
Batman was joined by Robin (Casey Kasem) in several animated segments (produced by Filmation) which debuted in the end of the first season. Gerald S. Lesser explained the selection of the dynamic duo when he said "some celebrities such as Batman and Robin are enlisted because of their unassailable authority with four-year olds."Lesser, Gerald S. Children and Television: Lessons from Sesame Street. p. 120
* Batman and Robin attempt to capture the Joker but also teach a lesson in crossing the street safely. (Old School: Volume 1)
* Batman teaches the spatial concepts of "around," "up," and "through." (40 Years of Sunny Days)
* Batman and Robin catch the Penguin's gang who has dirty windows, teaching the opposite pairings of clean and dirty. Episode numbers from "First Season Show Content 1969-1970." CTW Archives at the University of Maryland. Box 36. Folder 29.
In 2005, Jim Henson's Creature Shop supplied additional digital visual effects for the motion picture Batman Begins.
Batman, as portrayed by Victor Joel Ortiz (uncredited), appeared as a special guest in episode 104 of The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo. The house band scores his entrance with a pastiche of the theme song of the 1966 Batman series. After sitting down for a short interview and playing "Beach Ball Ballyhoo" with Elmo, Batman makes his exit when the Bat-Signal flashes on the curtains.
==Muppet Mentions==
* The Batman: The Animated Series episode "The Lion and the Unicorn" features henchmen named Bert and Ernie.
* The novelization of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm includes a character named Burton Earny (as in Bert and Ernie).
*In Detective Comics #834 (2007) by Paul Dini, the Joker leaves lyrics to "The Muppet Show Theme" as a possible clue for Batman and Zatanna.
* Batman: Noël, a 2011 graphic novel adapting the Charles Dickens story A Christmas Carol, features Batman breaking into a toy store that includes a Kermit the Frog doll on the shelf.
* In an official Facebook post promoting a first season episode of the 2014 television series Gotham, a photo still features the text "One of These Things is not like the other."
* After the @elmo Twitter account posted a photo of Elmo wearing his "Dark Nine" outfit from Episode 4504 on April 5, 2022, the official DC Comics account quote-retweeted it with a Photoshopped image of Elmo as the Dark Nine interrogating Rocco wearing Joker make-up. The image references both the recent release of Matt Reeves's The Batman as well as the internet-fueled Elmo/Rocco feud that went viral in January of 2022. The @sesamestreet handle liked the post; a rarity for the account.
Detective834.jpg|Detective Comics #834
Batman Noel Kermit.jpg|Batman: Noël
File:10431701_1043029895727000_837528998537719658_n.jpg|Gotham promo
Batman-tac-15.jpg|Batman: The Adventures Continue #15 (2020) by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini
Elmo The Batman Rocco Twitter 2022-04-05.jpg|Elmo as Robert Pattinson's Batman: "what have you done?!"
==References==
* The February 18, 1966, episode of The Jimmy Dean Show features Rowlf engaged in an extended spoof of the 1966 Batman series. In the sketch, Rowlf portrays "Batdog," with Jimmy Dean as his sidekick Dobbin (who utters various types of Holy exclamations). He has a phone conversation with an unseen commissioner. Later in the sketch, as Batdog fights with the nefarious Midget, battle words appear onscreen, as on the Batman series, such as Pow and Zonk, Oy! and Zlerp! In an earlier episode, Rowlf claims to want a brother just like him - a dog who can talk, play gin rummy and watches Batman.
* After failing to convince Jimmy Dean to bring along a certain canine companion with him on his summer tour in the April 1, 1966, broadcast of The Jimmy Dean Show, Rowlf wonders if Batman and Robin could use a dog.
* A Sesame Street segment featuring kids painting on a glass surface in front of a camera includes a boy who paints a bat-like shape which the kids in voiceover identify as Batman. 
* In Episode 0738 of Sesame Street, Mr. Hooper encourages the Count to simply count numbers without having actual things to count. The Count will not hear of this, comparing such a thing to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches without the jelly. He goes on with more comparisons (counting them as he goes), including "Batman and Robin without Robin."
* Baby Gonzo adopted the guise in the seventh season Muppet Babies episode "Sing a Song of Superheroes." He explains he's actually Batboy because Warner Brothers wanted $2 million for a three second film clip.
* Grover as Batman and Elmo as Robin (with Rubber Duckie in a little bat-cape) are greeted by Betty Lou as The Riddler in the October 1991 issue of Sesame Street Magazine.
* Bean Bunny has a "Batbunny" poster in his room in the 1992 Muppet Kids book New in Town.
* Count von Count prepares a Batman comic book as a birthday gift for his bat Beauregard in Episode 1149 of Sesame Street.
* Episode 3210 of Sesame Street features Telly posing as "Yes Man." His appearances are scored by a spin on the theme song of the 1966 Batman series.
* Episode 3767 of Sesame Street features Telly reading his story about prehistoric times. One chapter features his character meeting up with Scrog (Count von Count) who needs help counting his pet bats, one of which he named Bruce Wayne.
* Kermit appeared in a Batman parody called "Frogman" in the 1997 Muppet Parody Calendar: The Sequel.
* The Bear in the Big Blue House song "Bat Dance" spoofs the theme song from the 1960s Batman TV series.
* In the video You Can Ask!, when Joe Albuh mentions that FEMA and Sesame Workshop are organizational partners, Big Bird remarks "Just like Batman and Robin!"
* Gonzo dresses as Batman in a variant cover of The Muppet Show Comic Book: Family Reunion.
* The street story for Sesame Street Episode 4176 features transitions based on those from the 1960s Batman series, including a spinning background with an image of Super Grover and Horatio. Additionally, Super Chicken's sidekick is Robin.
* When Kermit the Frog tries to call his celebrity friends in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, he exclaims "To the Star Phone!" The scene then transitions to Kermit's phone montage using a Batman-esque transition and music cue.
* The Super Grover 2.0 segments, particularly the opening sequence, are meant to lampoon the then-current Batman films produced by Christopher Nolan, with scripts applying a "Dark and Fuzzy Night" title to the segment (referring to the film The Dark Knight). The intro features a Super Grover-themed light a la the Bat-Signal.
* Bert dressed as "The Caped Crus8er" (an 8-based parody of Batman) in a Comic-Con Vine (Vine) and for Sesame Street’s "Numeric Con" extended home video. Bert also appeared in his Caped Crus8er outfit along with Ernie wearing a Robin-inspired costume in a Sesame Bits comic produced to promote the "Elmo's Super Numbers" home video.
* Elmo dressed as "The Dark Nine" (a 9-based parody of Batman) in Sesame Street’s "Numeric Con" episode and extended home video.
* Fozzie Bear was asked who would win in a fight between Superman and Batman during an @midnight Q&A on Facebook live in 2016. He wonders why the two would be fighting at all and proposes taking them out to brunch for the purposes of resolving their differences. "Batman, you'll love me, I'm a real joker."
* The Muppet Babies episode "Puppy for a Day" features the characters' super hero and super villain alter egos beaming out a signal parodying the famous "bat signal," shaped in Rizzo's silhouette ― a "rat signal," of sorts.
* Elmo again wore his "Dark Nine" costume in the "Better with You" video, accompanied by Tango as Robin. A riff on the Bat signal fills the sky with the footprint of a dog paw.
* In Episode 5321, the Count paraphrases the oft-used narration "Same bat-time, same bat-channel" from the 1966 Batman series, inviting others to join him and Zoe every week, "Same batty time, same batty workout."
==Connections==
;The 1982 book-and-tape set Batman and Robin the Teen Wonder: The Case of the Laughing Sphinx
* Produced and Directed by Christopher Cerf
* Narrated by Frederick R. Newman 
* Michael Kingsbury Frith as Batman
* Jim Thurman as Commissioner Gordon and the Joker
* Frederick R. Newman as the Bat-Computer, Announcer
* Christina Frith (Michael K. Frith's daughter) as Catwoman
* Music by David Conner
;Other cast/crew:
*Amy Adams played Lois Lane in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
*Steve Allen played Allan Stevens in the Batman episodes "The Cat's Meow"/"The Bat's Kowtow" (1967)
*Will Arnett voiced Batman in The Lego Movie (2014) and The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
*Edward Asner played Roland Daggett in Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)
*John Astin played the Riddler in the Batman episodes "A Riddling Controversy/Batman's Anniversary" (1967)
*Drew Barrymore played Sugar in Batman Forever (1995)
*Zazie Beetz played Sophie Dumond in Joker (2019)
*Milton Berle played Louie the Lilac on Batman (1967-1968), as well as a prison guard in the episode "Ma Parker" (1966)
*Wayne Brady played Micron in the two-part Batman Beyond episode "The Call" (2000)
*Roscoe Lee Browne played Dr. Wataki in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Time Out of Joint" (1993)
*Julianne Buescher provided voiceover work for Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)
*Vin Burnham designed the Batsuit for Batman (1989) and costumes for the Catwoman and Penguin in Batman Returns (1992)
*LeVar Burton played Hayden Sloane in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "The Worry Men" (1994)
*Tim Burton directed Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
*Michael Caine played Alfred Pennyworth in Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
*Mariah Carey voiced Mayor McCaskill in The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
*Art Carney played the Archer on Batman (1966)
*Jim Carrey played the Riddler in Batman Forever (1995)
*Dan Castellaneta played Mr. Brooks in the Batman Beyond episode "Terry's Friend Dates a Robot" (1997) and the Ventriloquist/Scarface on The Batman (2004)
*Henry Cavill played Clark Kent/Superman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
*Stockard Channing played Commissioner Barbara Gordon on Batman Beyond (1999-2000)
*Townsend Coleman played various voices in Batman: The Animated Series (1992), The New Batman/Superman Adventures (1997), and Batman Beyond (1999-2001)
*George Clooney played Batman in Batman and Robin (1997)
*Joan Collins played the Siren in the Batman episodes "Ring Around the Riddler"/"The Wail of the Siren" (1967)
*Coolio played a banker in Batman and Robin (1997)
*Jesse Corti played Chief Angel Rojas on The Batman (2004) 
*Darren Criss voiced Raphael in the animated movie Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
*Tim Curry played additional voices in Batman: The Animated Series (1992) and Mutro Botho in the Batman Beyond episode "Final Cut" (1997)
*Rosario Dawson voiced Batgirl in The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
*Robert De Niro played Murray Franklin in Joker (2019)
*Barry Dennen played Fred in the Batman episodes "The Great Train Robbery" and "The Great Escape" (1967) and voices on Batman: The Animated Series (1992) and Batman Beyond (1999)
*Danny DeVito played the Penguin in Batman Returns (1992)
*Micky Dolenz played Max and Min in multiple episodes of Batman: The Animated Series (1992)
*Paul Dooley played Father Michael in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "It's Never Too Late" (1992)
*Aaron Eckhart played Harvey Dent/Two-Face in The Dark Knight (2008)
*Ralph Fiennes voiced Alfred Pennyworth in The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
*Laurence Fishburne played Perry White in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
*Joe Flynn played Benton Belgoody in "The Cat's Meow"/"The Bat's Kow Tow" on Batman (1966)
*Morgan Freeman played Lucius Fox in Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
*Matt Frewer played Sid the Squid in the 'Batman: The Animated Series episode "The Man Who Killed Batman" (1993)
*Zach Galifianakis voiced Joker in The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
*James Gammon played Osiris in the Batman episode "The Unkindest Tut of All" (1967)
*Teri Garr played Mary McGinnis on Batman Beyond (1999-2000)
*Brad Garrett played Goliath in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Sideshow" (1994)
*Mitch Gaylord was a stunt double for Robin in Batman Forever (1995)
*John Glover played the Riddler in Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1998) and Dr. Jason Woodrue in Batman and Robin (1997) 
*Joseph Gordon-Levitt played John Blake in The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
*Seth Green played Wizard in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "I Am the Night" (1992) and Nelson Nash on Batman Beyond (1999-2001)
*Ellen Greene played Mrs. Manface in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Night of the Huntress!" (2009)
*Maggie Gyllenhaal played Rachel Dawes in The Dark Knight (2008)
*Mark Hamill played the Joker on Batman: The Animated Series and other animated and video game productions from 1992 onward
*Neil Patrick Harris played the Music Meister in an episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2009) and Nightwing in Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010) 
*Melissa Joan Hart played Dee and Dee in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
*Anne Hathaway played Selina Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
*Anthony Stewart Head played Alfred Pennyworth in Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018)
*Tippi Hedren voiced Donna Day in an episode of The New Batman Adventures (1998)
*Lisa Henson, as a Production Executive and Senior Vice-President at Warner Bros., was associated with Tim Burton's Batman and Batman Returns (1989, 1992)
*Pat Hingle played Commissioner Gordon in four Batman movies (1989-1997)
*Katie Holmes played Rachel Dawes in Batman Begins (2005)
*William Hootkins played Lt. Eckhardt in Batman (1989)
*Jeremy Irons played Alfred Pennyworth in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
*Carol Kane played Gertrude Kapelput on Gotham (2016-2017)
*Stana Katic played Talia al-Ghul in Batman: Arkham City (2011, video game)
*Michael Keaton played Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
*Ellie Kemper played Phyllis in The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
*Nicole Kidman played Dr. Chase Meridian in Batman Forever (1995)
*Charles Kimbrough voiced a stage version of Commissioner Gordon in the Batman Beyond episode "Out of the Past" (2000)
*Richard Kind played Mayor Aubrey James on Gotham (2014-2016)
*Zoë Kravitz played Selina Kyle/Catwoman in The Batman (2022)
*Jim Lee has illustrated a number of Batman comics
*Liberace played Chandell/Fingers in the Batman episodes "The Devil's Fingers"/"The Dead Ringers" (1966)
*Riki Lindhome voiced Poison Ivy in The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
*Mac MacDonald played a goon in Batman (1989)
*William H. Macy played Aaron Herbert in the Batman Beyond episode "Disappearing Inque" (1999) and Kerros in "Big Time" (2000)
*Peter Marinker played Bane in Batman: Knightfall (BBC Radio, 1994)
*Andrea Martin played Mighty Mom in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Make 'Em Laugh" (1994)
*Kellie Martin played the Oracle in The Batman episode "Artifacts" (2007)
*Debi Mazar played Spice in Batman Forever (1995)
*Edie McClurg played Ms. Martel in the Batman Beyond episode "Zeta" (2000) and Mrs. Brown in an episode of The Batman (2004)
*Michael McKean played '50s Joker in an episode of The New Batman/Superman Adventures (1997) and Ian Peek in the Batman Beyond episode "Sneak Peek" (2000)
*Sam McMurray played Pierce in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Birds of a Feather" (1993) and Chelsea's father and others on Batman Beyond (1999-2001)
*Ben Mendelsohn played John Daggett in The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
*Ethel Merman played Lola Lasagna on Batman (3 episodes, 1967)
*Kate Micucci played Clayface in The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
*Brian Stokes Mitchell played Brian in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Fear of Victory" (1992)
*Matthew Modine played Peter Foley in The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
*Richard Moll played Harvey Dent/Two Face in Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995) and The New Batman Adventures (1997-1999) 
*Megan Mullally played Cindy in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "House & Garden" (1994)
*Liam Neeson played Henri Ducard in Batman Begins (2005)
*Laraine Newman played Baby Doll in The New Batman/Superman Adventures episode "Love Is a Croc" (1997)
*Conan O'Brien played The Riddler in The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
*Chris O'Donnell played Dick Grayson/Robin in Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997)
*Gary Oldman played James Gordon in Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
*Gary Owens played '50s Batman in an episode of The New Batman/Superman Adventures (1997)
*Stuart Pankin played Condiment King in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Make 'Em Laugh" (1994) and a key negotiator in the Batman Beyond episode "Meltdown" (1997)
*Rob Paulsen played The Riddler in Lego Batman: The Movie - DC Super Heroes Unite (2013)
*Michelle Pfeiffer played Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992)
*Robert Picardo played Eddie G. in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "The Man Who Killed Batman" (1993)
*Susan Pitocchi worked as a scenic artist on Joker (2019)
*Jon Polito played the Major in the Batman Beyond episode "Betrayal" (2000)
*Vincent Price played Egghead on Batman (1966-1967)
*Paul Reubens played Penguin's father in Batman Returns (1992), Bat-Mite on Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Elijah Van Dahl on Gotham (3 episodes, 2016-2017)
*Kevin Michael Richardson played the Joker on The Batman (2004)
*Shane Rimmer played an older Gotham water board technician in Batman Begins (2005)
*Kelly Ripa played Rockey Valentine in Mystery of the Batwoman (2003)
*Robbie Rist played Brian Daly in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Baby-Doll" (1994)
*John Ritter played Dr. David Wheeler in the Batman Beyond episode "The Last Resort" (2000)
*Alex Rocco played Block in the Batman episodes "A Piece of the Action"/"Batman's Satisfaction" (1967) 
*Rino Romano played Bruce Wayne/Batman on The Batman (2004)
*Mark Saraceni wrote the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Terror in the Sky" (1992)
*Arnold Schwarzenegger played Mr. Freeze in Batman & Robin (1997)
*Joel Schumacher directed Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997)
*Glenn Shadix played Artie Brown/The Cluemaster in an episode of The Batman (2004)
*Kerry Shale played the Joker in Batman: Knightfall (BBC Radio, 1994)
*William Shatner voiced Two-Face in Batman vs. Two-Face (2017)
*Alicia Silverstone played Barbara Wilson/Batgirl in Batman and Robin (1997)
*J. K. Simmons played a Guardian of the Universe, Evil Star, and Ace Morgan on Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008)
*Jenny Slate played Harley Quinn in The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
*Olan Soule played Batman and Alfred on The New Batman/Superman Hour (1968) and other series, and a newscaster in the Batman episode "The Pharaoh's in a Rut" (1966)
*Arnold Stang played a gun store owner in "The Great Train Robbery" (1968)
*Tara Strong played Harley Quinn in many animated productions from 2011-present as well as Arrow, and Barbara Gordon/Batgirl (1997-2013) in numerous animated and video game productions.
*Cree Summer played Maxine "Max" Gibson on Batman Beyond (1999-2001)
*Loretta Swit played Dr. Marcia Cates in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Mad as a Hatter" (1992)
*George Takei played Mr. Fixx in the pilot for Batman Beyond (1999)
*Jeffrey Tambor played Crocker in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Appointment in Crime Alley" (1992)
*Uma Thurman played Poison Ivy in Batman and Robin (1997)
*Brian Tochi played Albino in the Batman Beyond episode "Mind Games" (1999)
*Vendela played Nora Fries in Batman and Robin (1997)
*John Vernon played Rupert Thorne in Batman: The Animated Series
*George Wallace played the mayor of Gotham City in Batman Forever (1995)
*Gedde Watanabe voiced multiple characters on Batman Beyond (1999)
*Patrick Warburton played Cash Tankinson in The Batman episode "Cash for Toys" (2004)
*David Warner played Ra's Al Ghul in Batman: The Animated Series (1992-2000)
*Frank Welker played Isis the cat, Ace the Bathound, and other animal and speaking roles on Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995) and Batman Beyond (1999-2001)
*Lillias White played a choir member in the Gotham episode "The Fearsome Dr. Crane" (2015)
*Fred Willard played Ross Darren in an episode of The Batman (2004)
*Billy Dee Williams played Harvey Dent in Batman (1989) and reprised the role as Two-Face in The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
*Paul Williams played the Penguin on Batman: The Animated Series (1992-2000)
*B. D. Wong played Hugo Strange on Gotham (2016-2019)
==Sources==
==See also==
*Superheroes
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