History YMMV / Batman1966

*** [[WordOfGod Yvonne Craig] has stated that she was forbidden to punch any villain -- hence the ''ballet kicks'' that were her usual combat tactic.

** Native American characters are also given the customary amount of respect (i.e. none) the few times they show up (Egghead's debut ep is perhaps the most notorious - Creator/TheHub actually banned it in reruns).
** In a "two steps forward, one step back" example, Eartha Kitt's Catwoman - the only major nonwhite villain - got fairly respectful treatment... but still had all of the FoeRomanceSubtext between her and Batman removed since the producers didn't want to imply an interracial relationship.

** In the show's earlier episodes, it was a safe bet that the super-villains' female accomplices -- in conjunction with their physical attraction to Batman -- would ultimately defect to the side of the law. This element was arguably sexist against woman ''and'' men. On the one hand, the attraction to Batman is treated as automatic and all-important. On the other hand, there's the suggestion that only the female accomplices (and none of the male ones) had the moral standing to turn their backs on crime. Catwoman accentuates both sides of the coin with her attraction to Batman (a franchise tradition) and, in contrast with the male super-villains, multiple instances in which she shows remorse/repentance toward the end of her story arc.

** Modern viewers often confuse Mad Hatter's appearance and hat gimmick as a {{Bowdleri|se}}zation of his far creepier comic self. It's actually a very faithful adaptation of [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] Mad Hatter, who was since retconned as being an impostor impersonating Jervis Tetch and was later renamed "Hatman".

** Notably, UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks may have revitalized interest in the show as a backlash against all the grimdarkness. ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' was something of a love letter to both the show and Silver Age DC comics, and even included episodes written by Paul Dini, who had done plenty of serious work for the comparatively serious ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''. Also, DC Comics debuted ''ComicBook/Batman66'', which treats the TV show as an alternate universe, in 2013 to modest success and critical praise.

* FairForItsDay: [[http://tothebatpoles.blogspot.com/2011/09/spotlight-on-hi-diddle-diddlesmack-in.html This article]] argues that given the ValuesDissonance between the executives in charge in TheSixties and TheNewTens, the mere fact of a show about {{Super Hero}}es being greenlit in the '60s as an AffectionateParody of the comics written in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks was a fair enough interpretation.

* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** When dealing with who is the most popular villain outside of the big four (Riddler, Penguin, Joker, and Catwoman), King Tut is considered one of the best answers. Between Victor Buono's passion and hamminess with the role, having some amazing lines, and his characterization and backstory as someone genuinely insane rather than a normal criminal mastermind like most other villains, Tut is an incredibly entertaining villain. Buono having loved his role helps, as he loved it to the point where Tut was the only villain outside of the big four to appear in all three seasons.
** The Bookworm is probably the most popular one-shot VillainOfTheWeek due to his literary-themed capers, his well-developed personality, and his costume (particularly the reading lamp attached to his hat). Reportedly the producers wanted to feature him in more episodes, but Roddy [=McDowall=] was unavailable to make further appearances.
** Shame's girlfriend and fellow special guest villain in season 3, Calamity Jan, may rival him in popularity. Fans like her chemistry with him (they're played by real-life spouses), her love for her mother, and how she's smarter than Shame and does what she can to help him in all three of the two-parter's brawls.
** Among the largely disliked cast of season 1 molls, Blaze, Lisa, Lydia, and Molly tend to be popular. All four have moments of genuine competence and relevance to the plot, and Lisa and Lydia are among the few female villains of the season to come across as hardened and unrepentant criminals rather than "Poor deluded girl[s]."
** As a whole, the season 2 cast of assorted {{Moll}}s is viewed more favorably than the bunch from season 1, but Chickadee and Okie Annie are viewed particularly fondly. This is mainly because neither of them is a NeutralFemale while Batman and Robin fight their male allies (Okie Annie drops a chandelier on the Dynamic Duo, while Chickadee takes Chief O'Hara hostage to make them surrender). Pussycat also has a decent number of fans and even some fan art due to her costume, her AffablyEvil moments, and how she has a DatingCatwoman dynamic with Robin instead of Batman.
** The best-liked season 3 secondary female accomplices are probably Undine, Lady Prudence, and Shirley. In addition to their attractiveness, fans like Lady Prudence's subplot as TheStarscream, Undine's enthusiastic participation in Joker's schemes, and Shirley's CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass moment.
** Among the various male henchmen, the main fan favorite is probably Shame's accomplice F.R.E.D., due to his wonderful DeadpanSnarker tendencies and posh accent.
** Bruce Wayne's one-shot society love interest Lisa Carson, due to keeping a fairly level head while she's a DamselInDistress and being played by Creator/LeeMeriwether (who played Catwoman in the movie).

** Among the various male henchmen, the main fan favorite is probably Shame's accomplice F.R.E.D., due to his wonderful DeadpanSnarker tendencies and posh accent, while runners-up include Mr. Freeze's original henchmen trio and Joker goons Latch and Bolt (who are mainly memorable due to having {[Villainous Friendship}}s with their bosses).

** Among the various male henchmen, the main fan favorite is probably Shame's accomplice F.R.E.D., due to his wonderful DeadpanSnarker tendencies and posh accent.

* CantUnHearIt: The show provided the characters' voices for a whole generation of Batman fans. Despite the lighter tone, Creator/AdamWest could sound just as cool and badass as later Batmen like Creator/KevinConroy, Creator/ChristianBale, etc. If nothing else, it's very easy to hear West's voice if you're reading a Silver Age Batman comic.

** In a "two steps forward, one step back" example, Eartha Kitt's Catwoman - the only major nonwhite villain - got fairly respectful treatment... but still had all of the FoeYay between her and Batman removed since the producers didn't want to imply an interracial relationship.

** Native American characters are also given the customary amount of respect (i.e. none) the few times they show up (Egghead's debut ep is perhaps the most notorious - Creator/TheHub actually banned it in reruns). That said, Eartha Kitt's Catwoman - the only major nonwhite villain - got fairly respectful treatment.

* SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgCkmUS1IYI Adam West playing off of himself]].

* EvilIsSexy:
** All of the Catwomen (yes there were three: Creator/JulieNewmar, Creator/LeeMeriwether, and Creator/EarthaKitt) are dazzling villainesses.
** Several female minions also have a lot of fans gushing about their attractiveness. Notable examples including StockingFiller Chickadee, the bikini-wearing Undine, {{Sexy Sweater Girl}}s Lady Prudence and Pussycat, {{Belly Dancer}}s Shirley and Florence of Arabia, Cornelia and Moth (who wear tight purple catsuits), and Glacia Glaze (with a sequin minidress).
** Marsha, Queen of Diamonds, does a belly dance in one scene and wears a ModestyTowel in another.
** The Siren dresses like TheChanteuse and shows a lot of leg.

* TrueArtIsIncomprehensible: "Pop Goes the Joker"/"Flop Goes the Joker" is all about this. Joker raids an art gallery and randomly sprays paint all over the artwork, only for the artist to proclaim the results much better than the originals. This goes on throughout the story (with Joker, naturally, taking advantage of people who are convinced he's a genius). At the end of the second episode, a gallery patron looks at one of the Joker's works and says, "I don't understand it at all. It must be very profound."