TVXOHOF, - JANUARY, 2019 - BATMAN & ROBIN

In January, the TVXOHOF induction is of a classic TV character.  In June, we usually celebrate some kind of double act – twins, partners, things like that.  This year with our focus on superheroes, we’re combining both of those themes.

And who else would have been a Classic TV Duo?

The Dynamic Duo, of course!

BATMAN & ROBIN

In 2002, the year’s theme was actually duos.  I thought the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder would be a shoe-in for a berth somewhere in the year, but I found it surprisingly overstaffed for the year.  I knew they’d get in eventually, but I didn’t think it would take sixteen years.  Holy honor roll!  The Penguin and Mr. Freeze got in to the Hall before Batman & Robin!

From this point on, I’m letting Wikipedia take over.

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 Batmanand Burt Ward as Robin – two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City from a variety of arch villains. 

Adam West as Bruce Wayne / Batman: A millionaire whose parents were murdered by criminals, he now secretly uses his vast fortune to fight crime as Batman.

West later voiced an animated version of the title character on The New Adventures of Batman and well as Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show and The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians.

Burt Ward as Dick Grayson / Robin: Batman's faithful (if overly eager) partner and "Boy Wonder", a high school student noted for his recurring interjections in the form of "Holy ________, Batman!"  Ward voiced an animated version of this character on The New Adventures of Batman.

In 1977, Adam West and Burt Ward returned as voice actors for the second Filmation-produced animated series, The New Adventures of Batman.

In 1979, West, Ward, and Frank Gorshin reunited and reprised their respective roles on NBC for Hanna-Barbera's two Legends of the Superheroes television specials.

In 1984, West would once again reprise his role as Batman in animated form when he succeeded Olan Soule in the final two seasons of Super Friends.

In 2003, West and Ward reunited for a tongue-in-cheek television movie titled Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt which combined dramatized recreations of the filming of the original series (with younger actors standing in for the stars), with modern footage of West and Ward searching for a stolen Batmobile. The film included cameo appearances by Newmar, Gorshin, and Lee Meriwether, as well as Lyle Waggoner, who had been an early candidate for the role of Batman.

A film based on the television show, Batman, was released in 1966. The film was originally intended to be produced before the series as a way to introduce the series to the public. However, the series' premiere was moved up and the film was forced to wait until the summer hiatus after the first season. The film was produced quickly to get into theatres prior to the start of season two of the television series.

The film did not initially perform well at the cinema. Originally, the movie had been conceived to help sell the television series abroad, but the success of the series in America was sufficient publicity. The film was shot after season one was filmed. The movie's budget allowed for producers to build the Batboat and lease a helicopter that would be made into the Batcopter, both of which were used in the second and third seasons of the television show.

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders
West and Ward announced at the Mad Monster Party that one or two Batman animated movies would be released in 2016 with the two doing voiced roles as their characters for the show's 50th anniversary along with Julie Newmar returning.

The trailer for Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders made its debut on August 17, 2016. The film was released on Digital HD and Digital Media on October 11, 2016 and on DVD and Blu-ray November 1, 2016.

Batman vs. Two-Face
A sequel to Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders called Batman vs. Two-Face was released on October 10, 2017. The film starred William Shatner voicing Two-Face as the main antagonist.  Adam West died before it was released; however, he did complete his voiceover work before his passing. This was one of Adam West's final roles before he passed away from leukemia.

So Batman and Robin are being inducted not only as the January Classic TV members, but also as multidimensionals.
Greetings and welcome, Old Chums!