The Batcave Podcast

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.

It's very odd that Burgess Meredith returns so quickly in this early part of the third season. It's even more odd that they pair him up with Ethel Merman as Lola Lasagna in the first two-part story of the season. And in many respects, it's a wasted opportunity as the two are used more as a Vaudville act more than anything Batman-related. And yet, this look at Penguin trying to horn in on the horse racing world has more weight to it than Riddler's previous attempt to become the "King of the Ring."

Joining John to discuss what worked and what didn't work in this story that could have been a one part story is podcaster, The Hunnic Outcast.

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We met her briefly in the last episode, but now The Siren takes the center stage as the villainess of the week. Joan Collins is one of the better guests and gives one of the better performances in the third season. In fact, there is much to be praised about this story which has more of the feel of a second season story and also has one of the better Robin/Batgirl team-ups.

Joining John to discuss what many consider one of the better, if not one of the best, episodes of the third season is writer/editor Glenn Greenberg.

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Glenn Greenberg is an award-winning editor and writer. He worked extensively for Marvel Comics and DC Comics on such properties as Spider-Man, the Hulk, Superman, Star Trek, Star-Lord, the Silver Surfer, Thor, Iron Man, and Dracula, as well as Web-based tie-in projects for the film Superman Returns and the weekly comic-book series 52. His work has also appeared in such publications as TIME Magazine For Kids, Scholastic News, Time Out New York, Back Issue, and Smoke. Glenn has also written several works of prose Star Trek fiction for Simon and Schuster, and is now making the jump to The X-Files for an upcoming fiction anthology that will be published by IDW. He avidly covers all aspects of popular culture on his blog, "Glenn Greenberg's Grumblings" (http://glenngreenbergsgrumblings.blogspot.com), and welcomes anyone and everyone to check it out.

It's the holiday season and that means visions of Batman 66 merchandise dancing in our heads. But what kinds of gifts would really excite the Batfan in your life? Dan Greenfield of 13th Dimension joins John to offer gift suggestions from the high end to the affordable to make the season more bright for all the good Citizens of Gotham City.

It's the 50th review episode of the podcast! And what a way to celebrate! Frank Gorshin is back as The Riddler! His latest scheme? To become the king of the ring by taking over the boxing world in Gotham...

Yeah, for this they brought Frank Gorshin back? As kids, John and his guest were just excited to see The Riddler, but they are not as loving of this episode now as adults. What's wrong with it? How has their view of it changed and how did it change from one of the earlier versions of the script?

Joining John to discuss this episode is Dan Greenfield, creator and author of the 13th Dimension website.

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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The Penguin is back in Gotham City with a scheme that seems foolproof - marry Commissioner Gordon's daughter Barbara and then he wil lbe immune from prosecution. Can Batman and Robin stop him from reaching the alter on time or will they need the help of Batgirl? Who's driving this plot and should it have gone as far as it did?

Joining John to discuss the first televised Batgirl episode and to ask the question, "Should this be a Joker episode?" is author Jay Smith.

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Jay Smith is the creator and executive producer for the Parsec Award-winning audio drama series HG World. Since 2009, Jay and his company of players and producers have been telling the story of survivors in the middle of a global zombie uprising. Now in its third season, this "satellite" production has featured dozens of actors across four continents making it a production truly on a global scale. Since its debut, episodes of HG World and its spin-off series, the Parsec finalist The Diary of Jill Woodbine and The Googies have been downloaded close to a million times.

Inspired by the golden age of radio, Hidden Harbor Mysteries presents a story inspired by stylish pulp era radio adventures like The Shadow, Sam Spade, The Green Hornet, and I Love a Mystery. Performed by a stellar cast, Hidden Harbor hopes to integrate classic radio storytelling with some modern twists. Jay draws from the work of Orson Welles, Arch Obelor and looks to modern audio dramatists like Douglas Adams and Dirk Maggs as inspiration to create a rich, realistic world of survival horror laced with dark comedy and compelling human drama.

Jay holds a BA in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University and is working on his Master of Fine Arts from Seton Hill University's innovative Writing Popular Fiction program. He attends and speaks at various science fiction and literary conventions about podcasting, writing, audio drama, and zombies. HG World can be heard by subscribing through iTunes or visiting the show web site www.goodmorningsurvivors.com.

The second season has come to an end and what a long, strange trip it's been. John takes one last look at the episodes that made up the season and offers his thoughts on the season as a whole before moving forward into the third season.

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No airedate.

Killer Moth has come to Gotham to kidnap a millionaire to hold for ransom and it looks like he has the Dynamic Duo well under wraps thanks to his cocoon gun. Will he succeed or will the introduction of Batgirl help to save the day? Yvonne Craig makes her debut as the Dominoed Daredoll in this brief network presentation.

Joining John to discuss this never aired piece is author Jay Smith.

Comment on the episode here or write [email protected]

Jay Smith is the creator and executive producer for the Parsec Award-winning audio drama series HG World. Since 2009, Jay and his company of players and producers have been telling the story of survivors in the middle of a global zombie uprising. Now in its third season, this "satellite" production has featured dozens of actors across four continents making it a production truly on a global scale. Since its debut, episodes of HG World and its spin-off series, the Parsec finalist The Diary of Jill Woodbine and The Googies have been downloaded close to a million times.

Inspired by the golden age of radio, Hidden Harbor Mysteries presents a story inspired by stylish pulp era radio adventures like The Shadow, Sam Spade, The Green Hornet, and I Love a Mystery. Performed by a stellar cast, Hidden Harbor hopes to integrate classic radio storytelling with some modern twists. Jay draws from the work of Orson Welles, Arch Obelor and looks to modern audio dramatists like Douglas Adams and Dirk Maggs as inspiration to create a rich, realistic world of survival horror laced with dark comedy and compelling human drama.

Jay holds a BA in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University and is working on his Master of Fine Arts from Seton Hill University's innovative Writing Popular Fiction program. He attends and speaks at various science fiction and literary conventions about podcasting, writing, audio drama, and zombies. HG World can be heard by subscribing through iTunes or visiting the show web site www.goodmorningsurvivors.com.

Cosplayer Bob DeSimone talks with John about his life as the Bat. He tells about the construction of his costume, how impressed Adam West was with it, and how his cosplay has helped him to help others, especially as Boba Fett. It's all here and a whole lot more on this special episode of the podcast.

Dan Greenfield of 13th Dimension and Jim Beard of Gotham City 14 Miles join John to pay tribute to the late Yvonne Craig who played Batgirl/Barbara Gordon on the third season of the series. They discuss her warmth and charm that made the third season watchable, her other roles, and her chemistry with her costars, in particular Neil Hamilton.