TV Review: 'Fallout' – Two Terrific Seasons

* Beware of Spoilers!      

After having binge watched two seasons of this series, I have to say that I am just blown away by Fallout. If you are not aware of this excellent show available on Amazon Prime Video, I highly suggest that you invest some time to watch it.  

What the Story is About

Set in the future in a post-apocalyptic world after nuclear blasts have destroyed society, what is left of humanity lives in under ground bunkers (called Vaults) where they are protected from left over radiation as well as the various surface survivors and mutant beings. Creators Graham Wagner and Geneva Roberts-Dworet have fashioned a world that is unbelievably complex based on the role playing video game (with which I have no experience).

The background for the story is that there was a nuclear war in the past, and people survived in the Vaults where they were unknowingly part of experiments implemented by Vault-Tec. While they live rather well in terms of safety and nutrition, the people in the Vaults are basically trapped because they fear what is on the surface.

We Love Lucy

200 years after the nuclear decimation, a young woman named Lucy MacLean (an excellent Ella Purnell) takes a bold move to leave Vault 33 to find her kidnapped father Hank (Kyle MacLachlan).  As she emerges in a devastated Los Angeles, Lucy experiences one shock after another as she realizes what has happened to a world she has never known.

Along the way she meets Maximus (Aaron Moten), who is a young squire of the Brotherhood of Steel (soldiers that wear a bulky Power Armor) and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) who used to be a famous actor named Cooper Howard. Both men have complicated back stories that are explored in flashbacks.

Lucy is our intrepid heroine 

Lucy is the heart of the series because she is on a quest to not only find her father but to find answers to questions that we viewers also have. Purnell makes Lucy into a multidimensional heroine who is frightened, angry, and feisty. She is shocked by the injustices she witnesses and cannot understand why the world is not more like the Vault where everything was less complicated.

Season 2

The action moves to what was Las Vegas (now called New Vegas) where Lucy and the Ghoul go to get answers about Vault-Tec. Lucy hopes to find her father, and the Ghoul wants to know what happened to his wife and daughter. While Maximus, who has been elevated to Knight, continues to wrestle with the complicated rules of the Brotherhood and becomes disillusioned by the reality he faces. 

The Factions 

Lacerta Aspires to be Caesar

Lucy is captured by the Legion (they fancy themselves as Romans and have an emperor named Caesar). As would be suspected, they follow the worst aspects of Rome including crucifying their enemies. She meets Lacerta Legate (Macaulay Culkin) who explains the the situation about the civil war they are fighting before crucifying her. She is later saved by the Ghoul.

There is also the Brotherhood and the California New Republic (CNR). All of these factions are seeking to rule and take out their enemies. After the Ghoul saves Lucy, they try to navigate Vegas and find their way to Vault-Tec headquarters. 

The ghouls are basically living dead people. The Ghoul/Cooper is over 200 years old. Ghouls can be wounded but they continue to survive. Some of them suffer with boils and other conditions. Thaddeus (Johnny Pemberton), who becomes Maximus' squire, is a ghoul whose physical condition is degrading. 

Hail Caesar!

Lacerta drags the dead body of the true Caesar into a tent. Caesar had a note on his body saying that he was the Legion and after him that it was over. Lacerta literally gobbles up the note, stabs a soldier who is a witness, and places Caesar's crown on his head. 

He exits the tent and the men see him wearing the crown and cheer him on as the new Caesar. He promises to conquer New Vegas and build a palace aptly named Caesar's Palace. Now, if he could just get The Rat Pack to headline the first show.

Father and Daughter

Hank Wants His Daughter to Comply

The Ghoul gives up Lucy to Hank (who we have learned is doing bad things to people in a laboratory). Hank is attaching little black units to the back of people's necks that causes their personalities to radically shift. They also become his servants and do whatever he commands.

Lucy handcuffs her father and then takes a crowbar to break into the main computer room  to shut down his whole operation. To her horror she finds the head of Diane Welch (Martha Kelly) is at the center of the room in a jar running things. In a flashback we see her in the back of a car with Cooper who gives the Cold Fusion diode to the President of the United States (Clancy Brown). Poor Diane begs Lucy to kill her – she has been hooked up like that for 200 years – and when we next see Lucy there is blood spattered on her yellow dress. 

Lucy Finds Diane's Head Running the Show

She asks Hank why he's doing what he is doing, and Hank tells her that his job is complicated. No matter how he tries to explain things to her, Lucy's sense of justice keeps getting in the way. When he realizes that he can do nothing to convince Lucy that what he is doing is right, Hank prepares to put a unit on Lucy's neck, but the Ghoul saves her by shooting Hank in the ass. The Ghoul tells her that it's her choice to decide what to do with Hank.

Maximus the Good

Radiation has created large monsters called Deathclaws that are threatening the townspeople. Maximus puts on CNR armor to try to stop people from getting hurt. He is doing well at first, but the suit starts to malfunction, and he has no choice but to crawl out of it. Being this is Vegas, he picks up a roulette wheel from the garbage and a pool cue and prepares to fight the monsters like the knights of old, but he doesn't stand a chance. This proves Maximus' inner goodness as he puts his life on the line to save people. Just as he is about to get crushed, a shot rings out, and he is saved by one of the soldiers from the CNR. Then, the rest of the army marches into town. 

The Surface Was the Experiment

As Hank tells Lucy that the people on the surface were the experiment and not the people in the vaults, he vainly tries one last time to convince her. Lucy has the control in her hand that will erase Hank's mind since he now has the chip in his neck, but Hank beats her to it. Now everyone he operated on who are out there will be activated, and Hank's mind goes blank. Purnell does an amazing job of expressing emotion as she hugs the man whom she still loves, but now he is gone forever. 

The Ghoul Finds the Cryo Tubes

The Ghoul is Heading to Colorado

After searching for two seasons, the Ghoul finally finds the tubes where he believes his wife and daughter have been for these last 200 years. Robert House (Justin Theroux) the RobCo CEO's (who has now become completely digital}voice taunts him as he prepares to open the chambers. He told Cooper that he works for him now, and as the tube opens there is just an empty chair. House continues to bother him about not finding what he wanted, but the Ghoul finds a note left by his wife. He knows where to go (Colorado) to find her and his daughter and is happy to know that they are alive. He leaves House and everything connected to him behind, knowing that he and his program will fade away now.

Max and Lucy Reunited

Maximus and Lucy Together Again

It is a tough moment for Lucy. Her father's mind is gone, and she is in the middle of the street with nowhere to go. Suddenly, someone calls her name – it is Maximus. They reunite in a beautiful moment. They go into the office building and make their way to House's office, but everything is now offline. When they look out the window, they see the Legion led by Caesar Lacerta marching into New Vegas to confront the CNR. Lucy says that she started a war, and Max says that he did too, but the fact that they are together again lets us know that they will survive. 

The Verdict

The two seasons of Fallout are an exciting and entertaining viewing experience. There is a different feel here than you might find in The Last of Us and The Walking Dead. In those shows no one knows what caused the epidemic that devastated the world. In Fallout we know who is responsible – well, there is some question whether the people who created Vault-Tec (known as The Enclave) dropped the bombs. 

But, whoever did it, the nuclear devastation was intentional and not some unknown virus or spores. That makes Fallout stand out from the others, because the suffering was caused by our fellow humans. The ramifications of that are a lot harder to accept or understand. 

I'm looking forward to season three. If you have not yet watched the series, I encourage you to do so. You will not be disappointed. Please check out the video below for a more detailed breakdown of the storyline. 

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the 'Batman' TV Series – Other Villains (Part 2)

As I mentioned in my last post about "Other Villains," it was quite amazing that so many big Hollywood stars were lining up to guest star as a villain on the Batman TV series (1966-1969). It was like a fraternity/sorority that everyone wanted to get into to be part of the campy and kitschy fun. 

Even the great Frank Sinatra wanted to be a guest villain, but his agent was leery of the show being considered as beneath the legend's standards, so Frank never appeared. Imagining Sinatra playing one of Batman's antagonists still makes my head spin. 

As we prepare to look at the next batch of villains, it is important to note that there 34 villains overall in the 120 episodes of the series. Between my last post and this one I am covering the guest villains that exclude the main four villains – The Penguin, The Joker, The Riddler, and Catwoman. 

Cesar Romero played The Joker, and Burgess Meredith portrayed The Penguin. Frank Gorshin played The Riddler (10 episodes) as did John Astin (two episodes). Catwoman was played by Julie Newmar in 13 episodes in seasons 1 and 2, with Eartha Kitt taking on the role for 3 episodes in season 3. That adds up to 34 guest villains overall. 

So, now here is a look at the last 14 guest villains who tried to take on Batman and Robin. 

Roger C. Carmel (as Colonel Gumm)

Carmel was busy during this time, playing Gumm on Batman and Harry Mudd in Star Trek (the original series). Both are memorable comedic roles that included a large mustache for villain twirling. What is unfortunate here is that Gumm was featured in an episode that was a crossover for the Green Hornet (Van Williams) and Kato (Bruce Lee), so the focus was less on him and more on hyping their TV series. 

Rudy Vallee and Glynis Johns (as Lord Marmaduke Ffogg and Lady Penelope Peasoup)

This is a very British episode since it takes place away from Gotham City in the Batman universe's version of London called Londinium (the Roman name for the city). I don't remember these villains from my childhood, and watching them now I feel like it was a fish out of water story. Still, having actors of Vallee and Johns' caliber is impressive, and they play up the British aspect of things, especially the fog created by Ffogg's pipe. 

Zsa Zsa Gabor (as Minerva)

This is as glamorous as a Batman episode can get. The lovely Zsa Zsa plays the last villain of the series with pomp and circumstance. While it might have been better to have the big four (Joker, Penguin, Riddler, and Catwoman) reunite to end the series with a bang, Minerva is an interesting villain, and Zsa Zsa embraced the part with gusto, helping to end the series with style and grace. 

Otto Preminger (as Mr. Freeze # 2)

Preminger does a nice job of picking up where George Sanders left off. During his appearance, we learn that Batman is responsible for Freeze's condition because he spilled a chemical onto Freeze during a previous arrest. To return the favor, Freeze tries to turn Batman and Robin into slush. Preminger's turn is notable because he embraces the campy nature of the series and leaves us laughing all the way. 

Eli Wallach (as Mr. Freeze # 3)

Wallach does an incredible job of taking over the role from the previous actors. His Freeze's appearance is markedly different, wearing a crazy wig and exaggerated eyebrows. He now operates from an iceberg located in Gotham Harbor and uses an ice ray gun. I remember him scaring me as a kid, and watching him now I can understand why. Of the three actors who portrayed Mr. Freeze, I think Wallach's performance is most memorable. 

 Anne Baxter (as Olga, Queen of the Cossacks)

Anne Baxter returns to the fold as a different villain. This time playing the Cossack Queen with excited abandon, with a thick Russian accent ordering her Cossack henchmen around. She does share screentime with Egghead (Vincent Price), and they even become a bit romantic. I'd have preferred she had been on her own on her return visit, but you can tell that she was having a great time during her turn as Olga.

Vincent Price (as Egghead)

Playing a character that was not in the comics and created for the series, screen legend Price goes all in as the brilliant criminal who happens to have an obsession with eggs (his overly large, bald head may have something to do with it). Egghead makes many jokes associated with eggs, but it is all part of the campy fun of the series. In his first appearance he is on his own, and in the last two he is with Olga (see above). Either way, Price was egg-zactly what the series needed from a villain.

David Wayne (as Mad Hatter)

Based on the character that appeared in the comics, Wayne's Mad Hatter is played as over the top looney. He has constructed a big machine to kill Batman – what any villain worth his weight in evil wanted to do. And, unsurprisingly, the Hatter is fixated on stealing hats. He also turns Batman's cowl pink with a dose of radiation. I think more than anything that is why I remembered watching this as a kid. Seeing it again now, this episode is just very entertaining. 

Shelley Winters (as Ma Parker)

In another role created for the series, Winters shines as the matriarch of a gang of criminals who happen to be her kids. Instead of some master plan to destroy Batman, Parker's goal is to get herself (and her kids) arrested. Why? She wants to take over Gotham State Penitentiary and form a gang from all the inmates. In case you think the name sounds familiar, it is a variant of the famous criminal Ma Barker, whom Winters would go on to play in the film Bloody Mama. 

Carolyn Jones (as Marsha, Queen of Diamonds)

Jones was an extremely talented actress who became famous for playing Morticia on The Addams Family TV show. She brings her beauty and vivacious energy to the role of Marsha, who, as her name suggests, has a love for diamonds and a sophisticated lifestyle. Aided by her Aunt Hilda (Estelle Windwood) who happens to be a scatter brained witch who casts spells to help Marsha, this adds to the hilarity of Jones' very memorable turn as a Batman villain.

Van Johnson (as Minstrel)

In another role created for the series, Johnson gives an enthusiastic performance as someone who dresses like a medieval lute player who happens to be a genius of electronics. We never learn why he dresses for Halloween all year round, but he does present Batman with a more formidable opponent that ranks up there with The Joker and The Penguin. I remember watching this episode as a kid and being worried that he might defeat the Dynamic Duo.

Milton Berle (as Louie the Lilac)

Series creator William Dozier getting Milton Berle to play a villain was sublime, and Uncle Miltie doesn't disappoint when playing a gangster who also happens to be a florist. His master plan is to recruit flower children and indoctrinate them, so they will eventually rise up, and he can rule the world. Crazy as that sounds, it is the kind of master plan that few Batman villains would attempt. Berle's villain is one that I remember seeing as a kid, and one of the few villains I actually liked. 

Ida Lupino (as Dr. Cassandra Spellcraft)

Getting an actress of Lupino's caliber was another win for Dozier, and she doesn't disappoint in another role created for the series. She is a world famous doctor who has created camouflage pills. Spellcraft and her zany partner Cabala (Howard Duff) plan to use them to break master villains out of Gotham State Penitentiary so they can work for her. It is a fantastic episode and one that was worthy of Lupino's talents. 

Victor Buono (as King Tut)

I have purposely left my favorite villain for last. As yet another character created for the series, Buono's performance as Tut is legendary because he not only embraced the wackiness of the series but went over the top to make it even more wacky. Before Tut went looney tunes,  he was a mild mannered professor of Egyptology at Yale. After being hit in the head during a student riot, he believes he is King Tut. Every time he gets hit in the head he goes back and forth between to his two identities. I loved the Tut character as a kid, and as I watched Buono fully embracing the role now I understand why. 

*

After taking a look at all the villains that opposed Batman and Robin (and later Bat Girl played by Yvonne Craig), it is easy to see what made this series so exceptional. William Dozier was able to bring famous actors on board that shed their Hollywood personalities, let their hair down, and just had fun with the parts they played.

The fact that no one took anything seriously was part of the joke. Batman and Robin would be put in outrageously dangerous situations, but we knew no one was ever going to get hurt. The villains would go to jail without passing go, but somehow they always got out and came back for more. That was part of what made the show so entertaining.

In my next post, I'm going to look at the people who were on Batman's side. They are almost as much fun as the villains who opposed him.

Please come back for more – same bat time, same bat channel! 

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the 'Batman' TV Series – Other Villains (Part 1)

 

Anyone familiar with the Batman TV series (1966-1969) can remember it in either one of two ways – one way is that it was campy and kitsch or whatever derogatory label you can put on it. But the other way is as a show that celebrated and deliberately wanted to be campy and kitsch. That is how I feel, and you have to respect the fact that everyone including Batman/Adam West embraced this fervently. 

When series creator William Dozier acquired rights to Batman, he did so without having ever read the comics. When he did actually start reading them, he made a decision that was legendary. His Batman would not be serious – it would be consciously tongue in cheek. Anyone who has watched the series can attest to that, and that is what makes it even more enjoyable.

This brings me to the villains. In my previous post I focused on the main villains of the series (The Joker, The Penguin, The Riddler, and Catwoman), and while they are still what I think about when I think of the villains in the series, there were also many other villains that came into the show that helped carry it through 120 episodes.

It is no secret that Batman was a pop cultural phenomenon at the time, and big Hollywood stars were chomping at the bit to get in on the looney good fun of guest starring as a villain or making a cameo (in another post I focused on the celebrity window cameos). 

These guest villains were comprised of some of the biggest and well respected Hollywood stars of the time. By guest starring in a Batman episode, they were showing the world that they could be campy and laugh at themselves. Let's say they all did a spectacular job of doing this. 

So, here are the first 14 guest stars that we will look at in this post. In the next post I will look at 14 more. They are in no apparent order.

Liberace (as Chandell and Harry)

Liberace basically plays two versions of himself as a bad guy. What is uniquely funny about it is that Chandell is a like bad Liberace playing the piano, while Harry is just a bad guy thug. Scenes with both of them on screen are hilarious. You have to give Liberace credit for making fun of himself.

Malachi Throne (as False-Face)

I can remember this villain giving me the creeps as a kid. When he is not playing someone else (like Commissioner Gordon in like a Mission Impossible mask), False-Face wears a plastic mask that is like a liner for masks you get in the costume shop. It is disturbing to be sure and makes him a very memorable villain.

Walter Slezak (as Clock King)

Surrounded by all kinds of clocks and wearing multiple watches as the clocks tick and tock and chime, Clock King is a rather bizarre villain. Slezak makes the King into a hilarious oddity among Batman villains, and Slezak deserves credit for making the character into someone that seems right at home in the Gotham City that Batman/Bruce Wayne calls home. 

Roddy McDowell (as Bookworm)

As his name suggests, Bookworm is a lover of books who finds a way to involve books in all of his schemes. His look is one of the more outstanding with a lamp on his hat (he has to be able to read no matter the situation) and his leather outfit like a well bound book makes him stand out in terms of appearance. And I give McDowall a big thumbs up for being all in on making Bookworm very memorable. 

Tallulah Bankhead (as Black Widow)

To get the cinematic legend into the ranks of villains was an accomplishment in itself. Her performance is particularly regal – as would be expected of her. And, as her character's name suggests, there are spiders. Two very large ones are employed to take out Batman and Robin. The regal lady of the cinema gives it her all, and knowing who she is and how she is all in on the joke makes her appearance all the more memorable. 

Art Carney (as Archer)

As a kid I was watching reruns of The Honeymooners at that time, so I was delighted to see Carney come on board as the villain Archer. The character is played like a bad Robin Hood, and Carney in my mind plays it like Norton breaking bad, but it is all in good fun. His henchmen carry around a laugh track machine, so it is kind of like Carney knowing he is in on the joke and letting us know it too.  

George Sanders (as Mr. Freeze)

For some reason, I was very frightened of this character as a kid. Sanders plays the character straight, which means he seems really bad even when he is not wearing the suit and helmet. He was one of three actors to play this character, and it was the one episode that I thought the bad guy might really kill Batman. Thankfully, I was wrong about that.

Barbara Rush (as Nora Clavicle)

Clavicle is a woman's rights activist who somehow takes Commissioner Gordon's job. When I was a kid I didn't know anything about the feminist movement, but looking at the episode again today I think it was just another way that Dozier and his team wanted to tweak the humor at a different but more topical level. 

Ethel Merman (as Lola Lasagne)

Ethel "God Bless America" Merman came on board carrying a parasol and seemingly ready to bust into song. Being the big star that she was, it is odd that she is working with Penguin (Burgess Meredith) in this episode, and they are equally involved in their goal to bring down Batman. Watching it again all these years later, I feel like she should have had an episode where she was the sole villain. At least I feel she deserved that.

Michael Rennie (as Sandman)

Rennie is one of my favorite actors, and I kept thinking of him in The Day the Earth Stood Still as I watched this episode again, I thought that his Sandman should have had his own episode like Merman should have had. Instead, he is working with Catwoman (Julie Newmar) and, while I loved her in that part, Rennie deserved to be putting people to sleep in his own episode. Klaatu Barada Nikto!

Cliff Robertson (as Shame)

Yes, if you know the 1953 film Shane, Robertson's character is supposed to be a spoof of the character memorably played by Alan Ladd. Shame is a kind of goofy guy who thinks he's from the Wild West but is committing crimes in the present. Robertson appears twice as Shame in the series, and both appearances are memorable ones that I enjoyed. He brought a different feel to the show as he was not an ordinary opponent for Batman (as if any of his opponents were ordinary). 

Joan Collins (as Siren)

Joan Collins plays the beautiful Siren as a femme fatale, but unlike the sirens from The Odyssey, she is not part fish. She can hit a particularly gruesome high note that instead of luring men to their deaths causes them to do whatever she wants. I don't remember seeing this one as a kid, but watching it now I found her Siren to be one of the less enjoyable villains in the series. 

Maurice Evans (The Puzzler)

Evans was rather busy in the 60s, playing Samantha's warlock father on Bewitched and popping in here as what seems like another version of The Riddler. Evans appears to be in on the fun while launching puzzle balloons, I do not remember this episode either from when I was a kid, and it's kind of forgettable even now. It makes me laugh to think that shortly after this that he would be putting on an ape suit to play Dr. Zaius in the great movie Planet of the Apes. 

Anne Baxter (Zelda the Great)

Baxter with tongue firmly in cheek plays a magician who is also a bank robber. She can only keep doing her magic act by stealing. Baxter shines in this episode though she is not in enough scenes, and it seems like the best part is her escape artist act. Overall, I found this to be a less than memorable Batman episode, especially considering Baxter's considerable talent. 

So, there you have it, Batman fans. I hope you enjoyed reading about these 14 guest stars who appeared as villains on the show. My next post will focus on the remaining 14 guest stars who appeared as villains.

Please come back  at the same Bat time, the same Bat channel! 

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the 'Batman' TV Series – A Look At Our Wonderful Main Villains

 

As I am celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Batman TV series (1966-1969), I am writing a series of posts to focus on different aspects of the show. Today I want to put the spotlight on our delightful and dastardly main villains who tried to put a dent in Batman's cape. 

Each of them are glorious in their own right, so lets take a look at the characters and the actors who portrayed them so well. I have put them in the order of the frequency of appearances in the series.

1. The Penguin (20 episodes)

Burgess Meredith brought a delightful pugnaciousness to the role of Penguin (which he would do again but differently when he played Mickey in the film Rocky). Armed with a trick umbrella that could knock people out with the gas it emitted, Penguin was perhaps the most devious villain of them all, and Meredith's enthusiasm certainly exuded from his flippers as he waddled across his scenes.

Most Memorable Moment: 

Penguin plants clues that Batman follows in hopes of catching him; however, it is a setup and makes Batman stumble into committing the crime himself. As I mentioned, Penguin was the most devious indeed.   

2. The Joker (19 episodes)

As played with visible glee by Cesar Romero, the Joker proved to be a worthy opponent of Batman every time he popped up. His Joker was sadistic and a narcissist, and he delighted in getting Batman and Robin tied down on some terrible contraption that we kids feared would be the last of the Dynamic Duo. 

Most Memorable Moment

The Joker takes over a TV program of the opera Pagliacci and dresses up for the part. When his henchmen seize Batman and Robin, the Joker attempts to unmask them on live TV. This definitely sent my young heart racing when I saw it for the first time. 

3. Catwoman (16 episodes)

Julie Newmar

Julie Newmar played the part for 13 episodes in seasons 1 and 2, while Eartha Kitt appeared in three episodes in season 3. As a young boy I fell in love with Newmar in the part, and I could understand why Batman/Bruce Wayne fell in love with her too. She played the part with a trace of vulnerability that was appealing. Eartha Kitt's performance was memorable for how different she was than Newmar. She was more aggressive and deadly. It was a good choice to play the part in a very different way.

Eartha Kitt

Most Memorable Moment

Batman discovers that he is attracted to Catwoman (Newmar), and she lets it be known that she likes him too. As a kid I was a little surprised that Batman could like a villain, but I kind of liked her too. 

 4. Riddler (13 episodes)

Frank Gorshin

Frank Gorshin memorably played the part for 10 episodes. He was my favorite villain. I found him to be so hilariously over the top, and I believe he was the most intellectually challenging villain for Batman. Gorshin barely suppresses the natural comedian inside, and his laughter is a freakish and eerie delight. 

Just to note John Astin played Riddler in two episodes, and in the third season an uncredited actor played the part in a cameo. 

Most Memorable Moment

John Astin

Riddler (Gorshin) throws Robin off a building (scaring my youthful self like crazy) but Batman throws down a Batarang, which Robin bites into to save himself. Later Robin exclaims "Holy molars" To which Batman replies, "True. You owe you life to dental hygiene."  

Batman: The Movie 1966

Batman and Robin would face off against all four of these villains in Batman: The Movie (1966). What could be better than the main villains coming together to finally defeat Batman? The plot has a kind of James Bond vibe with the evil quartet threatening the world with a secret device that can dehydrate people. This time around Lee Meriwether puts on the catsuit. 

While the plot is rather flimsy, the film is memorable for the famous scene involving Batman battling a shark while dangling from a helicopter ladder. Please check out the scene below.

What's Coming Next?

Next time I will be taking a look at the rest of the villains that opposed Batman and Robin in the show's three seasons. 

Until next time, I will see you again at the same Bat time, same Bat channel! 

Snowmageddon 2026 – Let it Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow?

View outside my window

As I look out my window as I type on my keyboard, the snow is coming down in buckets. The weather outside is indeed frightful, but there is no fire inside that is delightful (I'm working in my office and the fireplace is downstairs). Already knowing that I will be working from home tomorrow,  I am just getting some stuff done today. 

I dread the shoveling that will follow this Snowmageddon – 2026 version –  and the clearing off the cars that takes forever. There are also the cold temperatures to deal with. 15 degrees Fahrenheit is only tolerable for a short time. Dashes inside for hot cocoa are helpful, but then it's back out into the jaws of icy hell.

Tablecloths on steps

One thing I've learned to do is to cover my front steps. My front steps can get extremely icy. I use any old tablecloths that I have already used and are in good condition. Spreading the tablecloths over the steps and then securing them under the front door at the top step and with bricks on the bottom step prevents the snow and then invariably the ice from sticking to the steps. It really works. 

Windshield Wipers

Here's a tip to help you when cleaning off your car. Stand your wiper blades up so that they don't get frozen to your windshield. I've been doing this for years now, and it really helps when you want to scrape that windshield clean. Also, be sure that your windshield wiper fluid is full because it is essential to use it at this time of year.

So, after writing and publishing this post, I'm going to get some other work done. If I can make it a productive day, I don't feel as if I'm wasting time like watching the weather report all day and hearing them say the same thing over and over.  

NYC Public Schools are going remote tomorrow, and I heard on the radio that a number of colleges are closing as well. If it is at all possible, work from home if you can. Governor Hochul has made an announcement that because of the extremely low temperatures that even when they salt the roads it will be less effective. I'm sure governors and mayors across all the states that are affected will be making similar announcements. 

If you are anywhere between New Mexico and New England, You are experiencing some sort of inclement weather. We will get through this, although here in the NYC area we are going to have freezing conditions for the rest of the week, so the snow isn't melting anytime soon. 

Stay well and stay safe out there!