TV Shows that started out good and toward the end it changed totally

[US71]

Batman got pretty lame, and it really didn't take all that long.  In the second season, Batman ran for city mayor and encouraged people to vote.  Not exactly superhero escapades.

I'm sure many of us didn't appreciate it when we watched it as kids, but Batman vs The Penguin for the mayor of Gotham City was a great commentary on how outlandish some aspects of our political system are.  And this was in 1968 - things have only gotten worse since then.  To me, the decline of Batman really began when they introduced Batgirl, and accelerated when they dropped the two-episodes per plot (and the inevitable cliffhanger ending of episode 1) in favor of the single episode format.

Batgirl was brought in, in part, because ratings were slipping. 

[PHLBOS]

Batman got pretty lame, and it really didn't take all that long.  In the second season, Batman ran for city mayor and encouraged people to vote.  Not exactly superhero escapades.

I'm sure many of us didn't appreciate it when we watched it as kids, but Batman vs The Penguin for the mayor of Gotham City was a great commentary on how outlandish some aspects of our political system are.  And this was in 1968 - things have only gotten worse since then.

Never mind 1968, the 1939 movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington with Jimmy Stewart showed such as well.  When that movie was released, it was heavily criticized by many politicians at the time.  I guess the story-line & its elements touched a few nerves.

Edit: it was not my intention to steer this thread off-topic.

[abefroman329]

Batman got pretty lame, and it really didn't take all that long.  In the second season, Batman ran for city mayor and encouraged people to vote.  Not exactly superhero escapades.

I'm sure many of us didn't appreciate it when we watched it as kids, but Batman vs The Penguin for the mayor of Gotham City was a great commentary on how outlandish some aspects of our political system are.  And this was in 1968 - things have only gotten worse since then.

Never mind 1968, the 1939 movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington with Jimmy Stewart showed such as well.  When that movie was released, it was heavily criticized by many politicians at the time.  I guess the story-line & its elements touched a few nerves.

I started reading Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail in 2016 and was struck by how little had changed.

[lepidopteran]

...when they dropped the two-episodes per plot (and the inevitable cliffhanger ending of episode 1) in favor of the single episode format.

Amazing how I still hear the catchphrase "Same bat-time, same bat-channel" decades later, in reference to a recurring event or such.  I even use the line myself sometimes.

Wasn't there at least one cliffhanger that the dynamic duo had no real way of getting out of?  And when they returned the next day, they already had escaped, with one of them beginning with something like "Can't believe how we got out of that one, Batman!"

[abefroman329]

...when they dropped the two-episodes per plot (and the inevitable cliffhanger ending of episode 1) in favor of the single episode format.

Amazing how I still hear the catchphrase "Same bat-time, same bat-channel" decades later, in reference to a recurring event or such.  I even use the line myself sometimes.

Wasn't there at least one cliffhanger that the dynamic duo had no real way of getting out of?  And when they returned the next day, they already had escaped, with one of them beginning with something like "Can't believe how we got out of that one, Batman!"

I thought they still used the "same Bat-Time, same Bat-Channel!" sign off even when the ep wasn't a cliffhanger.  And yes, I remember an ep like the one where you described, where they didn't show the escape.

[Stephane Dumas]

...when they dropped the two-episodes per plot (and the inevitable cliffhanger ending of episode 1) in favor of the single episode format.

Amazing how I still hear the catchphrase "Same bat-time, same bat-channel" decades later, in reference to a recurring event or such.  I even use the line myself sometimes.

Wasn't there at least one cliffhanger that the dynamic duo had no real way of getting out of?  And when they returned the next day, they already had escaped, with one of them beginning with something like "Can't believe how we got out of that one, Batman!"

I wonder what if instead of airing back then the 2nd part of the Bat-episode the following day, they aired it the following week?

[davewiecking]

There were some episodes that were 3 parters, which did extend into the next bat-week...

[roadman]

I thought they still used the "same Bat-Time, same Bat-Channel!" sign off even when the ep wasn't a cliffhanger.  And yes, I remember an ep like the one where you described, where they didn't show the escape.

Years ago, The Simpsons did a parody of that.  Bart and Adam West are trapped in a situation they can't get out of, and Adam says "Don't worry Bart.  Any minute now, the director will yell "Cut", and we can just climb down from here."