Roddenberry's lechery was legendary, yes. And even though she went on to "Grand Old Dame" status in Trek fandom, even Majel Barrett started out as Gene's mistress. The network brass hated her as "Number One" in the first pilot, mostly because they knew how she got the job. When they insisted the character be dropped from the series proper, Gene had another "embattled genius" myth to take on the road to college campuses and SF conventions for the rest of his life: How the big bad network wasn't ready for a female lead, even though he as the forward-thinking progressive creator championed her, strictly in the interests of women's lib.
Then of course he snuck her onto the show, anyway, in a blonde wig as Nurse Chapel.
As far as Ivarson (and Moore) it's interesting to study what works and what doesn't on a show like Batman. A certain degree of "over the top" is called for, but it takes a skilled performer to get it right. In the same episode, Cesar nails the spirit of campy excess, as would Burgess Meredith in his episodes, and even the manic lunacy of Gorshin somehow always stays within bounds, never quite overwhelming the proceedings. Ivarson seems to understand on some level that "Batman" calls for more exaggeration and bombast than, say, "Gunsmoke" or "Peyton Place," but she takes it way too far with broad gestures and mugging. At the end, she says, "It'll be a long time before I go to another art show!" and follows it up with a head nod, like Buckwheat saying, "Me too, neither...HMPH!"
In her defense, how do you deliver a line like, "You gorgeous hunk of man!" to Cesar in whiteface and a fuchsia coat and tails without knowing it's ridiculous? But the key, I think, is to downplay the craziness; act like you're sincere, never telegraph to the audience how crazy it is. We know already. You know you've blown it when you're sharing the screen with that guy in whiteface, fuchsia tails and green wig and it's only when YOU open your mouth that the audience says, "Okay, now that's too much."
Take me to Bruce Wayne's vault or I swear I'll take her gag off!"You were right again, Batman. We might have been killed."
"Or worse. Let's go..."
