Batman & The Addams Family

[Riddler Fan]

Has anyone else ever noticed the link between Batman and The Addams Family? Both stars of Addams family played Bat-Villains (John Astin & Carolyn Jones) and Ted Cassidy makes a window cameo. I can't think and any other TV show that got as many plugs, even though The Addams Family was off the air by the time Batman aired.

[Dr. Shimel]

What's even more amazing is that Hogan's Heroes got a plug. I'm guessing the suits at ABC weren't too happy when they saw that.

[SprangFan]

No kidding; Klink's cameo should disturb anyone. Batman tells him to say hi to Colonel Hogan, who's apparently still being held in Stalag 13 a full two decades after Germany's surrender!

[Riddlersgurl]

Considering that Klink wasn't in uniform, maybe it was for a reunion of prisoners and command staff.

[epaddon]

Would have been funnier if they go by the window and then it opens and we see the head of Sergeant Schultz looking up dubiously and then going, "I SEE NOTHING, NOTHING!"

[Riddlersgurl]

THAT would have been PERFECT!!!!

[Dr. Shimel]

Of course, the Batclimb/Logical Place connection was always a bit off. For example, Klink opens the door at the Exposition Hall of the Gotham City Coliseum, which didn't make a lot sense, but then it was better than Sammy Davis Jr. and his band practicing in the same run-down building where Clock King was holed up.

[epaddon]

Or Dick Clark as they were descending the outside of Police Headquarters!

[exm]

I just figured Clark had been caught dipping his dipthong:)

[Batman1962]

Has anyone else ever noticed the link between Batman and The Addams Family? Both stars of Addams family played Bat-Villains (John Astin & Carolyn Jones) and Ted Cassidy makes a window cameo. I can't think and any other TV show that got as many plugs, even though The Addams Family was off the air by the time Batman aired.

Don't forget that Batman aired on Wednesday nights, and Wednesday was the name of Gomez and Morticia's daughter.

[Riddler Fan]

Has anyone else ever noticed the link between Batman and The Addams Family? Both stars of Addams family played Bat-Villains (John Astin & Carolyn Jones) and Ted Cassidy makes a window cameo. I can't think and any other TV show that got as many plugs, even though The Addams Family was off the air by the time Batman aired.

Don't forget that Batman aired on Wednesday nights, and Wednesday was the name of Gomez and Morticia's daughter.

How'd I miss that??

Also Wednesday's Middle name was Thursday and Batman also aired on Thursday.

[mattman]

And Burt, Alan, Madge, Neil and Stafford were all part of Adam's family.

I thank you

[bat-rss]

Does anyone know if the three Addams Family cast members who appeared in Batman season two (1966-67, the season immediately after Addams Family's second and final season) were under some kind of contract where they were still being paid even though their show was cancelled, so they could be asked to make appearances elsewhere, such as on Batman?

This idea was suggested in the "Marsha, Queen of Diamonds" episode of The Batcave Podcast, and I'm just wondering if it holds any water.

Alternatively, it could have just been because they were all free, with AF having been cancelled. And very odd that Ted Cassidy appears in character is Lurch, when there's no more AF on ABC to promote!

[Ben Bentley]

Does anyone know if the three Addams Family cast members who appeared in Batman season two (1966-67, the season immediately after Addams Family's second and final season) were under some kind of contract where they were still being paid even though their show was cancelled, so they could be asked to make appearances elsewhere, such as on Batman?

This idea was suggested in the "Marsha, Queen of Diamonds" episode of The Batcave Podcast, and I'm just wondering if it holds any water.

Alternatively, it could have just been because they were all free, with AF having been cancelled. And very odd that Ted Cassidy appears in character is Lurch, when there's no more AF on ABC to promote!

So at first my knee jerk reaction was to double check as to when "The Penguins Nest/The Bird's Last Jest" was shot on the off chance the explanation lay there, but no, this two-parter was shot way after the final episode of The Addams Family aired back in the April of 1966. I don't know enough about the in's and outs of the cancellation of T.A.F to offer any additional insight into contractual aspects of Lurch's appearance, but in an attempt to apply some logic to a perhaps network-based decision to use Lurch, perhaps they were acknowledging upcoming re-runs/syndication of T.A.F? After a quick search, I was not able to identify when re-runs of that show began.

Perhaps someone here who is a bigger Addams Family TV fan can clue us in?

[Jim K, Bat fan]

Here's my theory - the producers had a crystal ball and knew that one day, Batman would be on the same night with The Addams Family - first on UHF, and later on cable. So it makes perfect sense in that world!