The Batgirl That TV Never Saw

yvonne_craig070During the second season of the Batman television series starring Adam West and Burt Ward, executive producer William “Bill” Dozier asked DC Comics editor for a female bat-heroine he might add to the program. Collaborating with artist Carmine Infantino and author Gardner Fox, Schwartz created Commissioner Gordon’s previously unmentioned daughter Barbara who became Batgirl when interrupted by a villain called the Killer Moth while on her way to a costume party.

Dozier cast Yvonne Craig (who famously played the green Orion dancing girl Marta in an episode of Star Trek) as Batgirl – Barbara Gordon and prepared this 7-and-a-half minute test footage while seeking renew for a third season on the ABC network. The show got renewed, although it lost one of its two nights per week and therefore lost its two-part episodes with the cliffhanger endings in the middle. This promo never aired and the Killer Moth, featured in this scene, never appeared in the series.

Batgirl_Pilot

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Action Flick Chick Katrina Hill, author of the books Action Movie Freak and 100 Greatest Graphic Novels , learned to appreciate all things action at a young age by sneaking into the room while her two older brothers watched action movies and horror. At ActionFlickChick.com, she shares her love of these films with everyone, along with interviews, news, and whatever else she happens to choose. G4TV crowned her their Next Woman of the Web champion, and she co-hosted MTV Geek’s live Comic-Con coverage. Her articles have appeared at sites including MTV.com, io9.com, Arcade Sushi, and Newsarama. Follow her as @ActionChick on Twitter. Base of operations: Dallas, Texas. Favorite Movie: Tremors (1990).
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4 Responses to The Batgirl That TV Never Saw

  1. Pingback: Action Flick Chick - » The Wonder Woman TV Never Saw: Who’s Afraid of Diana Prince?

  2. Sean D. says:

    I seem to remember the commissioner mentioned he had a daughter in a couple of pre-Batgirl episodes. (Possibly even mentioning a name) but it could be something that was slipped in during the second season scripts once the wheels were in motion for Babs/Batgirl to show up in the comics and planning for season 3.

  3. Rob says:

    Video’s gone now. 🙁 As a grade schooler, I had a crush on Batgirl. Well, Batgirl, Joan of Arc, etc…pretty much any woman who wasn’t afraid to be her best.

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