Batgirl

Batgirl's identity was hidden by her Batmask. When she donned it, she became a kookie krazy crime fighter

Batgirl was a television action thriller-sitcom-soap opera that aired on analogue network television in 1973. The show was an attempt by the network to jump start the ratings of Thomas’ show, That Girl.

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Instead of being perky Ann Marie, a naive but good hearted girl trying to make it on her own as a struggling actress, Marlo Thomas was now Ann Marie Gordon, a struggling actress with just a hint of pure sweetness and a passion for bug tussling with criminals in Gotham City when she wasn’t waiting tables, who also loved the group Moloko. Each episode began with Batgirl rescuing someone and when the victim came to, they always said, “I know you are... you’re Batgirl!”

Helping Batgirl was her ever faithful, always smiling butler/fiancée, Donald Hollinger. What made the relationship special was that despite the fact they could marry and get away from New York City, Donald, always nattily attired and never far from a bottle of Champaign, could get up the gumption and pop the question, or ask for permission to drive the Batgirl’s Batconvertible. It is highly doubted if he ever figured out the location of her BatCave, let alone visit it.

New York's City’s Police Commissioner Gordon was always finding an excuse to summon Batgirl by flying her kite. Even though she was young enough to be his daughter, the old man simply enjoyed seeing Ann Marie in her mini-skirted bat-costume with its form fitting tights and black vinyl boots. But Batgirl was always first to point to the Police Commissioner (and the stooge cop who hung out in the Commissioner office to take a gander as well) that each of them was “free to be, you and me.”

Being Batgirl wasn’t all fun and hanging around waiting for something to happen. No, being Batgirl required a keen sense of perkiness and the ability to walk into rooms and up stairs that listed anywhere from 10 to 45 degrees off center.

Guest Villains

Batgirl frequently fought off guest stars who were offered enough money to don unitards, capes and masks for the sake of art, of course. Frequently returning guests included George Wallace as The Joker, Anita Bryant as Catwoman and Wayne Newton as The Lounge Singer. Each were, evil in their own way (thus making them villains) – but just when its seemed that they would get their way, there’d come Batgirl, kick them in the shins, and spoil their fun.

Is this the end of Batgirl?

Eventually tired of waiting for Donald to pop the question in real life, and unable to get producers to change the title to Batindividual, Ms. Thomas left the role of Batgirl to work with children in violence diversion programs, leaving Gotham City to the criminals. In the late 1970s, Thomas married her complete equal, Phil Donahue after she was a guest star on his show Three’s Cohabitation co-starring Dick Cavett as two males who get a black female roommate played by Oprah Winfrey. In order to get Winfrey past their bigoted landlord, played by the lovable Lester Maddox, the two men pretend Winfrey isn’t black at all. Since Maddox doesn't have a problem with an unmarried woman living with two men, he lets her stay, but is always trying to catch her being black.

Batgirl, the Movie

In 1989 movie producers decided to revive the Batgirl concession through a movie of the same name. In casting the role of Batgirl, producers sought to find a young star who personified Ms. Thomas’ goodness and belief that all humans are children of the earth, etc., and so on. Failing that, they cast Tawny Kitaen in the role of the caped crusader because she looked good in tight clothing and had a lot of experience wrestling with men and coming out on top. Her boyfriend, Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale provided the sound track, as he did for most of Tim Burton's subsequent films. Unfortunately, the director's visual emphasis of latex nipples and codpieces gave the film an R rating that lost them millions in ticket sales.