#116 Victor Buono: Holy Ad-Libbed Comedy!

One question on our minds almost since the beginning of To the Batpoles! has been: Just how much did Victor Buono, as King Tut, ad lib on the show? In this episode, we answer that question by comparing the final script to King Tut's Coup/Batman's Waterloo to what was broadcast, helping us to see the difference between Buono's sense of humor and Stanley Ralph Ross's, and to gain a keen appreciation of the considerable comedic contributions of Lee Meriweather to this arc. The script also reveals the producer's instruction to insert a late-season-two reference to Barbara Gordon. We also compare Ross's version to the original version of the story that he rewrote, Tut Tut Tut by Leo and Pauline Townsend, and discover how Ross inserted Ross family members' names into the script, how much the Townsend's story (especially the opening teaser) resembled that of season one's The Curse of Tut, the Catwoman reference Ross wanted to insert, and more. Also, the Damian Bacci guitar tutorial version of the theme, that Adam West/Burt Ward radio station contest clip you may have heard about, and your voluminous mail on our Nora Clavicle episode! The scripts: Tut Tut Tut, treatment by Pauline and Leo Townsend Tut Tut Tut, by Pauline and Leo Townsend King Tut's Coup, Stanley Ralph Ross' draft rewrite of Tut Tut Tut King Tut's Coup, final, by Stanley Ralph Ross Thread about these scripts on the 66 Batman Message Board   Tim's "Buono's on fire" script page (click to enlarge)