Blabbin 'Bout Batman: The Animated Series - Joker's Favor

Just like Animaniacs a year later, BTAS was appointment watching for me and my droogs in college (one friend was waaaay too obsessed with a Clockwork Orange, so I use it here ironically). I was always impressed with the voice cast. I never realized that Charlie was played by Ed Beagly Jr, who incidentally is one of only a handful of people to appear in Star Trek, Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica. He was a Bill Gates type on Voyager, played Boba Fett in the Star Wars radio drama of Return of the Jedi and Ensign Greenbean, a Viper pilot on the original BSG. I had also an uncle named Bob Hastings who ironically passed away the very day this podcast went live.

Stephen C. Nedell

I am so very baffled by the Arleen Sorkin reverse racism thing, mostly because by the time that lawsuit made it to press, the host who replaced her was Tawny Kitaen, who is also white. I just... don't understand how this would have happened.

Drew Mackie

We are probably dealing with a supernatural being, most likely a mummy. As a precaution I've ordered the Aztec wing of the museum destroyed

I haven't seen that custard scene in 2 decades and as henry was describing it i remembered it in perfect detail lol

Nathanial Miller

My read on Joker’s request of a favor down the line from Charlie is a nod to the opening of “The Godfather” where Don Corleone promises to do favors for wedding guests in exchange for favors at some undisclosed future time. It’s not a 1:1 comparison, but by invoking this sort of exchange, it gives the Joker a sort of “criminal mastermind” air without having to spell it out or hang a lampshade on it.

Manu

I recently bought a copy of Batman Animated over the summer. It was when things were kind of opening up post vaccination that I ventured out to a local comic book store just basically looking to spend some money since I figure that type of business was hit hardest in 2020. They had a copy of Batman Animated which I decided to buy as I had always wanted to read it. I brought it up to the register and the owner remarked how it been around for awhile and maybe he could do something for me. He ended up knocking five bucks off of the retail price which I was thankful for. It was a nice gesture he didn't have to do. I had no idea though that the book was hard to come by and regularly sells for over 100 bucks now. I feel like I should go back to the store and just give the guy a 20 at least for actually selling this thing to me below retail. Great to see you guys do a bunch of BTAS. I think "The Laughing Fish" is my favorite Joker episode, but this is a close second and I agree with your rationale for choosing it here. This is just a great portrayal of Joker. He feels dangerous, and even though we don't see him actually murder people, the implication is there. When this show started airing, I had just moved from New Hampshire to Virginia so I had no friends except for the TV and this was my after school show. Penguin and Catwoman may have been all the rage, but I personally was going into a "fireworks factory" mode waiting for an episode with Joker. Once I got it, I was almost freaked out by him, which is good! I generally agree with you about air date order vs production with this show, though I do wish they aired this after The Last Laugh and Be a Clown for the simple reason there's no Harley. It was just weird to see the character disappear in the next few Joker appearances when there was obvious chemistry here with her and Joker (not romantic, she just plays off him so well). I don't think she showed up again until Almost Got 'im which aired in November.

Joe Hodgson

This episode really illustrates why BTAS Joker is the best version of the character, as well as what's been really lacking with him in recent years. His plan/threat is violent, yes, but it's also whacky and ridiculous, and he's actually capable of being funny and weird instead of just edgy and a 12 year old's idea of anarchy. If Batman is humorless (more or less) then Joker should be able to slide into the actually-funny side of things and not just be entirely sinister. Modern Joker writers focus too hard on just having him be dark, with shitty jokes, and not doing much else with him.

Dylan (batmanboy11) Freitag