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Aliens, robots, and monsters, oh my! Lost in Space and the battle with Batman
Batman was a phenomenon. So what's a show to do to compete?
In 1966, it seemed like Batman was unbeatable. Not only was the Caped Crusader besting foes like The Penguin and The Riddler, but in real life, the same-named live-action series was considered the biggest television phenomenon of the mid-'60s. How then, was the competition supposed to survive? Were shows on other networks doomed to be foiled again, every week, like The Joker and Catwoman?
One of those shows, on one of those other networks, was Lost in Space, a sci-fi series inspired by Swiss Family Robinson. Here, though, instead of being shipwrecked in the East Indies, the Robinsons were marooned in the infinite depths of outer space.
How were the Robinsons to possibly compete with the ratings bonanza that was Batman's first season? To hear assistant producer Paul Zastupnevich put it, the key was the show's creatures. Throughout their adventures trying to get back home, the Robinsons encounter a wide array of nefarious aliens and monsters. "Strange as it may seem, our space villains are quite realistic compared to these comic book characters," Zastupnevich told the Quad-City Times. Those space villains were crucial in luring a key demographic away from the masked vigilante. Zastupnevich optimistically reported that children under 12 preferred the weird monsters of Lost in Space.
The special effects crew paid careful consideration to make each creature unique and believable. "You can't just put an actor in a fish costume and throw him into the water," said Zastupnevich. "He needs an air hose because we can't shoot him with a bulky air tank on his back. If the actor used an air tank, air bubbles would result and ruin the whole effect."
Dreaming up new monsters was a multi-step process, involving Zastupnevich or producer Irwin Allen communicating ideas for a sketch department to mock up on a drawing board. Then, a few days later, the ideas would be actualized as the special effects crew constructed the monster for filming.
In addition to the monsters and aliens, the show's robot was central in selling the show to kids. The unnamed robot displayed human emotion while coming equipped with superhuman strength and high-tech weaponry and gadgets. According to Zastupnevich, the android was the subject of many kids' fascination. "Children," he said, "love that robot."
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"Batman" was also produced by Fox, and it was expensive, too, which is why, sensation or not, the show ended its run after three seasons.
So it preceeds Batman
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"Aliens, robots, and monsters, oh my!" - Homage to “Lions & tigers & bears, oh my!” from
" The Wizard of Oz."
On another night, a year or two later, that also meant we never got to find out what Dick Martin's aunt once said.