"Fine Feathered Finks" was only the second two part episode, but already writer Lorenzo Semple Jr. had set the pattern for the entire series, here introducing one of the most popular foes of the Caped Crusader, The Penguin, waddling master of fowl play. Mickey Rooney was first choice, but a scheduling conflict led to the casting of Burgess Meredith, whose extensive stage and film career ("Of Mice and Men") overshadowed his TV career (several beloved episodes of THE TWILIGHT ZONE). An unselfish jobbing actor, Meredith turned out to be so in tune with the role that he became producer William Dozier's favorite, building up his costume and waddling like the avian for which he was so named. The now familiar quack was not intentional, but came from the actor's aversion to the cigarette holder that seemingly never leaves his clenched teeth, being a longtime non smoker this enabled him to cough out the offending smoke! The passage of 50 years dims the memory of how 1966 viewers reacted at the sight of this not so well known actor's first scene as The Penguin, courtesy a private showing of film orchestrated by Warden Crichton (David Lewis, making the first of his eight appearances), whose progressive policies don't seem to work in rehabilitating arch criminals. Once released, Penguin opens an umbrella shop using the pseudonym 'K.G. Bird,' and though several suspicious incidents occur involving trick umbrellas no crimes take place. Bruce Wayne decides to take matters into his own hands by planting a bug in Penguin's shop, but it's discovered and the culprit captured and sent to perish in a tempering furnace capable of reaching 10,000 degrees. The main henchmen are two very familiar faces, Walter Burke and Lewis Charles, the latter returning for the only two part Penguin story from the third season.
Review of Fine Feathered Finks
