The Sandman (Micheal Rennie) is in Gotham, and for the first time in the television series, a supervillain pairs up with another master criminal, in this case, Catwoman (Julie Newmar) in this two-parter was written by Charles Hoffman and Ellis St. Joseph who also came up with the orghinal story, but exited after Catwoman was incorporated into the story.

The first part, The Sandman Cometh, debuted on 28 December, 1966.

The villainous team-up is after a rich widow J. Pauline Spaghetti (Spring Byington). She’s an insomniac who is desperate to finally have a good night’s sleep. When Catwoman and Sandman pull a huge PR stunt to recommend Sandman as a sleep doctor, they receive an invitation to Spaghetti’s penthouse.

But can Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) be far behind?

Well, initially yes, they spend the first half of the episode trying to get back to Wayne Manor because they were out on a camping trip with a number of fellows. This just lets Sandman and Catwoman have more of the narrative to themselves and we learn that both of them are planning on betraying the other when their crimes come to fruition.

As Batman and Robin investigate the clues lead them to a mattress store that Sandman is using as cover, and fisticuffs ensue (of course) just as they seem to have triumphed find themselves overwhelmed, captured and racing toward the story’s cliffhanger that sees them… Robin is under Sandman’s sleep control and Batman is tied down to a stitching machine that Robin activates!

The Catwoman Goeth aired the following night on 29 December, 1966 and as Robin is being delivered to Catwoman for her to dispose of, Batman works on his escape from the stitching machine!

Catwoman and Sandman seem completely ahead of the heroes and are ready to knock over Spaghetti and then get the other out of the way.

While Batman is free (only to discover that Sandman has stolen the batmobile) and attempting to track down his partner and stop the villains, Catwoman places Robin in a maze that may keep him trapped forever. Also in the maze is an undercover policewoman (Jeanie Moore) whose identity was rumbled in the previous episode.

Alfred (Alan Napier) helps Batman get around the city on the Alf-cycle, but then has an almost troubling encounter with a pair of police officers, played by James Brolin (his second appearance in the series) want to cite Batman for a number of traffic and car issues.

Reunited with the batmobile Batman uses all the gadgets and wits at his disposal to learn Catwoman and Sandman’s location and rescue Robin!

A quick interaction with Catwoman frees Robin, Batman and she still have a great chemistry, and then the heroes grab the bat-boat and race to Spaghetti’s island and have a final confrontation with Sandman, saving Spaghetti from making a horrible mistake in marrying the villain and giving up all of her property and assets.

All ends well for our heroes in the end, and Gotham can rest easy until next time…