HOLY TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS, BATMAN!
A Complete List (I Think) Of All The "Holy" Expletives
Uttered By Burt Ward (a.k.a. Robin, The Boy Wonder)
This is one of those silly little endeavors that grew out of another project I was undertaking at the time...
I was endeavoring to put together a chronological timeline for the 1960s Batman television series - similar to those for certain other pop culture franchises prepared over the years by such friends and colleagues as Win Scott Eckert, Rick Lai and Matthew Baugh - that would incorporate not only the TV series and its 1966 spin-off theatrical film but also two tie-in novels, the popular DC Comics Batman ’66 comic book series and two direct-to-video animated sequels made prior to Adam West’s death in 2017. It seemed like one of those ideas that would be fun to put together - but to my surprise it has proven a little more difficult than I had originally anticipated and, as of this writing, remains a work-in-progress.
As I was working on the proposed timeline, Greg Berlanti’s five-episode television adaptation of the classic Crisis On Infinite Earths comic book series aired on the CW Network in late 2019. The adaptation made a kind of pop culture history of its own when it brought in versions of various DC characters who had appeared in other TV shows and movies over the years - including, for one brief, exciting moment in the very first episode, Burt Ward as a character clearly meant to be an older Dick Grayson, the former Robin the Boy Wonder. And when I heard Ward recite his one and only line of dialogue in that episode, with an updated variation of Neil Hefti’s Batman theme playing in the background, a familiar childlike thrill swept over me - it suddenly occurred to me that it might be fun to put together a comprehensive listing of all the numerous “Holy” expletives that Ward-as-Robin became so famous for.
It wasn’t an original idea by any means; such lists have appeared elsewhere over the years, most notably in Joel Eisner’s The Great Batman Batbook as well as on various Internet sites. But I’d noticed that those lists all tend to be alphabetical in nature, and are typically limited to the TV series and its theatrical spin-off. Since then, however, Ward had brought Dick Grayson/Robin to life in other projects - the Crisis adaptation was just the latest - and I wanted to include those projects as well… as well as a couple of television promos featuring Burt Ward, and even the online coverage of Ward’s 2020 Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony. (My list, my rules.) I also wanted to try and present, as best I could, the many versions of Robin’s catch phrase in the order in which they were exclaimed, rather than the usual alphabetical glossary.
A goofy idea, I’ll grant you - but one of those goofy ideas that, once I’ve had it, I just can’t seem to shake until I’ve seen it through and gotten it out of my system. Besides, it gave me an excuse to watch the entire Batman ’66 oeuvre again straight through… and speaking as a lifelong fan whose earliest memories are of being a three-year-old sitting on his daddy’s knee watching Adam West and Burt Ward’s adventures when they originally aired in 1966, any excuse to watch the series again is always seen as welcome.
Especially these days, when fun diversions can sometimes seem so few and far between…
And so, for no better reason than the fact that I simply wanted to do it, here is what I’m pretty certain is a comprehensive, chronological listing of what Julie Newmar’s Catwoman once referred to as the “Holy This and Holy That” exclamations voiced by Burt Ward since Batman first debuted on ABC-TV as a mid-season replacement in January 1966 (including those that he uttered on more than one occasion; “Holy Houdini” appears to have been a particular favorite, for example).
Having said that, it is entirely possible that in spite of the many hours of research I have somehow managed to miss some. If that proves to be the case, citizens, please let me know so that I can revise this catalogue. (Which reminds me: A very special tip of the cowl in gratitude to fellow Bat-fans and Facebook superheroes Rodger Hunter Hall and Basri Ispandi for their help in identifying several of Robin’s “Holies” that I somehow missed during my binge-watch of my Batman blu-rays. Holy Timely Assistance, fellas!)
And now, without further ado...
BURT WARD SCREEN TEST (1965)
Holy Caboose
BATMAN - SEASON ONE (1966)
Holy Barracuda
Holy Ashtray
Holy Smoke
Holy Showcase
Holy Haberdashery
Holy Popcorn
Holy Lodestone
Holy Flypaper
Holy Koufax
Holy Red Herring
Holy Stuffing
Holy Ravioli
Holy Serpentine
Holy Grammar
Holy Safari
Holy Fourth Of July
Holy Headline
Holy Iceberg
Holy Blizzard
Holy Schizophrenia
Holy Snowball
Holy Sherlock Holmes
Holy Venezuela
Holy Rainbow
Holy Hole In A Donut
Holy Backfire
Holy Hallelujah
Holy Birthday Cake
Holy Fishbowl
Holy Graveyards
Holy Crossfire
Holy Sewer Pipe
Holy Conflagration
Holy Helmets
Holy Happenstance
Holy Switcharoo
Holy Ricochet
Holy Frogman
Holy Bowler
Holy Magician
Holy Alphabet
Holy Ball And Chain
Holy Las Vegas
Holy Fruit Salad
Holy Smokes
Holy Benedict Arnold
Holy Hailstorm
Holy Murder
Holy New Year's Eve
Holy Bouncing Boiler Plate
Holy Houdini
Holy Armour Plate
Holy Transistors
Holy Wigs
Holy Rats In A Trap
Holy Reshevsky
Holy Trickery
Holy Cats
Holy Icepicks
Holy Felony
Holy Geography
Holy Nick Of Time
Holy Knock Out Drops
Holy Jackpot
Holy Leopard
Holy Bat Trap
Holy Hot Foot
Holy Nightmare
Holy Mush
Holy Romeo And Juliet
Holy Mucilage
Holy Iodine
Holy Paraffin
Holy Smoke
Holy Jack In The Box
Holy Taj Mahal
Holy Tee Shot
Holy Shrinkage
Holy Spider Webs
Holy Looking Glass
Holy Eight Ball
Holy Smokestack
Holy Impregnability
Holy Camouflage
Holy Molehill
Holy Encore
Holy Golden Gate
Holy Hieroglyphics
Holy Hurricane
Holy Whiskers
Holy Masquerade
Holy Asp
Holy Travel Agent
Holy Taxidermy
Holy Hi-Fi
Holy False Fronts
Holy Smoke
Holy Skyrockets
Holy Homicide
Holy Reincarnation
Holy Explosion
Holy Detonator
Holy Magic Lantern
Holy Bullseye
Holy Cinderella
Holy Headache
Holy Tome
Holy Stew Pot
Holy Pressure Cooker
Holy Triple Feature
Holy Headache
Holy Kindergarten
Holy Molars
Holy Wayne Manor
Holy Subliminal
Holy Puzzlers
Holy Fog
Holy Clockwork
Holy Oxygen
Holy Rudder
Holy Jitterbugs
LAVA SOAP TV COMMERCIAL (1966)
Holy Inkpad
BATMAN - THE MOVIE (1966)
Holy Sardine
Holy Nightmare
Holy Merlin The Magician
Holy Long John Silver
Holy Glue Pot
Holy Polaris
Holy Demolition
Holy Halloween
Holy Heart Failure
Holy Costume Party
Holy Hallucination
Holy Horseshoes
Holy Marathon
Holy Captain Nemo
Holy Bikini
Holy Heartbreak
Holy Almost
Holy Jumble
BATMAN MOVIE TRAILER (1966)*
Holy Superlatives
Holy Memoranda
(* These were filmed specifically for the trailer, in those scenes in which Batman and Robin are addressing the audience from inside the Batcave, as opposed to those used in the clips from the actual movie itself.)
Holy Grand Larceny
Holy Rainbow
Holy Ad-Lib
BATMAN - SEASON TWO (1966-67)
Holy Houdini
Holy Inquisition
Holy Hostage
Holy Deviltry
Holy Blackbeard
Holy Cliché
Holy Weaponry
Holy D'artagnan
Holy Epicure
Holy Lovebirds
Holy Bunions
Holy Oleo
Holy Alps
Holy Taxation
Holy Rainbow
Holy Fly Trap
Holy Fireworks
Holy Cosmos
Holy Kilowatts
Holy Hieroglyphics
Holy Sarcophagus
Holy Frankenstein
Holy Corpuscles
Holy Jaw Breaker
Holy High-wire
Holy Rocking Chair
Holy Gunpowder
Holy Hairdo
Holy Forecast
Holy Greetings Cards
Holy Camouflage
Holy Wernher von Braun
Holy Jailbreak
Holy Rheostat
Holy Edison
Holy Masquerade
Holy Mainspring
Holy Sundials
Holy Squirrel Cage
Holy Hijackers
Holy Horseshoes
Holy Liftoff
Holy Merry-Go-Round
Holy Bill Of Rights
Holy Semantics
Holy IT and T
Holy Recompense
Holy Banks
Holy Impossibility
Holy Apparition
Holy Relief
Holy Fratricide
Holy Piano
Holy Metronome
Holy Caruso
Holy Perfect Pitch
Holy Greed
Holy Bluebeard
Holy Paderewski
Holy Heartbreak
Holy Disaster Area
Holy Bank Balance
Holy Giveaways
Holy Coffin Nail
Holy Potluck
Holy Polar Front
Holy Hijack
Holy Tuxedo
Holy Distortion
Holy Shamrocks
Holy Chicken Coop
Holy Epigrams
Holy Vertebrae
Holy Keyhole
Holy Keyring
Holy Mesmerism
Holy Pseudonym
Holy Hydraulics
Holy Flood Gate
Holy Houdini
Holy Hypnotism
Holy Harem
Holy Fate Worse Than Death
Holy Stalactites
Holy Trolls And Goblins
Holy Hors D'Oeuvres
Holy Jigsaw Puzzles
Holy Stampede
Holy Toreador
Holy Matador
Holy Guacamole
Holy Bat Logic
Holy Straitjacket
Holy Firing Squad
Holy Blank Cartridge
Holy Davy Jones
Holy Guadalcanal
Holy Levitation
Holy Flip-Flop
Holy Chocolate Eclair
Holy Rip Van Winkle
Holy Heidelberg
Holy Resourefulness
Holy Mush
Holy Hamlet
Holy Flight Plan
Holy Graf Zeppelin
Holy Stratosphere
Holy Audubon
Holy Crack-Up
Holy Ghostwriter
Holy Miracles
Holy Alter Ego
Holy Voltage
Holy Rat Trap
Holy Sedatives
Holy Handiwork
Holy Fireworks
Holy Self-Service
Holy Memory Bank
Holy Mermaid
Holy Hoodwink
Holy Naivete
Holy Multitudes
Holy Astronomy
Holy Terminology
Holy Mashed Potatoes
Holy Sonic Booms
Holy Red Snapper
Holy Human Pearls
Holy Jelly Molds
Holy Holocaust
Holy Gambles
Holy Nick Of Time
Holy Shucks
Holy Diversionary Tactic
Holy Cinemascope
Holy Miscast
Holy Movie Mogul
Holy Cliffhangers
Holy Suborbit
Holy History
Holy Catastrophe
Holy Bullseye
Holy Stereo
Holy Armadilloes
Holy Cryptology
Holy Trampoline
Holy Fork In The Road
Holy Titanic
Holy Houdini
Holy Funny Bone
Holy Chutzpah
Holy Precision
Holy Clockworks
Holy Hunting Horn
Holy Dead End
Holy Bankruptcy
Holy Stomachache
Holy Madness
Holy Remote Control Robot
Holy Frankenstein
Holy Stewpot
Holy Wedding Cake
Holy Hollywood
Holy Crystal Ball
Holy Caffeine
Holy Bijou
Holy Zorro
Holy Hypotheses
Holy Oversight
Holy Split Second
Holy Flypaper
Holy Human Collectors Item
Holy Living End
Holy Uncanny Photographic Mental Processes
Holy Unlikelihood
Holy Jet Set
Holy Nerve Center
Holy Olfactory
Holy Reverse Polarity
Holy Tip-offs
Holy Hoaxes
Holy Hostage
Holy Hamburger
Holy Ice Skates
Holy Floor Covering
Holy Escape Hatch
Holy Chilblains
Holy Polar Ice Sheet
Holy Apparition
Holy Vanity Case
BATMAN - SEASON THREE (1967-68)
Holy Complications
Holy Agility
Holy Hieroglyphics
Holy Blackout
Holy Missing Relatives
Holy Sudden Incapacitation
Holy One-Track Bat Computer Mind
Holy Standstills
Holy Fourth Amendment
Holy Time Bomb
Holy Non Sequiturs
Holy Mucilage
Holy Diversionary Tactic
Holy Heart Failure
Holy Gemini
Holy Purple Cannibals
Holy Luther Burbank
Holy Hoofbeats
Holy Eggshells
Holy Crying Towels
Holy Understatements
Holy Anagrams
Holy Ten Toes
Holy Pin Cushions
Holy Human Surfboards
Holy Detonation
Holy Haziness
Holy Contributing to the Delinquency of Minors
Holy Roadblocks
Holy Show-Ups
Holy Surprise Party
Holy Gullibility
Holy Tintinnabulation
Holy Rising Hemlines
Holy Homework
Holy Levitation
Holy Incantation
Holy Robert Louis Stevenson
Holy Priceless Collection of Etruscan Snoods
Holy Dilemma
Holy Crucial Moment
Holy Homecoming
Holy Tartars
Holy Cold Creeps
Holy Here We Go Again
Holy Special Delivery
Holy Return From Oblivion
Holy Finishing Touches
Holy Bargain Basements
Holy Knit One Purl Two
Holy Hamstrings
Holy Underwritten Metropolis
Holy Slipped Disc
Holy Mechanical Armies
Holy Hypodermics
Holy Rip Van Winkle
Holy Gall
Holy Karats
Holy Hoofbeats
Holy Hardest Metal In The World
Holy Journey To The Center Of The Earth
Holy Waste Of Energy
Holy Razor’s Edge
Holy Interplanetary Yardstick
Holy Rock Garden
Holy Known Unknown Flying Objects
Holy Disappearing Act
Holy Unrefillable Prescriptions
Holy Helplessness
Holy Giveaways
Holy Catastrophe
Holy Astringent Plum-like Fruit
Holy Human Pressure Cookers
Holy Skull Tap
Holy Breaking and Entering
Holy Act of Congress
Holy Discontent*
(* Version 2 only)
LEWIS DYER FORD TV AD
(LAFAYETTE, GEORGIA; 1977)
Holy Personal Appearance
Holy Goof-Ups
Holy Nuclear Timebombs
Holy Overeating
Holy Snail’s Pace
Holy Roller Coasters
Holy Traffic Jams
Holy Double Identity
Holy Catastrophes
Holy Batnet
Holy Hoaxes
Holy Magnetic Missiles
Holy High Altitude
Holy Rockets
Holy Tooth Decay
Holy Heavy Rocks
Holy Hoax
Holy Banana Splits
Holy Marconi
Holy Ego
Holy Mackerel
Holy Smoke
Holy Breaking And Entering
Holy Dog Paddle
Holy Delays
Holy Chilly Willies
Holy Bats In The Belfry
Holy Highway Robbery
Holy Clipped Feathers
Holy Innocence
Holy Strange Odors
Holy Benedict Arnold
Holy Smoke Bomb
Holy Curb Service
Holy Trap Door
Holy Headache
Holy Handcuffs
Holy Stretch Marks
Holy Slush
Holy Split Personalities
Holy Kamikaze
Holy Humpty Dumpty
Holy Levitation
Holy Aggravation
Holy Joker
Holy Burning Trash
Holy False Imprisonment
Holy Float Like A Butterfly And Sting Like A Bee
Holy Weird Riddles
Holy Pachyderms
Holy Alphabet
Holy Birdman Of Alcatraz
Holy Runny Nose
Holy Icecubes
Holy Out Of Control
Holy Lack Of Courage
Holy North Pole
Holy Periscopes
Holy Birdnapping
Holy Icicles
Holy Can Openers
Holy Corn Cobs
Holy Dragsters
Holy Jailbirds
Holy Vacancy
Holy TKO
Holy Short Memory
Holy Forget-Me-Not
Holy Secret Identities
Holy Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde
Holy Amnesia
Holy Barking Bow Wows
Holy No Deposit, No Return
Holy Endangered Species
Holy Litterbugs
Holy Bad News
Holy Loudmouth
Holy Boob Tube
Holy Helium
Holy Heists
Holy Harpoons
Holy Drips
Holy Broken Beaks
Holy Damsel In Distress
Holy Caged Birds
Holy Fast Escape
Holy Ticklish Tackle
Holy Holy Houdini
Holy High Rent District
Holy Bagged Birds
Holy Piggyback
Holy Ripoffs
Holy Boa Constrictors
Holy Sinking Submarines
Holy Chicken Livers
Holy Scaredy Cats
Holy Hanging Bats
Holy Blown Fuse
Holy Venus Flytrap
Holy Highrises
Holy Bunions
Holy Repair Service
Holy Headstand
Holy Lightning Bolt
Holy Conspiracy
Holy Migraine
Holy Brainwashing
Holy Interruption
Holy Smoke
Holy Outmatched
Holy Blisters
Holy Time Bomb
Holy Ralph Nader
Holy Separation
Holy Man Overboard
Holy Amazon
Holy Totaled
Holy Rotten Timing
Holy Up The Creek
Holy Forked Tongue
AND BURT (TV MOVIE; 2003)
Holy Tire Tracks
Holy Henchmen
Holy Parking Violation
Holy Screen Actors’ Guild
Holy Lunch Specials
Holy Skullduggery
Holy Dead Ends
Holy Plot Twist
Holy Prop Department
Holy Ejection Seats
BATMAN: RETURN OF THE CAPED
CRUSADERS (DIRECT-TO-VIDEO
ANIMATED MOVIE; 2016)
Holy Unholy Alliance
Holy Crumbling Infrastructure
Holy Trench Warfare
Holy Einstein
Holy Salisbury Steak
Holy Noxious Gas
Holy Citric Enzymes
Holy Entreé
Holy Dragnet
Holy Trojan Horse
Holy Helium
Holy Zero “G”s
Holy Hitchhiker
Holy Plié
Holy Faster, Pussycat, Kill Kill
Holy Hydrogen
Holy Shrapnel
Holy Counteracting Potions
Holy Spontaneous Combustion
Holy Triple Cross
Holy Stowaway
Holy Hindenburg
Holy Unsatisfying Ending
BATMAN VS. TWO-FACE
(DIRECT-TO-VIDEO ANIMATED MOVIE; 2017)
Holy Romeo And Juliet
Holy Hieroglyphics
Holy Hypodermic
Holy Entrails
Holy Amelia Earhart
Holy Plagarism
Holy Overdue Book
Holy English Lit
Holy Hideousity
Holy Blind Spot
Holy Resurrection
Holy Billiards
Holy Compaction
Holy Half Dollar
Holy Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde
Holy Indecent Exposure
Holy Hairpin Turn
Holy Amnesia
Holy Hugh Hefner
ME-TV “SUPER SCI-FI SATURDAY” PROMO (2018)
Holy Hashtags
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS
MINI-SERIES (2019)
Holy Crimson Skies Of Death
BURT WARD HOLLYWOOD
WALK OF FAME CEREMONY
(WALKOFFAME.COM VIDEO, 2020)
Holy Turnout
Holy Hollywood Walk Of Fame
In : Pop Culture
Tags: robin the boy wonder. burt ward. batman tv show