this be basically an attempt to do the same thing with batman that be do with gilligan island in survive gilligan island . for those of you who miss it ( and shame . ) survive gilligan island ( full title represent survive gilligan island represent the incredibly true story of the long three hour tour in history ) be a special from a few year back and where bob denver ( gilligan ) and dawn well ( mary ann ) and russell johnson ( the professor ) relate the story of the show creation and cancellation and rediscovery and rebirth . along the way and story be dramatize with actor portray the original cast and crew . it be very well do . it be funny and well cast and come across a a genuine document of the show . return to the batcave represent the misadventure of adam and burt be in a similar style . the re telling of the history of the show and the re enactment and the general feel be all the same . what miss be the straightforward approach that survive take . in return and adam west and burt ward both receive invitation to a car show to which they be not mean to be invite . after be allow to stay and adam and burt witness the theft of the centerpiece of the show represent the legendary batmobile . adam and burt decide to chase after it themselves and lead them through clue that cause them to think about the history of the show . this eventually lead to the revelation of who steal the batmobile and why . choosing to use this conceit ( actually have a plot ) be the big letdown of this show . unlike survive and return force the viewer to follow a less interesting storyline ( the theft of the batmobile ) instead of focus all it attention on what the audience would most be interested in ( the history of the show . ) it be the historical section that work the best . the casting ( a in survive ) be excellent . jack brewer ( adam west ) and jason marsden ( burt ward ) capture the feel of the actor without look too much like them . brett rickaby ( frank gorshin ) bear a strong resemblance to his subject and but capture none of the late gorshin charm and only his characterization . other actor portrayal be short and functional and with none stand out a especially good or bad . many of the story have be tell before and but they mostly play out amusingly and with only the occasional clunky presentation . another wonderful bit from the historical section be the use of audition footage of lyle waggoner tryout for the part of batman . the only place where the flashback fail be when they insert obviously make up plot point to advance the main story . this downgrade the accuracy of the flashback needlessly . the main plot ( if that be what we must call it ) be and of course and ludicrous . this be not really a fault in and of itself and but it just not carry off well enough to cover up the shortfall . strong performance and good writing can make up for a silly plot ( especially in these kind of thing ) but we really get neither and here . the performance by west and ward seem somewhat flat ( even for them ) while the dialog too carefully write for it to feel natural . again and i think the comparison to survive gilligan island can be see in that the dialog be mostly just there to set up a flashback . in survive and that all it intend to be . in return it try to do double duty and and unfortunately and often fail . gorshin and newmar do well ( although i agree with others that gorshin have not age well and that newmar have and what waggoner take to look that good . ) but aren not give enough to do . again and i think they all would have be well serve by a more straightforward presentation than the one chosen here . another odd point about return . this special be about the batman tv series and it history and yet all the clip show be from the theatrical movie . even the waggoner footage be technically movie footage . if you know youre bat history and then you know that the movie be originally plan to be make first and only to be delay in favor of the tv show when cbs need to fill time fast . so when waggoner and west be test for the role and it be for the movie and not the tv show . why return only use movie footage be unclear . it most probably have to do with right issue and but it be a distinct distraction to those in the know represent see julie newmar in the present and but only footage of lee meriwether a catwoman in the past . overall and i like the show and mainly for the flashback . i would have prefer the style use in survive gilligan island and but i can understand why they would want a more story orient piece give the subject matter . besides and i like these people . it nice to see them out and about and still have fun with one of the great piece of entertainment history . i just wish they have do it a little good and when more of the original cast be still alive to be there .