ctomvelu1 With the BATMAN TV show a runaway success in the 1960s, it was bound to spawn imitators. The only superhero show to follow, however, was "The Green Hornet," based on an old radio show and movie. Hollywood pretty boy Van Williams, who strongly resembled '60s heartthrob Fabian, played the masked supersleuth who chases down baddies in a souped-up Chrysler and with his sidekick, Kato, played by a very young Bruce Lee. The show was pretty awful, except for Kato's fight scenes, which is understandable for anyone who remembers Bruce Lee. In fact, as kids, we watched the show just to see Lee. Now the character is being made into a feature-length movie for 2010 release. Let's hope it improves on this short-lived TV series. If you catch any episodes of the old show, be patient and watch for Lee as he springs into King-fu mode.

rudge49 I watched this one faithfully during its prime time run those forty or so years ago (egad!). On our old black and white set of course. I was a senior in high school so my sole purchase of tie in merchandise was the Al Hirt album "The Horn meets the Hornet" with him and Van Williams (in costume) on the cover. As a True Believer I quickly grew tired of "Batman's" campiness, found "The Green Hornet" being played straight a welcome change, and having grown up when the memory of Radio was still very fresh in many people's minds, I had the image of Radio as this magical time that I had missed out on. There was something of a nostalgia and trivia craze in the mid 1960s, "The Green Hornet" was an attempt to cash in on that, and a well executed one too. The show had three stars, Van Williams, Bruce Lee and Black Beauty. And Wende Wagner was mighty appealing too. I have read various version as to why it wasn't renewed, my one acquaintance who had some contact with the TV world said that studio and network executives are all too often not as clever as we think they are and they think they are, even popular shows are cancelled. And the studio's refusal to release the show on VHS-oops, DVD despite Bruce Lee's cult status is also hard to fathom. So if you find it you will be seeing a fairly well written well acted adventure/crime fighting program with fairly high production values that IMHO has "classic" status.

c2kulik My husband and I love watching the Green Hornet reruns in the AM. Doesn't matter how many times we have already seen them, we just enjoy watching them over and over again.I was sorely disappointed when I unwittingly purchased the DVD's that were bootleg copies because the quality stunk. I would rather wait til they come out on DVD or VHS with good definition rather than the fading in and out which is so prevalent with bootleggers.I think the best part about the Hornet is figuring out which of the three masks Van Williams is wearing and in which episode. Or even the night and day thing of getting into the car. Or the time that the Hornet gets shot in the arm and amazingly he jumps in the car as the Hornet with the same vip and vigor he always displays, no pain in the arm or anything.They are a great source of enjoyment for all and will withstand the test of time, just like the Wizard of Oz.

RedHornet The best thing about The Green Hornet TV Series is that it is really a show for Adults that will entertain children too. The tone of the series and the storylines where so far ahead of their time and gritty back in 1966 and 1967 and as a consequence of this The Green Hornet was often (and unfavourably) cast in the shadow of the far less superior, campy Batman TV Show. The episodes often dealt with the Mafia, Chinese Triads, Drug Abuse et al, but all done in a glossy exciting way remeniscent of the Marvel comics being churned out by Stan Lee and co at the same time. The most remarkable thing is the onscreen chemistry between Van William's Green Hornet/Britt Reid and megastar in waiting Bruce Lee's Kato. Firstly Van Williams as The Green Hornet and his millionaire alter ego Britt Reid, the publisher of the Daily Centenal is as good as the best actors to play Superheroes. He is certainly as good as George Reeves was as Superman, and alot more believable than Adam West's Batman. Williams plays the role with an air of Sean Connery-esque suave, cool and confidence making for a memorable Green Hornet. Bruce Lee is simply a revelation as Kato, possesing an confidence and arrogance in the role really lifting the character of Kato off the comic book page. Together Williams and Lee work excellent. You get the impression that these guys really are the best of buddies and would die for one another. All this is met by fantastic production values culminating in the most impressive representations of superhero movie vehicles, the sublime Black Beauty. There is also the memorable opening credits set to the whirling theme tune by Billy May.On the downside it might just be possible that the series takes itself too seriously. But there is enough here to enjoy. Five minutes of Bruce Lee in action as Kato is worth an admission fee, trust me. The writers, and producer William Dozier came up with a great representation of the Fran Striker and George W Trendle characters : an exciting, action packed series, with the odd blimp not withstanding was far too under-rated and undervalued. Kevin Smith and Jake Gyllenhall, the future of The Green Hornet is now in your hands. Do your best guys.