The Apprentice (The Batman)

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“The Apprentice”
The Batman episode
Episode no.	Season 3 Episode 36
Guest stars	Donnie / Prank voiced by Michael Reisz
Written by	Steven Melching
Directed by	Brandon Vietti
Production no.	310
Original airdate	11 February 2006
Episode chronology
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"Cash for Toys"	"Thunder"
List of The Batman episodes

"The Apprentice" is the thirty sixth episode of the television series The Batman. It originally aired in North America on Saturday 11 February 2006 and in the UK on Cartoon Network UK on Wednesday 3 May 2006.

Contents 1 Plot synopsis 2 Plot summary 3 Characters 4 Trivia 5 Quotes 6 References 7 See also

[edit] Plot synopsis

Jealous that Batman has a new sidekick in Batgirl, Joker decides he needs one of his own. Turning to Donnie, a misguided prankster and classmate of Barbara Gordon's, he attempts to mold the comic hopeful in his own image. But when Donnie realizes that it's not just laughs that Joker's after and wants out, the Clown Prince of Crime ominously decides it's going to take some tough love for Donnie to realize his 'comic potential'.

[edit] Plot summary

During Mayor Grange's chili cookoff, Joker and his henchmen attack the crowd. After tasting a bowl of chili that was too hot for his liking, Joker attempts to use his Joker venom on Mayor Grange. Just then, Batman and Batgirl intervene. Upon seeing them working together, Joker retreats from the park. Back in his hideout, he decides that since Batman has a sidekick he should have one too.

Meanwhile, in Barbara's school, a boy named Donnie plays a prank on Barbara that lands him one week of detention. He then decides to go to a night club to play more practical jokes. Joker sees him and appluads him, after which he offers Donnie a job as his sidekick. After detention, Donnie meets with the Joker, who pulls a prank by hanging the school teacher on the flag pole. He agrees to start working with the Joker.

Donnie and the Joker return to the Joker's factory where Donnie gets an idea of shooting the city with a giant gumball. Batman and Batgirl confront Joker and his new sidekick, Prank. Batgirl confronts Prank while batman battles the Joker. During the scuffle, Prank laughs, giving Batgirl the clue she needs to discover who Prank really is. After the battle, Prank refuses to kill Batgirl and he and Joker get away.

Meanwhile, Joker takes Prank to an old factory, saying was disappointed in Donnie's performance and his reluctance to kill, so he attempts to turn him into permanent clown by dropping him into the same chemical that created the Joker himself. Batman and Batgirl arrive and stop the Jokers plan, rescuing Donnie before he is dunked in the chemicals. Donnie ends up stopping the Joker by punching him with a popping fist gun.

[edit] Characters

• Bruce Wayne/The Batman voiced by Rino Romano
• Barbara Gordon / Batgirl voiced by Danielle Judovits
• The Joker voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson
• Mayor Grange voiced by Adam West
• Donnie / Prank (First Appearance) voiced by Michael Reisz

[edit] Trivia

• It is the first time a villain gets a sidekick in the series.

• First appearance of Donnie/Prank, Barbara Gordon's classmate.

• Joker's desire for a sidekick could be a foreshadowing of Harley Quinn, who appears in the fourth season.

• Joker's origin is hinted at for the first time since "Strange Minds." We know he fell into a vat of bleaching acid, but not under what circumstances.

[edit] Quotes

• Donnie: You're...you're...
  Joker: A comic who always wanted to make people laugh just like you.
  Donnie: Instead of getting laughs, I usually just get detention...
  Joker: See, you get sent to detention, I get sent to the Asylum. And for what? Trying to bring a little joy to this miserable world?

• Donnie: I know! I know! X equals P-U! (laughs)
  Teacher: No, Donnie, x equals One week of detention for you.

• Joker: (sadly) It would be so nice to have someone to watch your back, to mould in your likeness. If you had a sidekick, Batsy, I want one too. (Punch and Judy looks at him sadly) You two don't count--you're not sidekicks, you're goons.

• Batgirl: (after Prank spits on her) Oh, gross. (Prank laughs) That laugh? No way.
  Joker: The best punchline is the one you don't see coming.

• Joker: (about Batman and Batgirl) Just look at that the teamwork. (Batman and Batgirl kicks Punch and Judy) And the footwork. I want my own mini-me.

• Joker: (attempting to gas Mayor Grange) Now, open wide and say Ha.

• Donnie: (after Joker pranked the school principal) That was classic!
  Joker: See how much fun we can have? Join Team Joker. It would be a hoot.

• Batgirl: (about Donnie) Let him go, Joker.
  Joker: I'm trying to.

• Donnie: (reading the message) "Revenge is a best dish served... Chilli?"

• Donnie: We set off the giant dominoes, the chief gets thrown into green jelly. Huh? Huh?
  Joker: Not grabbing me. What else you got?
  Donnie: The police banquet, we cover the floors with mousetraps.
  Joker: Doesn't scream Joker.
  Donnie: Trap them in giant playing cards?
  Joker: Uh, been there, done that.
  Donnie: Crossword puzzle maze?
  Joker: Nah, too Riddler.
  (Punch spits out the gum and it sticks to Donnie's shoe.)
  Donnie: Oh great, I got gum on my shoe. Gum? Shoe? Oh, oh, we pelt the police HQ with giant gumballs!
  Joker: That would gum up the gumshoes for days.

[edit] References

Not available yet

[edit] See also

• List of The Batman episodes