I will try to answer to the best of my [limited] knowledge. - Edit 5
Before modification by Bookwyrm at 18/11/2014 03:46:19 PM
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My familiarity with the Batman franchise is pretty much limited to live action stuff. I saw a few episodes of the old TV show when I was a kid (and maybe I just missed the subtleties, but I got the impression Catwoman was a villain like the Joker rather than a love interest as the films portrayed her), and all the movies since the Burton/Keaton films, and I read a novel about a post-apocalyptic Gotham city. Now I'm watching Gotham, and starting to get curious about who's an original character and who exists in other Batman material so as to understand exactly which characters are in any sort of danger. I mostly assumed that anyone with weird powers or gimmicks would be a supervillain in training, but some of them get killed. I also thought the mob bosses from the movies were just made up to represent ordinary criminals to serve as a contrast with the guys like the Joker & Riddler. Except Tom Wilkinson's & Eric Roberts' characters from "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," respectively, have both shown up on the show. The Penguin has the same name he had in Batman returns, and there is a female thief called Selina, like in "Dark Knight Rises," who shares a name if not a profession or backstory with Catwoman of "Returns". There is a hitman in "Gotham' called Zaz, whose name was mentioned by Crane in "Begins", who apparently cuts himself when a target gets away. There was also a girl in the pilot episode whom a lot of online commentators called Poison Ivy, but who did not have the same name as Uma Thurman in "Batman and Robin".
My familiarity with the Batman franchise is pretty much limited to live action stuff. I saw a few episodes of the old TV show when I was a kid (and maybe I just missed the subtleties, but I got the impression Catwoman was a villain like the Joker rather than a love interest as the films portrayed her), and all the movies since the Burton/Keaton films, and I read a novel about a post-apocalyptic Gotham city. Now I'm watching Gotham, and starting to get curious about who's an original character and who exists in other Batman material so as to understand exactly which characters are in any sort of danger. I mostly assumed that anyone with weird powers or gimmicks would be a supervillain in training, but some of them get killed. I also thought the mob bosses from the movies were just made up to represent ordinary criminals to serve as a contrast with the guys like the Joker & Riddler. Except Tom Wilkinson's & Eric Roberts' characters from "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," respectively, have both shown up on the show. The Penguin has the same name he had in Batman returns, and there is a female thief called Selina, like in "Dark Knight Rises," who shares a name if not a profession or backstory with Catwoman of "Returns". There is a hitman in "Gotham' called Zaz, whose name was mentioned by Crane in "Begins", who apparently cuts himself when a target gets away. There was also a girl in the pilot episode whom a lot of online commentators called Poison Ivy, but who did not have the same name as Uma Thurman in "Batman and Robin".
Victor Zsasz is a serial killer who notches his own skin per victim.
- Speaking of whom, what's Robin's name?
The first Robin is Dick Grayson. Eventually, they have a falling out after which Grayson goes solo under the name Nightwing. Jason Todd is the 2nd Robin, who dies at the hands of the Joker. (quite brutally too I might add) The 3rd is Tim Drake, who showed great promise as Batman's successor. The 4th and current is Damian Wayne, the biological son of Bruce and Talia al Ghul (Ra's daughter).
There were 2 other Robins, both female. Carrie Kelley, the girl with glasses, is non-canon. Stephanie Brown was Tim Drake's gf and a costumed vigilante in her own right. She filled in for Robin when he resigned for awhile.
- Is Poison Ivy's name Ivy Pepper or Pamela Isely?
Ivy Pepper is not (and never was) a name associated with Poison Ivy. Her real name is indeed Pamela Isley.
- Are Sarah Essen, Harvey Bullock, Rene Montoya, Chris Allen cops from the regular continuity?
Yes, they are canon. In fact, Renee becomes The Question later on. (masked vigilante obsessed with conspiracies) Cris becomes The Specter, a supernatural entity.
What about Falcone, Grissom & Moroni?
Falcone and Maroni, yes. Grissom was a Burton creation.
- Is Jack Napier really the Joker?
I honestly don't know. The Joker's origins have been written by different writers, all with varying backgrounds so no one really knows who the Joker really is or if any of his origin stories are true. I think Nolan hit upon this fact by having his Joker come up with different childhood stories.
How big a deal is Harvey Dent? I never heard of Two Face before "Batman Forever", but every Batman director has taken pains to cast him. Even though Burton never used that villain, he still put Harvey Dent in "Batman" and cast an actor who was probably more recognizable to juvenile audiences in 1989 than Jack Nicholson.
Big big deal. Bruce's best friend and one of many sources of his guilt. Falcone hired someone to throw acid on Dent's face during a trial. Dent went insane, the rest is history.
- Is Fish Mooney new or does she predate the TV show?
New; created for the show.
- What's the deal with the Riddler? What does he do that makes him dangerous?
He's like Jigsaw from the Saw franchise, except not so bloodthirsty.
- What's Alfred's deal? Is he related to Batgirl? Is he more like the traditional old English butler in the Burton/Schumacher films, or the rough-edged veteran of "Gotham" and Nolan's trilogy?
No to Batgirl. Spoilers in white: Batgirl is Gordon's daughter.
Yes to your latter questions. He's supposed to be a former actor. He does have some training in the field. The 90's animated cartoon had him be a former MI6 operative or somesuch.
- What about Rachel Dawes, Vicki Vale, Poison Ivy or Elle MacPherson's character from "Batman and Robin"? Are they actual love interests outside the movies, or is Catwoman/Selena Batman's OTP? Is there any truth to the jokes about Robin (of either gender)?
Rachel is a Nolan creation. Vicki yes. Poison Ivy's a super feminist, so no. Julie Madison (Elle), yes.
OTP depends on the alter ego. Talia al Ghul is in love with the man behind the mask. Batman and Catwoman are friends with benefits, although Selina does know his true identity.
I don't know any jokes. Or are you talking about the homoerotic subtext between the bat and the bird? No, there's nothing between them beyond the usual guardian/warden stuff.
- Is Gordon's wife named Barbara, like in the Nolan films, or Sara, like in the book?
Yes to Barbs, she is the original. Sarah was a Frank Miller creation that was retcon'd in the current iteration of DC universe.
Hope that cleared some stuff up. 
I'm sure there are others more knowledgeable than me that can correct me if I'm wrong about anything.