R.I.P. Adam West

For me there's one thing in which I consider Adam West a great man: he was able to make a career out of being the butt of the joke and he did it with class.

Very sad to hear of West's passing. His pitch-perfect comedic interpretation reached across generations, uniting fans of all ages in a way that has never been possible with other 'Batmans'. It is still as watchable today as it was in the 1960s.

All it takes to realise how lucky Greenway/Fox were to cast West is to look at the other shows that sprang up in Batman's wake. Mr. Terrific, to take just one example, demonstrates that sticking a guy in a crazy outfit and giving him zany dialogue doesn't guarantee a good show. West knew how to get the most comedic value out of each line, while resisting the temptation to play it for out-n-out laughs -- and that's why his Batman is still considered a classic in 60s tv.

If you've ever seen footage of West at conventions, particularly interacting with younger fans, you'll know that West was a pretty funny guy even without a script -- he often fell back on a lot of familiar jokes and anecdotes (Julie Newmar/Yvonne Craig "...gave me strange stirrings in my utility belt"), but fans never ever tired of hearing them because they were delivered so well. Sadly, in terms of his on-screen performances, West needed witty scripts to demonstrate his droll style best, and the numerous pilots and shows he appeared in after Batman didn't always give him that. It wasn't until Family Guy that I think a show got the most out of him.

So far the 60s Batman has lasted 50+ years with a loyal fan-base intact, and even DC/WB have now stopped trying to bury the campy show and are embracing it. I expect various other Batman interpretations will fade in and out of fashion in years to come, but I'm confident that West's Batman will endure, simply because fans can watch his Batman with their children, and their grandchildren, and their great grandchildren...

R5

Wow. that's quite charming .