The Joy of Sets: Holy Batwings, We've Got Adam West!
Adam West by Bobby Bank/WireImage.com
Last week, 1966's perfectly preserved
Batman: The Movie hit Blu-Ray and the man himself, Adam West, was awesome enough to chat with me about life as the classic Caped Crusader and spill the beans on his greatest foe.
- Damian Holbrook
TV Guide: OK, so I have been a fan since I was a kid. You are the classic Batman
Adam West: Like Classic Coke. [
Laughs] Makes a lot of people sick, ruins your teeth, ruins your stomach.
TV Guide: But it's so good! And I love that you haven't turned your back on the past. A lot of actors dismiss their defining roles.
West: Is that OK?
TV Guide: Definitely.
West: Good. [
Laughs] I reasoned many years ago that not many actors get a chance, as you indicated, to play a defining role that kind of becomes their signature, if you will. And because I got that with Batman, I am one of the few, so why not embrace it? It makes a lot of people happy and that pleases me as well.
TV Guide: And I am not ashamed to admit that I'm one of those people! All I need to hear are the opening strains of the show
West: Neil Hefti!
TV Guide: So now Batman: The Movie is finally hitting Blu-Ray. Did you do any commentary for this?
West: Yeah. Fox is releasing us and we have commentary that's provocative, sexy...all engrossing.
TV Guide: Is it salacious?
West: [
Laughs] Yes! And all those other good words.
TV Guide: So we finally find out what really went down in the Batcave?
West: Pretty much, but you'll have to read my book or maybe I'll send you my new DVD, in which I talk about everything, face-to-face and privately with just you folks. But that's not coming out for a few more months.
TV Guide: Oooh, I love that.
West: Good. You have to watch the website,
AdamWest.com to find out when it's outplug, plug! But back to the Blu-Ray release, it's a privilege that our older Batman movie is held in such regard that Fox would re-release it because they know it's going to make a hell of a lot of money.
TV Guide: And one of the greatest treats for any Batman fan is that this movie had all four of the big villains. Catwoman, The Joker, The Riddler and The Penguin. What was filming like?
West: It was madness, but at the same time well organized. We really tried to keep a set that was engaged in hilarity to a degree. It just makes it a happier kind of situation...we never took ourselves too seriously.
TV Guide: And the series had that level of fun we don't see on TV these days. Like you guys were in on the joke.
West: I understand. And I think you have to be. It's always been my theory with comedy, without sounding pretentious, that you have to enjoy it but not apparently
think you're funny. I tried to bring Batman out of one level and make people think he was a little tongue-in-cheek.
TV Guide: Well, he was a playboy and the first part of playboy is "play."
West: That's right! [
Laughs] I like that.
TV Guide: Now, I've seen clips of you and Burt Ward in the proposed Batgirl spin-off. What happened to that? Because I probably would have imploded as a kid if both shows had aired.
West: I made up my mind earlier that I wouldn't do a good job on that [pilot], because I couldn't stand to see all of you guys committed. [
Laughs] It almost drove me over the edge!
TV Guide: What do you think of the modern takes on the Dark Knight?
West: Well, I've seen bits and pieces of most of them and they're just another animal. So I can't give any critique, is because all I see is another kind of movie. It's not lighthearted, they're gothic...and they're so noisy, I can hardly stand it sometimes.
TV Guide: Obviously you enjoy doing comedy. How did your role on Family Guy come about?
West: Seth MacFarlane, the producer, one of the great talents of our time I think, called me. He and his partner had written a pilot for me earlier and I guess he hadn't forgotten. He was a big Batman fan and we have the same sense of humor, as you apparently do, so Seth called and I said, yeah, let me see this. And I love it. What it does, on a more pragmatic level, is that it gives me a new and different audience.
TV Guide: And you also do a voice on The Fairly Oddparents.
West: Which is another age group. So like Madonna, I keep reinventing myself. [
Laughs] I just love the money! Working on the Blu-Ray was a good experience because I had the chance to revisit our film and see it with wonderful clarity and in high-definition. The colors are like a circusit's own little world spinning out there. My god, we only did it for two seasons and people still think I play Batman, that I'm out there fighting crime.
TV Guide: People upset not to see you in the outfit?
West: Yes. [
Laughs] I know, I hate to disillusion them.
TV Guide: Well, I saw you in Young Lady Chatterley II, so I know you do more than scale walls.
West: [
Laughs] Yes, I have great legs. That's why I was cast in that. Damian, I have done it all. I think it behooves any actor to keep working if possible. So I have done everything from dinner theater to circuses to stupid movies
TV Guide: You have a great job.
West: I do! How many people are this lucky? And I don't mind making fun of myself, because I think it works.
TV Guide: One last question for the Batfans out there: Of the villains, who do you think was his greatest challenge?
West: I suppose Catwoman. Because he was torn...he had curious stirrings in his utility belt for her [
Laughs]. But at the same time knew that he had to put her behind bars. Possibly they could date if she got off for good behavior.
TV Guide: You know in the comics, they got together and had a daughter, right?
West: Really?! [
Laughs] Well, I was not involved. I deny all. There will be
no paternity suit!
Buy Batman: The Movie on Amazon.com
