Through a series of unfortunate events, I ended up at the press conference with Adam West and Burt Ward at Dragon*Con. Don’t get me wrong—I loved the classic Batman series when I was a kid, and it was my first introduction to the character before Tim Burton showed me a completely different side to the Dark Knight. But, I was sick and had to rouse myself out of bed to make it to the noon event, and in my rush to arrive early, locked my room key in my room. Holy stupidity, Batman!
Media gathered awaiting their arrival since both actors were delayed, and Adam West arrived first. He sat in a tall chair in front of a backdrop, and we were urged to go up and meet him and ask questions.
How was the parade? was the first question. “We didn’t see the parade,” West answered, “because we were doing a speech . . . It was [more fun in a sense] because the city council was there, and they gave me a key to the city, a proclamation, and declared it Adam West day in Atlanta . . . Maybe I’ll get a free beer!” The city council also declared it Burt Ward day, as well. Hmmm. Burt Ward still hadn’t arrived. Maybe someone bought him a free beer?
Being a political year, any aspirations of going from Mayor to a higher office? (Adam West is the voice of Mayor of Quahog on Family Guy.)
“That’s a good question, but once you’ve been Mayor of Quahog, it’s all downhill. (laughs) No, I have no aspirations. I just go on to the next challenge.”
Burt Ward then arrived, and West took the opportunity to tease him good-naturedly: “Robin, the boy blunder! We have had more fun together . . . he rides me, I kid him, we have a great time, especially doing Batman, because every day, every hour, it presented a new problem but new laughs, and that’s how we did the show.”
Both of you had pretty big opportunities, or what became big opportunities afterwards, while you were filming Batman that you turned down.
Adam West had the opportunity to play James Bond, and Burt Ward was offered a role in The Graduate. He explains the reason for not accepting the role: “The studio wouldn’t let me do it . . . They felt that it might someway take away the reality to kids of me being Robin. And of course they found another actor, some guy named Dustin Hoffman . . . It shows how things can be spectacular good or not so good.” It’s easy to see that Hoffman and Ward took very different career trajectories, but Ward’s relaxed manner and interaction with the media seemed to indicate he enjoys the fan interaction, which I doubt Hoffman experiences very often. Though if he ever comes to Dragon*Con, I want him to sign a picture as Captain Hook and write “I hate Peter Pan!” Will never happen, but a girl can dream.
You look back know, and you guys are iconic. “We all have tradeoffs,” Adam West responded. “Something good happens, something bad happens. You have to deal with it and and try to balance your life in some manner. For example, we’re not doing the new Batman movies, the Dark Knight stuff. We do miss the $20 million dollars, however the response that we get, the turnout, the love from people makes it all worthwhile. Because how many icons are in pop culture? Not many. Luckily, we became that . . . It’s a matter of branding. Whatever comes along, and there’s a lot of luck involved but branding is terribly important. But we didn’t look at it that way in the beginning. We thought, we’re screwed, we’ll never do anything else. People loved the series. We wore costumes, we’ll never get another job . . . But you know what? About four years after we folded the series, I began to think, and I know Burt did too, branding isn’t bad if you use it and develop it. Look at Coca-Cola, look at Kraft foods, look at The Donald. Well now it’s The Burt. It’s just a matter of branding and riding with it and adjusting to it. Like anything else in life you adjust to the problems if you can. Takes a lot of drinking!” (jokingly)
The series is being played on cable right now, so you’re being exposed to a whole new generation of kids. Is that re-branded, or has it changed the impact . . . ?
West: “One of the nicest things that has happened I think to us is that we’ve been able to go on. For example when I do Family Guy I get a whole new generation. But the wonderful thing about Batman is you watch with your kids, then your grandson or granddaughter. It’s a whole family spectrum kind of show. And that’s where we got lucky, and we tried to keep it as fresh as possible and as amusing as possible. . . . Somebody told me the other day that’s it a matter of you can become bored or disinterested in the material, but if you have an affinity for, or if you really love the characters, like Burt and me in this case, then you go on. Burt and I got really lucky . . . We were given roles in a couple of things that we could do and do well and borrow from our own personalities, and it made it kind of genuine, and comedy has to be real to be played properly.
Do you have a favorite holy (blank) Batman line? (directed to Burt Ward)
“I had 378, I believe. I had one that people like, I actually didn’t like, Holy strawberries, Batman, are we in a jam!
West: “See what I had to put up with? But the kids love it.”
My personal favorite has always been Holy hole in a donut! I have a sound clip of that and quote it often. I suppose another oft-quoted line from the show is “Same Bat time, same Bat channel.” The roles portrayed by West and Ward really are iconic, and not just because they’re Batman characters. They brought enthusiasm and energy to their roles and achieved immortality wearing capes and tights.
Adam West concluded by saying, “They have their Dark Knight, I am the Bright Knight . . . This is Adam West day, and we appreciate your attention.”