# Adam West (Batman) on The Family Guy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 18, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479 "2007-06-18T16:47:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/1 "2007-06-18T16:47:59Z")
I’m appalled! my 17 year old daughter is a huge The Family Guy fan. I suppose it makes sense but she was surprised that Adam West was the actor who played Batman a zillion years ago on tv. Today at work I’m talking with a friend of mine who’s 25, and I told him the same thing, and he was just as surprised. Now what surprised me is that I’m of the opinion that his character on The Family Guy is funny BECAUSE he was Batman. Anyway… I just thought I’d share that. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/2 "2007-06-18T17:12:54Z")
Same for me. It’s the Batman connection that’s funny. Why else would they have him using his real name? Don’t mess with Adam We! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/3 "2007-06-18T17:15:37Z")
The voice is perfect for the role. The fact that it’s Adam West only makes it better. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/4 "2007-06-18T17:19:25Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] The voice is perfect for the role. The fact that it’s Adam West only makes it better. [/QUOTE] Yeah, the fact that its really West and not even just a very good impression makes it all the better. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/5 "2007-06-18T17:20:57Z")
The only reference to Batman involving West (as opposed to incidental references for the sake of throwaway jokes) I can recall was in that “supergriffins” episode. It’s not really relevant to any other episode, beyond West himself being a washed up B-list TV actor whose mind is clearly no longer in mint condition. Interestingly, West _did_ voice the animated Batman in the final (and in my opinion, best) season of “Superfriends”, by which time they’d dumped that dorky title in favour of _The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians_. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/6 "2007-06-18T17:21:53Z")
I probably shouldn’t go down this road, but I think Family Guy makes a lot of references I wouldn’t expect its audience to get. But West never struck me as one of them-he does a lot of I-used-to-be-Batman voice work, too, so it’s not like he’s a secret. I’m 25 and grew up on reruns of the original Batman. I feel bad for people who aren’t in on that. “Some days, you just can’t get rid of a bomb!” ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/7 "2007-06-18T17:22:18Z")
Well yes, but I’m not sure that anyone younger than me gets the joke. Like Shatner, that West is able to participate in such self-depreciating humor does make it more funnier. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPlBgpyDZW8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPlBgpyDZW8) - “All of this singing is contagious. I’ll sing too. Adam Weeeest, Aaaadam Weeeest. A little bit softer now. Adam West. Aaaadam West. Adam West Adam West Adaaaam West…I’ll come out when they’re all gone.” ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/8 "2007-06-18T18:59:03Z")
I don’t watch the Family Guy although I do scan through the top videos on Youtube. Apparently they had Adam do a SuperMan reference that involved Alex Trebek: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4ftv17rTRc) and someone repeated it on the real Jeopardy: [http://youtube.com/watch?v=BHnX-fqlo1M](http://youtube.com/watch?v=BHnX-fqlo1M) ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/9 "2007-06-18T19:05:57Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Interestingly, West _did_ voice the animated Batman in the final (and in my opinion, best) season of “Superfriends”, by which time they’d dumped that dorky title in favour of _The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians_. [/QUOTE] He also did the voice of the “Grey Ghost” in an episode of Batman: The Animated Series. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/10 "2007-06-18T21:00:05Z")
West also plays Gotham City Mayor Grange on the current animated “The Batman” series. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/11 "2007-06-18T21:47:32Z")
He also plays Adam West, AKA “Catman” on _The Fairly Oddparents_. And Mr. North, retired star of _The Fearless Ferret_, on _Kim Possible_. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/12 "2007-06-19T01:19:37Z")
He also appears on a Simpsons episode, at some sort of car show (I think), where he slags Keaton’s performance as Batman and starts talking about doing the Batoosi. Bart and Lisa have no idea who the crazy man is and back away with the “Don’t make eye contact … don’t make eye contact…” mode ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/13 "2007-06-19T01:30:32Z")
What I wonder is, is he in on the joke here? ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/14 "2007-06-19T01:31:43Z")
Adam West is insane…in a harmless, but definitely insane way. Years and years ago a friend of mine was at a car show of some sort, and Adam West was the guest of honor. He was meeting the members of the car club my friend was part of, and one guy’s name was Thomas, and another was Jerry. “Wait! Tom…Jerry. Tom…Jerry. Tom AND Jerry. Tom and Jerry. I think we have something there!” ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/15 "2007-06-19T01:42:58Z")
[QUOTE=Northern Piper] He also appears on a Simpsons episode, at some sort of car show (I think), where he slags Keaton’s performance as Batman and starts talking about doing the Batoosi. Bart and Lisa have no idea who the crazy man is and back away with the “Don’t make eye contact … don’t make eye contact…” mode [/QUOTE] Is that the one where Dr Smith came on to Bart and the Robot said “Danger, Bart Simpson, danger!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/16 "2007-06-19T12:01:04Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] Is that the one where Dr Smith came on to Bart and the Robot said “Danger, Bart Simpson, danger!” 😃 [/QUOTE] That was the bi-mon-sci-fi-con episode. I’m not sure if West appeared in that one too, but I do remember he appeared in the “Mr Plough” episode. He was at a car show with the Batmobile and started talking about the various actresses that played Catwoman, then started on his physique and how it was all real muscle under the costume 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/17 "2007-06-19T13:03:33Z")
[QUOTE=Pushkin] That was the bi-mon-sci-fi-con episode. I’m not sure if West appeared in that one too, but I do remember he appeared in the “Mr Plough” episode. He was at a car show with the Batmobile and started talking about the various actresses that played Catwoman, then started on his physique and **how it was all real muscle under the costume** 😃 [/QUOTE] “_Pure West_.” I love that scene. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/18 "2007-06-19T13:11:36Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] What I wonder is, is he in on the joke here? [/QUOTE] I’d say he’s the living definition of “in on the joke.” ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/19 "2007-06-19T13:35:46Z")
I remember seeing a Biography show on West that explained that before he got the Batman gig, he was actually known as a deadpan comic actor, so yes, I’d say he’s very much in on the joke. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-west-batman-on-the-family-guy/408479/20 "2007-06-19T14:04:08Z")
It’s pretty hard to get a guy to make thirty-seconds worth of taffy-chewing noises in a recording booth if he’s not in on the joke.