It's weird the things you remember. (Concerning Adam West) · 6:51pm Jun 10th, 2017
When I was very little, probably five, I would run home every day to watch Adam West's batman on public TV. I didn't have cable when I was very very little, but Batman was something I never missed. Every time, it would sign off: "Same bat time, same bat channel." I was incredibly and obsessively involved with this show, to the point where I would shout at the screen to try to help Batman or warn him of things. Oddly enough, from all my memories from that age, one sticks out in my mind concerning Batman.
There was an arc going on in which batman was going to be eaten by a giant clam. I don't remember why or now, but I remember this big clam mouth trying to eat him, and watching him going into it. It was campy, sure, but when you're little and your hero is in peril, it doesn't matter how campy it is, that shit hits you hard! The episode came to an end, and we were told to tune in next time to see if he survived, at the "Same Bat time, same Bat channel." Now, I wasn't yet aware of the idea that batman would ALWAYS survive, or that my watching or not watching had no influence on a show that was on reruns anyway. I assumed that everything was pretty much live, and that I HAD to watch, to help him.
The next day, I believe I had a dentist's appointment, or maybe it was the doctor. My mother assured me that we'd be home in time for Batman, but traffic decided that was not to be the case. I remember crying and flipping out in the car, and my mother probably thought I was just being a spoiled kid. But no. I thought that without me there to watch and warn him, that clam would have killed Batman. I thought that my stupid dentist appointment had made me actually KILL Batman! My hero was dead, and it was all my fault. Well, partially my mother's but, still mostly mine.
I got home, and asked my dad if he'd watched Batman. He hadn't. Any last hope I had was dashed. I remember being completely distraught, and shutting myself in my room, just sniffling on the bed because I hadn't been there for the caped crusader. My father eventually assured me that there would be another episode on tomorrow, but I wasn't convinced. At last, I remember deciding to watch, because even if Batman was gone, Robin probably still needed me. After all, he'd lost Batman too!
I came home from school with a heavy heart, sat down in my usual spot, and turned on the TV. And somehow, miraculously, there was Batman! He was alive, and standing by the clam with smoke coming out of the edges! He was talking to Robin about the fact that he'd survived somehow, but wasn't revealing his secrets. I didn't know how to handle this. Not even a little! It was a miracle! My hero had survived, even without me there to help! He really was the best superhero of them all, so strong and smart that he didn't need a little girl shouting "look out!" in order to make it though each peril.
From then on, I remember coming back to watch with a smile, because I knew, even without me, he'd still be there day after day. I never knew how he escaped the giant clam, but I didn't really want to know either. It just added to the mystery.
Today, that Batman passed away from cancer. Maybe some small part of my child brain still feels that I could have prevented it. That if I had watched, and yelled "Look out for that cancer!" that he could have been saved. I'm grown now, and I know that the set was full of props, that it was campy, overacted comedy, and usually so full of bad jokes that your eyes could roll right out of your head if you weren't careful. But for a while, it was real to me. He was really Batman. He could do anything. And he knew I was there trying to help, and that even in the worst case scenario, he'd still come out on top.
So, I suppose that's how I'm going to choose remember him. I'm going to remember that he was the caped crusader, that he could bring down any foe he went up against. I'll choose, in some small and childish way, to think of this as just another giant clam. I didn't see him get eaten, I didn't see what happened next. But he'll be back somehow, on some other Bat time and some other Bat channel. Because even if he's gone, Cancer can't really beat him. He just has another Bat signal somewhere else he needs to answer.
After all, he's a hero. That's what they do.
Mr. Adam West, thank you for being my Batman.
-Pencil
Fucking hell Pencil I just stopped crying.
That was a very cute story
I never watched the show, but it does feel like your childhood heroes are suddenly passing away at an alarming rate... I still can't believe Robin Williams has left us, or how old John Cleese looks nowadays. Where did all that time go?
This is honestly the sweetest thing.
I've always been an Adam West fan, too. Probably not as much as you (no where close), but I remember watching him on Fairly Odd Parents, when I was younger. I was never a big fan of the show, but I did love Catman. I still love him whenever I do catch episodes of Family Guy. His characters, at least his recent characters, have alway been distinct to me. Very out there, very flamboyant, but also very happy. The roles I'd seen him play always made me feel silly, and they always made me smile. They always will, too.
Eighty-eight years is still a really long time, and I'm glad he hung in there.
Rest in piece Mr. West.
Damn, Pencil. That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard.
That is one of, perhaps the best, way to remember someone I have ever seen.
I only ever heard of him from Family Guy and honestly, I didn't really like him but I still pay my respects.
Welp, this is the first time I am hearing about this.
So this is what it's like to find out a celebrity I like dies while in intense afterglow. I am not sure what to feel right now.
Cute story, and I actually remember that episode! It stuck out in my mind due to how ridiculous it was, but I was a little older at the time, maybe in my very early teens when I used to watch it with my Mom. Nick at Nite was truly a blessing to grow up with.
So sad to hear that he passed away - I wasn't aware until I stumbled on this post. Though many have donned the cape and cowl over the years, he'll always be the REAL Batman in my eyes.
I didn't really watch that batman, but I remember seeing one bit of an episode that just had me dying...
(it took me a moment to find the new method of using a youtube link
)
Just saw the news on TV, NOOOOOO not another legend!!!!
Honestly can't watch a rerun now without the cringe needle slamming into the red but when it came out, same thing, glued to the screen watching it. Loved all the gizmos in the batcave and the batmobile, would have died to have the hidden moving wall entrance to the batcave.i.makeagif.com/media/7-09-2015/ZtgwO7.gif
Turbines to speed Adam West, may heaven have no rubber sharks for you.✝🦇
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Legends never die as long as we remember them.
makes me glad i got to meet adam west a few years ago in a texas convention...i'm still trying to get over his passing.