What Adam West Was Really Like During Family Guy Recording Sessions
Over the years, "Family Guy" has released some incredibly entertaining seasons filled with hilarious jokes and gut-busting cutaways. And many of those memorable moments featured Mayor West, who was voiced by acting great Adam West. After so many years of watching him bring his quirky fictional version to life, many people are probably curious about what it was like to work with West during his tenure on the animated sitcom.
For the longest time, Adam West was known for playing Batman from the campy TV series from the 1960s, but after he took on the role of the strange Mayor of Quahog, the actor became one of the most popular characters on "Family Guy.". Before he passed away, the gifted individual took part in a vast array of shows throughout his rewarding run in showbiz (via Rotten Tomatoes), but the two titles he was most committed to based on numbers alone are, without a doubt, "Batman" and "Family Guy." While his IMDb showcases that he made multiple appearances on many programs, West did over 100 episodes of both shows.
The actor arguably made a remarkable impact on fans from his efforts in both personas, but while he is one of many to suit up as the infamous hero from DC Comics, he is the only one ever to take on the role of Mayor West, and it turns out working with him on "Family Guy" is probably what some people would have expected.
Adam West was a pleasure to work with on Family Guy
While the Mayor West character was undeniably a bit of a screwball at times, the man voicing the side-splitting "Family Guy" personality was a joy to work with, according to executive producer Steve Callaghan. Having written Adam West's first foray into the series in Season 2, Episode 12 ("Fifteen Minutes of Shame"), throughout their time working together on "Family Guy," Callaghan became good friends with the iconic actor. In an interview, he reflected on how West had such a bold attitude in his approach to taking part in the often foul-mouthed mature-themed series and his excellent execution of the material he was given. "He just was such a good sport. Always really funny. So easy to work with, easy to take direction," Callaghan told Entertainment Weekly. "I think he really loved being part of the show as much as we loved having him."
And Callaghan wasn't the only executive producer to showcase praise for his work on the series. "Adam West was a joy to work with, and the kind of guy you always wanted to be around," Seth MacFarlane wrote in a touching tribute to the actor after his death (via Deadline). "His positivity, good nature, and sense of fun were undeniable, and it was always a big jolt of the best kind of energy when he walked in to record the show."
There is no denying that West positively influenced many people who watched or heard him on TV, but even when the mics weren't hot or the cameras weren't rolling, West knew how to make people smile and feel good about the experience.