Adam West Insisted on Changing This Line for His Big Bang Theory Cameo
But producers managed to change his mind.
Despite ending in 2019, The Big Bang Theory is still fondly remembered by fans. The CBS hit sitcom had a faltering start in 2007: the show's pilot was rejected and had to be partially rewritten and recast. Yet, eventually, the series became a huge success and ran for twelve seasons, a feat few modern shows can claim. Additionally, TBBT inspired a popular spin-off, Young Sheldon, which marked its sixth year on the air this spring.
In the twelve years it was on the air, The Big Bang Theory explored numerous storylines and welcomed a host of A-list actors. For example, industry titans such as Teller, Jessica Walter, and Octavia Spencer made cameo appearances on the show. However, the sitcom's most memorable guest star was arguably Adam West – the first-ever Batman actor. When the producers invited him to do a cameo as himself, he had just one request.
Episode 17 of season 9 sees the gang throw a party for Sheldon's birthday. Among other surprises, they plan to invite Adam West, who played Batman on ABC's eponymous TV show in the 1960s. To their surprise, he agrees to come. He asks them to pick him up but makes one specific request.
'Don't ring my doorbell or my poodles will go crazy,' West's on-screen version tells them.
Remarkably, it was this innocuous line that the legendary actor wanted to change. According to Bill Prady, one of TBBT's creators, West didn't initially find this specific dog breed manly enough.
'Adam said to me, "Do you think I could have a tougher dog, like a Rottweiler?" And I said, "Well, Mr. West, you could, but I don't think it's as funny." And he said, "Well, I have poodles in real life, so I guess it's fine,"' the producer shared at a Comic-Con in San Diego.
Interestingly, Adam West had no problem poking fun at himself – when his fictionalised version ranked the Batman actors, he initially placed Michael Keaton first.
'I never had to say, "I'm Batman." I showed up, people knew I was Batman,' West boasted. 'What's an Affleck?'
Sadly, the legendary actor passed away a year and a half after appearing in TBBT's 200th episode. The Celebration Experimentation became one of his last works and embodied his greatness, leaving the cast and viewers with the fondest memories of Adam West.
Source: Cinema Blend.