I'm definitely getting it ASAP. I do genuinely feel it's gotten an overblown reputation for being worse than it is. In that, it's actually very similar, in some respects, to how
some people look back on the TMNT OT and over-sell how "bad" it is. They both have a ton of "WTF?" stuff in them. But neither is unwatchable. And I'd argue that both of them are important enough, historically, that everyone should at least see them, if only to appreciate how far we've come since then.
Super-hilarious story about 60s Batman: This may or may not shock you, but, Hollywood folks tend to like to get together in groups, do lots of drugs, and have some wacky sex. Amazing, I know. Who knew? Anyways, this was especially true back in the 60s. So anyways, West has often told a story where he and Frank Gorshin, who played The Riddler, were invited to one of these little "get-togethers", but neither had really been a part of that scene before, and were both seriously uncomfortable. So, not sure exactly what to do in the situation, they both started doing their characters right in the middle of the swingers' party! All these naked, stoned celebrities sitting around getting ready to bone, and suddenly West and Gorshin start doing Batman and Riddler and chasing each other around the room!
Apparently, they were asked to leave, and neither got another orgy invite. Which was fine, because as we all know, Adam West got as much tail as Capt. Kirk back in the day.
Between that story, and knowing that West would often "accidentally" grab Yvonne Craig's ass or boob during takes - some of which actually made it into final episodes - I have a whole new appreciation for that show.