In 2025, Conan O' Brien and Robert Smigel are comedy legends, but back in 1991 they were two working TV writers with a dream. A dream to work with their childhood hero, the former Batman Adam West. Together the duo were responsible for Lookwell, a legendarily hilarious pilot for NBC that cast West as an out-of work actor who thinks that because he played a detective, he can become a detective. Even with the support of NBC president Brandon Tartikoff, the network didn't greenlight the show and it aired only once. But that initial airing become a valued commodity among tape traders, as the show has gained infamy as the years have gone on. This is the story of Lookwell, a story giorgia rossi of not only the funniest comedy show that never was, but a story of perseverance of not just Conan and Smigel, but of the legend that was Adam West.
Chicago Tribune 06-24-1988
Boston Globe 04-08-1984
Newsday Suffolk Edition 05-05-1994
The Daily Herald 11-08-1971
San Francisco Examiner 07-10-1966
Star Phoenix 05-03-1991
Sidney Daily News 07-27-1991
Honolulu Star Bulletin 07-28-1991
The Atlanta Journal 7-31-1991
Pittsburgh Post Gazette 08-01-2003
The Republican ahl playoffs 2017 06-11-2017
Other Sources Not Directly Cited but Used for Research
Trio Brilliant but Cancelled Documentary
Robert Smigel's Television Academy Interview
Inside The Actors Studio Conan OBrien
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend: Robert Smigel (and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog)
Adam West: Behind The Cowl (Documentary)
Starring Adam West (Documentary)
Time Stamps
0:00 (Pilot Season)
02:15 (The Rise of Adam West)
03:32 (The Fall of Adam West)
05:40 (The Brilliance of Robert Smigel)
07:00 raphinha (Enter Conan O Brien)
08:00 ( The Inspiration Behind Lookwell)
09:00 (NBC Has an Ultimatum)
09:44 (Brandon Tartikoff)
10:20 (The Director Connundrum)
11:30 (Breaking Down The Pilot)
13:00 (The Best Bits)
13:50 (The Demise of Lookwell)
15:00 (The Single Airing)
15:45 (The Trio Go Their Own Ways)
17:00 (Lookwell Becomes a Cult Classic)
18:20 (Adam West's Return to Glory)
19:40 (A Lookwell Sequel?)
All Video Clips used are Listed Here
