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{{Short description|American television series (1964–1966)}} | |||
]'''''The Munsters''''' was a 1960s ] ] ], depicting the home life of a family of ] ]s. Much of the humor derived from the fact that they did not have the slightest idea that they were in any way different from their neighbors. Comedy also came from their daily interaction with modern-day society, and the usual horrified or frightened reactions of those around them at their ghoulish appearance. | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}} | |||
{{For-multi|the 2022 film|The Munsters (2022 film)|the Succession episode|The Munsters (Succession)}} | |||
{{Infobox television | |||
| image = The Munsters title card.png | |||
| caption = Season One opening, with ] featured behind the title | |||
| creator = ]<br/>]<ref>{{cite news|title= Chris Hayward, 81, TV Writer and a Creator of 'Munsters,' Is Dead|work= The New York Times|date=December 19, 2006|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/19/obituaries/19hayward.1.html?scp=8&sq=the%20munsthsbsers&st=cse|access-date=October 10, 2010|first=Margalit|last=Fox}}</ref> | |||
| developer = Norm Liebmann<br/>Ed Haas | |||
| starring = ]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>] (1964)<br/>] (1964–66)<br/>] | |||
| theme_music_composer = ]<br/>Bob Mosher (unaired lyrics) | |||
| opentheme = "The Munsters' Theme" | |||
| endtheme = “The Munsters’ Theme” | |||
| composer = Jack Marshall | |||
| country = United States | |||
| language = English | |||
| num_seasons = 2 | |||
| num_episodes = 70 | |||
| list_episodes = List of The Munsters episodes | |||
| executive_producer = | |||
| producer = ]<br/>] | |||
| location = ], ] | |||
| camera = ] | |||
| runtime = 23-26 minutes | |||
| company = Kayro-Vue Productions<br />] | |||
| network = ] | |||
| first_aired = {{Start date|1964|09|24}} | |||
| last_aired = {{End date|1966|05|12}} | |||
| related = {{Plainlist| | |||
* '']'' | |||
* '']'' | |||
}} | |||
}} | |||
'''''The Munsters''''' is an American ] about the home life of a family of benign ]s that aired from 1964 to 1966 on ]. The series stars ] as ] (]),<ref group="Notes">Episodes referring to the fact that Herman is Frankenstein's monster include #55, "Just Another Pretty Face," in which Grandpa explains how he came to possess Herman's original blueprint by reading the inscription on it: "To our favorite Count, Dracula - a souvenir from Dr. Frankenstein and all the guys and gals" and #61, "Cyrano de Munster," in which Lily, suspecting Herman of infidelity, tells Marilyn: "I'll take Herman apart so that even Dr. Frankenstein couldn't put him together"</ref> ] as his vampire wife ],<ref name="Yvonne De Carlo Is The Mama In a Nice Monster Family">{{cite news|title=Yvonne De Carlo Is The Mama In a Nice Monster Family|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19640623&id=nWJSAAAAIBAJ&pg=5511,1718564|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=]|date=June 23, 1964|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606002627/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19640623&id=nWJSAAAAIBAJ&pg=5511%2C1718564|url-status=live}}</ref> ] as ] (]),<ref group="Notes">Episodes mentioning that Grandpa is Count Dracula include #55, "Just Another Pretty Face," in which he explains his possession of Herman's original blueprint by reading the inscription on it: "To our favorite Count, Dracula - a souvenir from Dr. Frankenstein and all the guys and gals," and #58, "Grandpa's Lost Wife," in which a legal document names him as "sometimes known as 'The Count,' sometimes known as 'Sam Dracula.{{'"}}</ref> ] (later replaced by ]) as their niece ], and ] as their ]-like son ]. The family pet, named "Spot", was a fire-breathing dragon. | |||
Produced by the creators of '']'', the series was a ] of American suburban life, the wholesome television family fare of the era and traditional ]s.<ref>{{cite news|title= The Munsters: The Complete First Season|publisher= ] |url= https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/11996/munsters-the-complete-first-season-the/ |access-date= December 7, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= The Munsters: The Complete Series|publisher= ]|url= https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/34944/munsters-the-complete-series-the/ |access-date= December 7, 2010}}</ref> It achieved higher ] than did the similarly macabre-themed ''],'' which aired concurrently on ]. | |||
It first aired Thursday nights in ] on the ] network from ], ] to ], ] for 70 episodes, and continued in syndication thereafter. ''The Munsters'' was filmed in ], though the never-aired pilot episode was filmed at least partially in ]. The fictional family lived at 1313 Mockingbird Lane, Mockingbird Heights. It was popular enough to warrant a spin-off series and several movies. Often it is considered a rival to the ] show, ], which was also about a family of monsters. | |||
In 1965, ''The Munsters'' was nominated for the ] for Best Television Series<ref name="Golden Globe Award nomination">{{cite web|title=Munsters, The|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/munsters|website=]|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref> but lost to '']''. In the 21st century, it received several ] nominations, including one for Most Uninsurable Driver (Herman Munster).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Genzlinger|first1=Neil|title='TV Land Awards' turn back the time|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/03/14/tv-land-awards-turn-back-the-time/|access-date=April 6, 2018|work=]|agency=]|date=March 14, 2005}}</ref> | |||
While its humor was usually broad, the series was visually sophisticated, particularly for an early-sixties sitcom. The Munster's home was a burnt, crumbling Gothic mansion, riddled with smoke, filthy with dust and cobwebs. Rich, shadowy photography echoed James Whale's expressionistic Frankenstein films, both emphasizing and ironizing the family's ghoulishness. The moving camera (a rarity in television comedies even today) often paused on busy compositions, focusing on multiple characters amid detailed settings. Then, of course, there's the charmingly grotesque appearances of the Munsters themselves, recalling classic Universal horror. | |||
The series originally aired on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. from ] to ]. Seventy episodes were produced. The show was canceled after ratings had dropped to a series low in the face of competition from ABC's '']''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fred John Del|first=Bianco Jr.|title=50 Favs of the '60s '70s '80s: A Look Back at Three Dynamic Decades |year=2012|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=978-1-468-56111-1|page=58}}</ref> Patrick said, "I think ''Batman'' was to blame. ''Batman'' just came along and took our ratings away."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/munsters-butch-patrick-why-show-ended|title='Munsters' child star Butch Patrick explains why hit '60s series came to an end|first=Stephanie|last=Nolasco|date=October 30, 2019|website=Fox News|access-date=May 3, 2021}}</ref> However, ''The Munsters'' found a large audience in ]. A spinoff series ensued, as well as several films, including one with a theatrical release and several more recent attempts to reboot it.<ref>{{cite news|title= A Neighborhood Where Every Day Was Halloween|work= The New York Times|date=October 26, 2008|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/arts/television/26deca.html |access-date=October 10, 2010|first=Frank|last=Decaro}}</ref> | |||
==The Family of Characters== | |||
===The Munsters=== | |||
===='''Lily Munster'''==== | |||
Portrayed by ], a homemaker. A white streak in her hair recalls the monster's mate from '']'', as portrayed by ] in the ] film. Lily's housekeeping duties often involve spreading garbage around the mansion and "dusting" via a vacuum cleaner operating in reverse so that it blows dirt about. Her maiden name is ]. During the course of the series Lily has had jobs as a welder in a shipyard, a fashion model and a palm reader in a tea room. Lily wears a necklace featuring a rather large bat shaped medallion. | |||
== Premise == | |||
===='''Herman Munster'''==== | |||
The Munsters are a ]n-American family living at 1313 Mockingbird Lane in the fictional city of Mockingbird Heights.<ref group="Notes">A close-up of a bounced check in episode 44 reveals the family address and city, but no state.</ref> The series' running gag is that the odd-looking family with strange tastes considers itself to be an average American family.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Furdyk|first=Brent|date=4 June 2020|title='Woke' Herman Munster's Speech From 1965 Sitcom Episode Is Going Viral Over Its Timely Message|work=]|url=https://etcanada.com/news/653172/woke-herman-munsters-speech-from-1965-sitcom-episode-is-going-viral-over-its-timely-message/|access-date=October 17, 2021|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017013739/https://etcanada.com/news/653172/woke-herman-munsters-speech-from-1965-sitcom-episode-is-going-viral-over-its-timely-message/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Herman is the family's sole wage-earner, although Lily and Grandpa make short-lived attempts to earn money from time to time. While Herman is the head of the household, Lily also makes many decisions. According to episode 44 ("Happy 100th Anniversary"), they were married in 1865. | |||
Portrayed by ], and bears a distinct resemblance to ]' version of ]'s monster, as originally portrayed by ]. In one episode, Lily outright states to Eddie that "Dr. Frankenstein" made Herman. Herman was built in Germany, adopted by the Munster family of England, then relocated to Transylvania, where he married Lily. Herman served in the U.S. Army during ], indicating the family immigrated to the U.S. some time prior to that. For a man of 150, he behaves rather childishly, often throwing temper tantrums. He is employed by the Gateman, Goodbury and Graves ], having started out as a humble "nail boy." We never know exactly what he does, though one can infer he is a grave digger, from the jokes Herman makes. He also gets a promotion to hearse driver, in one episode where he has to get his driver's license renewed, only to find out he is starting out driving the "economy model" hearse which uses a horse; Herman's co-workers sometimes remark on his height and strength but otherwise do not appear to find his appearance out of the ordinary. As of the second season, he and Lily had been married for one hundred years. Herman also has a twin "brother" that speaks with sort of an English accent and is a scam artist. | |||
===='''Grandpa'''==== | |||
{{Main|Sam Dracula}} | |||
Portrayed by ], and usually called "Grandpa". His given name is ]; he is commonly (and incorrectly) referred to by viewers as "Grandpa Munster", even though he is Lily's father rather than Herman's. He is a ] and keeps a ] in the cellar of the house. Various potions and ] that he devises there are central to many of the show's stories. He appears to be able to naturally transform into a ] as well as a ]. He is at least 400 years old and has been married several times; his wives are all dead, but he still keeps in touch with them. His identity as Count Dracula was established in one episode, where Grandpa makes a collect call to Transylvania, and states his name as such to the operator on duty, who recognizes the Count immediately. He used to play poker with ], from whom he won the cursed Fregosi Emerald. | |||
Other than Marilyn, the characters' costumes and appearances were based on the ] films of the 1930s and 1940s, including the iconic version of ]<ref name=first>{{cite video|year=2003 |title=The Munsters: America's First Family of Fright|medium=Television production }}</ref> developed by ] for the 1931 Universal film '']''. As Universal jointly produced ''The Munsters'', the show was able to employ the copyrighted designs. Makeup for the series was credited to ], who pioneered many other makeup effects and designs for the studio's monsters after Pierce. | |||
===='''Eddie Munster'''==== | |||
Portrayed by ]; a typical all-American boy ] of ] age, aside from his green skin and pointed ears. His full name is Edward Wolfgang Munster. | |||
The show satirized the typical family sitcom formula of the era: the well-meaning father, the nurturing mother, the eccentric live-in relative, the naïve teenager and the precocious child. The show also references several real sitcoms. In episode 45, "Operation Herman", Lily tells Herman to have a father-son talk with Eddie because "a thing like this is up to the father. Anyone who's watched '']'' for nine years ought to know that," to which Herman replies, "All right. But ] always handles things on ''her'' show." In episode 47, "John Doe Munster", Grandpa describes '']'' as being about a "crazy, mixed-up family that's always having weird adventures."<ref group="Notes">''Nick at Nite's Classic TV Companion'', edited by Tom Hill, copyright 1996 by ]. "Some crystal ball ''you've'' got!" Herman complained to Grandpa. "All it can do is pick up reruns of '']''!"</ref> | |||
===='''Marilyn Munster'''==== | |||
Originally portrayed by ] (and later by ]), she is the daughter of one of Lily's sisters living with the Munsters through the entire series. Marilyn is a fetching young blonde and the only member of the family that is not ghoulish. The reason why Marilyn lives with her aunt and uncle is not explained by the series. The family is vaguely ashamed of their relationship to such an "ugly" person, and even Marilyn is aware of her "plain-ness". She bemoans that she keeps scaring off potential boyfriends, having no idea that the youths are in fact frightened away by her family. She attends Westbury College. Although, as the daughter of Lily's sister, Marilyn would presumably have a different surname than the rest of the family, she is always referred to as "Marilyn Munster," perhaps indicating she was legally adopted by Herman and Lily following her immigration from Transylvania (while the character was being formulated, her name was Marilyn Mundane, which could fit with Lily's sister's kinship). In one of the movies, Marilyn was the daughter of Herman's sister instead. | |||
Al Lewis explained, "We can do a lot of satirical pointed things on society that you couldn't do on an ordinary show." Lewis also said, "Philosophically, the format is that in spite of the way people look to you physically, underneath there is a heart of gold.<ref name="Daily Variety. July 29, 1964">Daily Variety. July 29, 1964</ref> | |||
===Their pets=== | |||
*'''Spot''' - A fire-breathing Dragon living under the staircase. Though never fully appearing on camera, his eyes could be seen glowing in the darkness beneath as a hinged section of the stair steps swung open by tilting backward one of the bannister newels. | |||
*'''Igor''' - A bat (or perhaps a transformed vampire) who lives in Grandpa's lab and assists with his work. | |||
*'''Kittycat''' - An average-sized ] who roars like a ]. | |||
*'''Charlie''' - A Talking ] who lives in the ] in the living room (usually voiced by ]). | |||
*'''Goldfish''' - They devour food like ravenous piranhas. | |||
*'''Elmer''' - A snake that lived beneath the garbage bin in the backyard. | |||
''The Munsters'' reflected changes in social attitudes during the civil-rights era, and in 2020 a speech that Herman makes to Eddie in the 1965 episode "Eddie's Nickname" went ]: "The lesson I want you to learn is that it doesn't matter what you look like. Whether you are tall or short; or fat or thin; or ugly or handsome—like your father—or you can be black, or yellow or white, it doesn't matter. What matters is the size of your heart and the strength of your character."<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/how-herman-munster-can-be-so-right-about-racism-and-still-be-a-little-bit-wrong/2020/06/04/fc17fe6e-a6aa-11ea-b473-04905b1af82b_story.html| title = How Herman Munster can be so right about racism and still be a little bit wrong - The Washington Post| newspaper = ]}}</ref> | |||
===Other relatives=== | |||
*'''Charlie Munster''' - Herman's ] | |||
==Cast== | |||
*'''Ronald Dracula''' - Grandpa's younger cousin, a vampire | |||
{{Main|List of The Munsters characters}} | |||
*'''Lester Dracula''' - Lily's brother, a ] | |||
*'''Uncle Gilbert''' - Otherwise known as the ] | |||
], ]. Sitting: ], ], ]]] | |||
*'''Uncle Boris''' and '''Aunt Mina''' - Never depicted, said to live in Death Valley | |||
*'''Cousin Phantom''' - Otherwise known as the ]. Has a bad habit of shattering fragile objects with his voice when hitting high notes. | |||
===Regulars=== | |||
*'''Humphrey''' - A cousin of Grandpa's, who Grandpa hasn't spoken to since he stole his aspirin during the ]. | |||
*] as ] | |||
*] as ] | |||
*] as ] | |||
*] as ] | |||
*] as ] (ep. 1–13) | |||
*] as Marilyn Munster (ep. 14–70) | |||
*] – the voice of Charlie the Raven | |||
*] – the voice of Charlie the Raven | |||
===Recurring characters=== | |||
*] as Dr. Edward H. Dudley (ep. 4, 6, 19) | |||
** ] as Dr. Edward H. Dudley (ep. 55) | |||
*] as Mr. Gateman, Herman's boss at the funeral parlor (ep. 37, 62) | |||
*Chet Stratton as Clyde Thornton, Herman's coworker at the funeral parlor (ep. 53, 61) | |||
*] as Uriah, Calvin and another coworker at the funeral parlor | |||
==Production== | |||
===Development=== | |||
The idea of a family of comical ] was first suggested to ] by animator ], who developed the idea from 1943 to 1945 as a series of ].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=96y-V5chpgkC&q=bob+clampett+%22monster+family%22&pg=PA106|title=The Frankenstein Archive|isbn=9780786480692|last1=Glut|first1=Donald F.|date=September 11, 2015|publisher=McFarland }}</ref> The project did not make progress until mid-1963<ref>Monsters to Be Just Plain Folks On a CBS-TV Comedy Series. New York Times 15 Feb 1964</ref> when a similar idea was submitted by '']'' writers ] and ]. The proposal was later handed to writers Norm Liebman and Ed Haas, who wrote a pilot script, ''Love Thy Monster''. | |||
According to Burns, "We sort of stole the idea from ] and his '']'' cartoons.... Because Universal owned the Frankenstein character and the Dracula character for movie rights, they decided to take their characters instead of the characters we had written."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lewellen|first1=Scott|title=Funny You Should Ask: Oral Histories of Classic Sitcom Storytellers|date=2013|publisher=McFarland|page=130}}</ref> | |||
While some executives believed that the series should be animated, others who argued for live action prevailed. In 1964, a live-action pilot titled "My Fair Munster" was filmed in color by ] for ].<ref name=first/> ] and ] were the first to be cast early in February 1964. They had recently completed the series '']'' and had good chemistry together. ] was signed to play Marilyn, ] was cast as Herman's wife Phoebe and "Happy" Nate Derman was cast as Eddie. A second pilot was ordered in April 1964 with ] replacing Marshall, and the character renamed Lily. For a third pilot, Derman was replaced by ]. CBS liked both De Carlo and Patrick, but ordered a fourth pilot in which Eddie was less spoiled.{{Citation needed |date=March 2023}} | |||
The show was produced by ] and ], who were already known for creating the '']'' television series. Prior to that, they had written many episodes of '']'', a popular network radio program, during its half-hour comedy era. | |||
===Filming=== | |||
Over the course of Season 1, the makeup for Herman, Lily and Grandpa was adjusted. Lily's hair originally had a large white streak, which was reduced in later episodes. Her necklace featured a bat instead of a star, and her eyebrows were angled more. Grandpa's makeup was exaggerated, including heavier eyebrows, and Herman's face was widened for a dopier and less human appearance. Gwynne also added a stutter whenever Herman was angry or wanted to make a point, and he frequently left his mouth open, adding to the effect of a goofy, less frightening figure. | |||
===Sets=== | |||
{{Main|Munster Mansion}} | |||
The Munsters' home was a decaying ] ] ]-style mansion. At one point the address was supposed to be 43 Mockingbird Lane, Camelot, New Jersey, but was changed to 1313 Mockingbird Lane in the city of Mockingbird Heights (state unknown) when filming began. In later incarnations of the series the location is described as a small town outside Los Angeles. | |||
] | |||
The Munster home was on the Universal Studios back lot. It was originally constructed with two other houses on Stage 12, the studio's largest ], for the 1946 film '']''. After that film was completed, the sets were put in storage until 1950, when they (along with other house sets built from stock units) were reassembled on "River Road" along the north edge of the back lot. All three houses appeared in many television shows and films, including ''Leave It to Beaver.''<ref>{{cite book|last=Ingram|first=Billy |title=Tvparty!: Television's Untold Tales|year=2002|publisher=Bonus Books, Inc.|isbn=1-566-25184-2|page=228}}</ref> | |||
In 1964, the house was redressed and distressed to portray the Munster home, and a stone wall was added around the property. After ''The Munsters'' ended its run, the house was restored. It was the home of the family in '']'' (NBC, 1979–80). | |||
In 1981, all of the homes on River Road were moved from the north end of the lot to their present location. The former Munster house was used in '']'' and, after another remodel, ''].'' | |||
The interiors of the Munsters' mansion were filmed on Stages 30 and 32 at Universal Studios. The interior was riddled with dust, smoke and cobwebs. (When Lily "dusted" the house, her ] emitted clouds of dust, which she applied to surfaces that would normally be cleaned.) As a running gag, parts of the house would often be damaged, mostly by Herman's tantrums or clumsiness, but the damage would not last. | |||
] | |||
===Props=== | |||
In the fourth episode ("Rock-A-Bye Munster"), Lily buys a ] and a ] from a used-car dealership and has them customized into one car (the ]) as Herman's birthday present. The Munster Koach and ] (built by Grandpa in episode 36, "Hot Rod Herman") were designed by Tom Daniel and built by auto customizer ] for the show. The Munster Koach was a hot rod built on a lengthened 1926 ] chassis with a custom hearse body. It was 18 feet long and cost almost $20,000 to build. Barris also built the DRAG-U-LA, a dragster built from a coffin (according to Barris, a real coffin was purchased for the car), which Grandpa used to win back the Munster Koach after Herman lost it in a race. | |||
===Theme song=== | |||
The instrumental theme song, titled "The Munsters' Theme", was composed by composer/arranger ].<ref name="cox2">{{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Stephen |author-link1=Stephen Cox (writer) |last2=De Carlo |first2=Yvonne |author-link2=Yvonne De Carlo |first3=Butch |last3=Patrick |author-link3=Butch Patrick |title=The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane |year=2006 |publisher=Random House |location=New York |isbn=0-8230-7894-9 |oclc=68192546 |chapter=Munster Maestro: About Jack Marshall}}</ref> Described by writer ] as a "]-meets-] sound",<ref name="cox"/> the theme was nominated for a ] in 1965. The song's lyrics, which were written by coproducer Bob Mosher, were never aired on CBS. | |||
==Episodes== | ==Episodes== | ||
===Pitch episode=== | |||
] | |||
The first ] was filmed in color and ran 16 minutes (later cut to just over 13 minutes). It was used to pitch the series to CBS and its affiliates. (The episode is available on the first season of ''The Munsters'' DVDs.) It never aired, but the script was reused as the basis for Episode 2, "My Fair Munster". The cast in the title sequence included ] as Phoebe (instead of Lily), Beverley Owen as Marilyn, Nate "Happy" Derman as Eddie, Al Lewis as Grandpa and Fred Gwynne as Herman. Although the same house exterior was used, it was later changed to appear spookier for the series. This included adding the tower deck and Marilyn's deck, a new coat of paint and enlarging the living room. Although Grandpa had the same dungeon, Gwynne did not wear padding in the pitch episode, had a more protruding forehead, and was broad but thin. The most noticeable difference was his somber expression rather than his comic silliness during the series.<ref name="cox">{{cite book|last=Cox|first=Stephen |title=The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane|year=2006|publisher=Random House Digital, Inc.|isbn=0-823-07894-9|pages=35–36}}</ref> Except for Marilyn, the family had a blue-green ] to their skin. The biggest character difference was that Eddie was portrayed by Derman as a nasty brat.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cox|first=Stephen |title=The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane|year=2006|publisher=Random House Digital, Inc.|isbn=0-823-07894-9|pages=36, 38}}</ref> Eddie, as played by Patrick, was mostly respectful. | |||
The pilot title sequence had light, happy music borrowed from the ] movie '']''<ref name="Biography"/> instead of the instrumental rock theme. It was also decided that Marshall too closely resembled ]<ref name="Biography"/> and that Derman was too nasty as Eddie, so both were replaced.<ref name="Biography">], "The Munsters," 1998</ref> On the basis of the first presentation, the new series, still not completely cast, was announced by CBS on February 18, 1964. A second black-and-white presentation was filmed with DeCarlo and Patrick. In this version, Eddie appeared with a more normal look, although his ] was later altered to include a pronounced ]. | |||
''See ].'' | |||
===''Marineland Carnival'' (1965 Easter special)=== | |||
The series was split over two seasons. | |||
During the first season, the Munster family appeared in an Easter special when they visited ] in Palos Verdes, California, to get a new pet for Eddie. Shot on videotape, the episode aired just once on CBS on April 18, and was long thought ] until a copy was donated to the ] in New York in 1997.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marineland Carnival |website=Munsterland |url=http://www.munsterland.net/marineland.html |access-date=September 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Pop Colorture|url=http://pop-colorture.com/2016/10/30/trick-or-treat-the-munsters-scare-up-some-fun-in-this-newly-discovered-holiday-special/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302092422/http://pop-colorture.com/2016/10/30/trick-or-treat-the-munsters-scare-up-some-fun-in-this-newly-discovered-holiday-special/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 2, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017}}</ref> | |||
== |
===Episode list=== | ||
{{Main|List of The Munsters episodes}} | |||
*'']'' ran from 1988 to 1991. It involved the family being re-awoken in the 1980s, and having to adapt to (the then) modern life. It proved highly unpopular among fans of the original series. | |||
{{:List of The Munsters episodes}} | |||
== |
==Syndication== | ||
The series entered syndication on local stations after its original run. In the 1990s, it aired on ] and on ] from 1995 to 1998. In October 2011, the series was picked up by ]'s sister channel ] and ran through the entire month of October that year for ] along with '']''. | |||
Several Munster films were released, two with the original cast. | |||
* '']'' ~ (1966) The Munsters go to ] to claim the Munster Hall after the death of an old relative. The film starred the series' cast with the exception of Pat Priest who was replaced by ] by their contract player, ] in a controversial move that was not well received by fans of the series, although most enjoyed the film and the chance to see the Munsters in color for the first time. | |||
* '']'' ~ (1981) A TV movie. The owner of a museum with a Munsters exhibit makes robots of Herman and Grandpa and uses them to rob a bank. Gwynne, De Carlo, and Lewis recreated their roles but Eddie and Marilyn were played by new young performers. | |||
* '']'' ~ (1995) A TV movie. The family search for Herman's brother-in-law Norman Hyde, only to find out that he has turned himself into Brent Jekyll, who is running for congress, and Grandpa must make a formula to change him back. The film featured a cameo scene of DeCarlo, Lewis, Priest, and Patrick as a bickering family in restaurant. | |||
* '']'' ~ (1996) | |||
* ''The Munsters'' ~ In production, probably due for a ] release date. | |||
On October 5, 2015, ] began airing the series on weeknights and in a two-hour block on Sunday evenings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cozitv.com/shows/weekday/The-Munsters-322960111.html|title=The Munsters|website=Cozi TV|language=en|access-date=2020-02-21}}</ref> | |||
==Trivia== | |||
==Reception== | |||
*] built two automobiles for the show: "]", a ] built on a lengthened ] ] chassis with a custom hearse body, and ] (which inspired a ] song by the same name), which was a drag car built to look like a coffin which Grandpa used to win back "The Munster Koach" after Herman lost it in a race. In real life Yvonne de Carlo drove a ] sedan fitted with custom-made "spooky" ornaments, for example spider webs on the rims. She had to give up on it, as the car was repeatedly vandalized by "fans" hunting for souvenirs. | |||
===Ratings=== | |||
*1964–1965: #18 (24.7 rating) – Tied with '']'' | |||
*1965–1966: #61 (no rating given, 30.7 share)<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Spencer |first1=Walter |title=TV's Vast Grey Belt |journal=Television Magazine |date=August 1967 |volume=24 |issue=8 |page=55 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Television-Magazine/Television-1967-Aug.pdf |access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref> | |||
==TV appearances in character== | |||
*The original series began with Beverley Owen in the role of Marilyn. According to Al Lewis in a 2001 interview with Pittsburgh radio's Doug Hoerth, Owen was having personal problems that diverted her attention away from the series. After Lewis and Fred Gwynne petitioned the studio, the actress was "let go". The role was taken over in episode 14 by near-lookalike Pat Priest. | |||
Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis appeared in full makeup and costumes riding in the Munster Koach in the 1964 ].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://brioux.tv/blog/2021/11/24/the-year-the-munsters-crashed-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/ | title=The year the Munsters crashed Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade – brioux.tv | date=May 31, 2023 }}</ref> Gwynne made solo appearances in character on '']'' in April 1965, in the special '']'' in June 1965<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/things-to-do-watch-its-happening-baby-on-pbs-11540294 | title=Long-Lost "Happening" 1965 Music Special Resurfaces on PBS }}</ref> and on and '']'' in April 1966. | |||
==Franchise== | |||
*Despite popular belief, Herman and Lily Munster were not the first television couple to share the same bed. That honor belongs to ], which aired in 1947. Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns were husband and wife in "real life." Samantha and Darrin Stephens of '']'' were the first live-action TV couple, with the actors not married to each other in "real life," to sleep in a double bed. The episode in question, "Little Pitchers Have Big Fears," aired on ], ]. ''The Munsters'' showed Herman and Lily first sharing a bed in the episode "Autumn Croakus" on ], ]. '']'', another oft-mentioned candidate, did not air until ]. | |||
===Film=== | |||
{{Main|The Munsters (film series)}} | |||
Several Munsters movies were released. Two featuring original cast members include '']'' (1966), and '']'' (1981). A ] titled '']'' aired in 1995, and '']'' was released in 1996. A feature film titled '']'' was released on September 22, 2022. | |||
===TV=== | |||
*Immediately after the show ended, the cast began filming a feature film, '']''. Producers replaced Pat Priest with teenage actress ]. Priest commented on the DVD interview that she was devastated at the producer's decision to not include the then-30-year-old actress. | |||
====''The Mini-Munsters''==== | |||
{{Main|The Mini-Munsters}} | |||
In 1973, ABC aired an animated one-hour special, '']'', based on characters from the original series. | |||
====''The Munsters Today''==== | |||
*The first television movie, '']'', reunited DeCarlo, Gwynne, and Lewis. ] and ] played Marilyn and Eddie. | |||
{{Main|The Munsters Today}} | |||
A ] television series titled '']'' ran from 1988 to 1991 and lasted for 72 episodes. The unaired pilot episode, written by ], explained the 22-year gap with an accident in Grandpa's lab that put the family to sleep. They awake in the late 1980s and must adapt to their new surroundings. The show features ] (Herman), ] (Lily), ] (Grandpa) and ] (Eddie). Marilyn was portrayed by Mary-Ellen Dunbar in the unaired pilot and by ] thereafter. | |||
====''Mockingbird Lane''==== | |||
*A revival of the show, '']'' ran From ] to ]. It featured ] (Herman) ] (Lily), ] (Grandpa), ] (Eddie), and ] and ] (Marilyn). This time, the first Marilyn (Dunbar) only lasted one episode. | |||
{{Main|Mockingbird Lane}} | |||
A reboot by '']'' creator ] was developed for NBC as a one-hour drama with "spectacular visuals."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Munsters-Remake-NBC-1023856.aspx|title=NBC, Bryan Fuller Remaking The Munsters|author=Joyce Eng|date=September 30, 2010|work=TVGuide.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Exclusive-Munsters-NBC-1036301.aspx|title=Exclusive: The Munsters Back in Development at NBC|author=Michael Schneider|date=August 11, 2011|work=TVGuide.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/NBC-Picks-Munsters-1039784.aspx|title=NBC Picks Up Munsters Reboot Pilot From Pushing Daisies Creator|author=Hanh Nguyen|date=November 17, 2011|work=TVGuide.com}}</ref> NBC ordered a pilot episode,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/blogs/the-set/nbc-orders-munsters-reboot-pilot-165508698.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104054637/http://tv.yahoo.com/blogs/the-set/nbc-orders-munsters-reboot-pilot-165508698.html |title=NBC Orders 'The Munsters' Reboot to Pilot|date=November 17, 2011|archive-date=January 4, 2014|work=Yahoo TV}}</ref> and announced in January 2012 that it would be called ''Mockingbird Lane'', a reference to the Munsters' address.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a363611/nbcs-the-munsters-becomes-mockingbird-lane.html|title=NBC's 'The Munsters' becomes 'Mockingbird Lane'|last=Jeffery|first=Morgan|work=Digital Spy|date=February 2, 2012|access-date=February 2, 2012}}</ref> NBC ultimately did not proceed with plans for ''Mockingbird Lane'' as a weekly series, but later announced that the pilot episode would air in late October 2012 as a Halloween special.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2012/10/nbcs-mockingbird-lane-pilot-to-air-on-october-26-as-halloween-special-351961/|title=NBC's 'Mockingbird Lane' Pilot To Air on October 26 As Halloween Special|work=Deadline|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=October 11, 2012|access-date=October 24, 2012}}</ref> NBC passed on the series over disagreements about the show's dark nature and inconsistent tone.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Andreevs|first1=Nellie|title=NBC May Take Another Stab At 'The Munsters' Reboot Series |url=https://deadline.com/2013/01/nbc-may-take-another-stab-at-the-munsters-reboot-series-tca-397751/ |website=Deadline|date=January 6, 2013|access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref> | |||
===Unrealized projects=== | |||
*Yet another cast appeared in the made-for-tv movies '']'' and '']''. Yvonne DeCarlo, Al Lewis, Pat Priest, and Butch Patrick made a cameo together in the first of these as restaurant guests. | |||
*In August 2004, it was announced that ], ] and ] had signed a deal to write and produce a modern-day film featuring the Munsters, but that they would not appear in it.<ref>''Boston Globe.'' 29 Aug 2004: N11.</ref> | |||
*In August 2017, it was announced that ] was developing a modern-day interpretation of the series for NBC. The show would place the Munsters in ], New York, where they try to adapt to life as an ordinary family.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/munsters-reboot-nbc-seth-meyers/ |title=Seth Meyers Rebooting The Munsters TV Show |publisher=ScreenRant |date=August 10, 2017 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref> However, the show was not produced. | |||
===Music=== | |||
*] produced a ''Munsters'' comic book. When it first appeared, the ] still forbade the appearance of ]s in comic books. Lily and Grandpa were permitted without apparent objection. | |||
In 1998, ] released the single "]". Its title was taken from the name of ] dragster '']''.<ref>'']'', November 21, 1998 - Vol. 110, No. 47, Page 81.</ref> The music video mimics, in parts, the Munsters taking a ride in the car. | |||
A sample of the show's theme-song guitar riff was used in the song "]" by ].<ref name="Billboard Uma"> ''Billboard''. Retrieved November 4, 2021.</ref> | |||
*Many spin-off products were produced, including toys and several record albums. | |||
==Home media== | |||
*The show is often compared and sometimes confused with '']'', which premiered and ended during the same two television seasons. | |||
Between 2004 and 2008, ] released the entire series on DVD in Regions 1 & 2. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
*] was in the running for the role of Grandpa. | |||
|- | |||
!DVD Name | |||
!Ep# | |||
!Region 1 | |||
!Region 2 | |||
!Region 4 | |||
!Additional Information | |||
|- | |||
| Season 1 | |||
| style="text-align:center;"|38 | |||
| August 24, 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Munsters-Complete-First-Season/dp/B0002CX1LG |title=The Munsters – The Complete First Season: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Beverley Owen, Pat Priest, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=August 24, 2004 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref><br/>February 5, 2013 <small>(re-released)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Munsters-Season-1-Fred-Gwynne/dp/B00A2L1CKO |title=The Munsters: Season 1: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Pat Priest, Beverley Owen, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref> | |||
| October 17, 2005 | |||
| November 30, 2006 | |||
| | |||
*Original unaired pilot | |||
*Dual-sided discs (Region 1 only) | |||
|- | |||
| Season 2 | |||
| style="text-align:center;"|32 | |||
| October 25, 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Munsters-Complete-Second-Season/dp/B000ATQYX8 |title=The Munsters – Complete Second Season: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Pat Priest, Beverley Owen, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=October 25, 2005 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref><br/>February 5, 2013 <small>(re-released)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Munsters-Season-2-Fred-Gwynne/dp/B00A2L1CJK |title=The Munsters: Season 2: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Pat Priest, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref> | |||
| May 1, 2006 | |||
| October 25, 2006 | |||
| | |||
*''America's First Family of Fright'' | |||
*''Fred Gwynne: More Than a Munster'' | |||
*''Yvonne De Carlo: Gilded Lily'' | |||
*''Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa'' | |||
*Dual-sided discs (Region 1 only) | |||
|- | |||
| The Complete Series | |||
| style="text-align:center;"|70 | |||
| October 7, 2008<ref>{{cite web|author=Walmart |url=https://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Munsters-The-Complete-Series-DVD/10335940?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222228000012700&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=40949627312&wl4=pla-54665279016&wl5=9016549&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117019096&wl11=online&wl12=10335940&wl13=&veh=sem |title=The Munsters: The Complete Series (DVD) |publisher=Walmart.com |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref><br/>September 13, 2016 <small>(re-released)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Munsters-Complete-Fred-Gwynne/dp/B01HDORSFK |title=The Munsters: The Complete Series: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Pat Priest, Beverley Owen, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=September 13, 2016 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref> | |||
| style="text-align:center;"|N/A | |||
| style="text-align:center;"|N/A | |||
| | |||
*Original unaired pilot | |||
*''America's First Family of Fright'' | |||
*''Fred Gwynne: More Than a Munster'' | |||
*''Yvonne De Carlo: Gilded Lily'' | |||
*''Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa'' | |||
*"Family Portrait" (colorized version) | |||
*'']'' | |||
*'']'' | |||
*12 single-sided discs | |||
|- | |||
| The Complete Series (Closed Casket Collection) | |||
| style="text-align:center;"|70 | |||
| style="text-align:center;"|N/A | |||
| October 8, 2007 | |||
| | |||
| | |||
*Original unaired pilot | |||
*''America's First Family of Fright'' | |||
*''Fred Gwynne: More Than a Munster'' | |||
*''Yvonne De Carlo: Gilded Lily'' | |||
*''Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa'' | |||
*12 single-sided discs | |||
|- | |||
|The Complete Series | |||
| | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|August 3, 2016 | |||
| | |||
*'']'' | |||
*'']'' | |||
*12 single-sided discs | |||
|} | |||
The "Family Portrait" episode in color, which was absent from the Season 1 and 2 standalone box sets, was released on a standalone Region 1 DVD on October 7, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Munsters-Family-Portrait-Fred-Gwynne/dp/B001DZOCZK |title=The Munsters: Family Portrait: Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis, Yvonne De Carlo: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=October 7, 2008 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref> | |||
==Merchandise== | |||
*Butch Patrick (Eddie) starred in a 1970s Saturday morning live-action series called "Lidsville". He recorded a pop song in the early 1980s called 'Whatever happened to Eddie?'. In the 1990s, he sold custom made Wolf-Wolf dolls. | |||
] produced a ''Munsters'' ] that ran for 16 issues from 1965 to 1968 and featured photo covers from the TV series. When the series first appeared, the ] still forbade the appearance of ]s in comic books. However, because Gold Key was not a member of the ], it was not obligated to conform to the Comics Code, and Lily and Grandpa appeared in the comics without controversy. | |||
Other merchandise included a set of rubber ]s, ], and an ] model kit of the living room and family. AMT produced model kits of the Munster Koach and DRAG-U-LA. The Aurora model of the living room featured Herman in his electric chair, Eddie squatting in front of the fire, Lily knitting and Grandpa hanging in a bat-like manner from the rafters. Marilyn was not included. ERTL later produced a very detailed 1:18 scale diecast of the Munster Koach. Mattel issued two Herman Munster dolls: one was a talking doll and the other was a hand puppet (both with rings that could be pulled to make them talk utilizing Gwynne's actual voice) that were issued from 1964 until around 1968. | |||
*] episode ] from season 12 started out with the Simpsons as the Munsters, who were then killed by an angry mob. | |||
A video game based on ''The Munsters'' was published by Again, Again (a division of ]) in 1989. It was available for the ], ], ], ], ], ], and ], but it was criticized by the gaming press because of its short length and lackluster gameplay.<ref>{{WoS game|id=0003329|name=The Munsters}}</ref> | |||
*The Munster's Victorian Manor is also the home of Gabrielle and Carlos Solis in ABC's ] | |||
In 1990, ] released '']'' for the ], featuring Al Lewis' likeness in his Grampa Munster character on the box and label. However, as Atari had reached an agreement with Universal, they could not call him Grampa Munster, so he was simply called Grampa.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} | |||
== See also == | |||
* ] | |||
In 1966, a three-reel ] set featuring ''The Munsters'' episode "The Most Beautiful Ghoul in the World" was released, accompanied by a booklet containing drawings and additional text. The set is notable because the photographs provide rare color views of the characters and sets, including house interiors, Grandpa's dungeon laboratory and the characters' heavy greenish-white facial makeup. | |||
* ] | |||
==See also== | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
==Notes== | |||
{{reflist |group="Notes"}} | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
==Bibliography== | |||
*] and ]. (1964). ''The Munsters''. Hollywood: ] (CBS). | |||
*''The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane''. | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{sister project links|d=Q1086390|c=Category:The Munsters|display=''The Munsters''|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|wikt=no|s=no|m=no|mw=no}} | |||
* {{Official website}} | |||
*{{IMDb title|0057773|The Munsters}} | |||
* | |||
{{The Munsters|state=expanded}} | |||
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* {{imdb title|id=0057773|title=The Munsters}} | |||
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* http://www.classictvhits.com/munsters/index.html | |||
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Latest revision as of 05:02, 7 January 2025
American television series (1964–1966)For the 2022 film, see The Munsters (2022 film). For the Succession episode, see The Munsters (Succession).
The Munsters | |
---|---|
Season One opening, with Yvonne De Carlo featured behind the title | |
Created by | Allan Burns Chris Hayward |
Developed by | Norm Liebmann Ed Haas |
Starring | Fred Gwynne Yvonne De Carlo Al Lewis Beverley Owen (1964) Pat Priest (1964–66) Butch Patrick |
Theme music composer | Jack Marshall Bob Mosher (unaired lyrics) |
Opening theme | "The Munsters' Theme" |
Ending theme | “The Munsters’ Theme” |
Composer | Jack Marshall |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 70 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Producers | Joe Connelly Bob Mosher |
Production locations | Universal Studios, Universal City, California |
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 23-26 minutes |
Production companies | Kayro-Vue Productions Universal Television |
Original release | |
Network | CBS |
Release | September 24, 1964 (1964-09-24) – May 12, 1966 (1966-05-12) |
Related | |
The Munsters is an American sitcom about the home life of a family of benign monsters that aired from 1964 to 1966 on CBS. The series stars Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster (Frankenstein's monster), Yvonne De Carlo as his vampire wife Lily, Al Lewis as Grandpa (Count Dracula), Beverley Owen (later replaced by Pat Priest) as their niece Marilyn, and Butch Patrick as their werewolf-like son Eddie. The family pet, named "Spot", was a fire-breathing dragon.
Produced by the creators of Leave It to Beaver, the series was a satire of American suburban life, the wholesome television family fare of the era and traditional monster movies. It achieved higher Nielsen ratings than did the similarly macabre-themed The Addams Family, which aired concurrently on ABC.
In 1965, The Munsters was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series but lost to The Rogues. In the 21st century, it received several TV Land Award nominations, including one for Most Uninsurable Driver (Herman Munster).
The series originally aired on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. from September 24, 1964 to May 12, 1966. Seventy episodes were produced. The show was canceled after ratings had dropped to a series low in the face of competition from ABC's Batman. Patrick said, "I think Batman was to blame. Batman just came along and took our ratings away." However, The Munsters found a large audience in syndication. A spinoff series ensued, as well as several films, including one with a theatrical release and several more recent attempts to reboot it.
Premise
The Munsters are a Transylvanian-American family living at 1313 Mockingbird Lane in the fictional city of Mockingbird Heights. The series' running gag is that the odd-looking family with strange tastes considers itself to be an average American family. Herman is the family's sole wage-earner, although Lily and Grandpa make short-lived attempts to earn money from time to time. While Herman is the head of the household, Lily also makes many decisions. According to episode 44 ("Happy 100th Anniversary"), they were married in 1865.
Other than Marilyn, the characters' costumes and appearances were based on the classic monsters of Universal Studios films of the 1930s and 1940s, including the iconic version of Frankenstein's monster developed by Jack Pierce for the 1931 Universal film Frankenstein. As Universal jointly produced The Munsters, the show was able to employ the copyrighted designs. Makeup for the series was credited to Bud Westmore, who pioneered many other makeup effects and designs for the studio's monsters after Pierce.
The show satirized the typical family sitcom formula of the era: the well-meaning father, the nurturing mother, the eccentric live-in relative, the naïve teenager and the precocious child. The show also references several real sitcoms. In episode 45, "Operation Herman", Lily tells Herman to have a father-son talk with Eddie because "a thing like this is up to the father. Anyone who's watched Father Knows Best for nine years ought to know that," to which Herman replies, "All right. But Donna Reed always handles things on her show." In episode 47, "John Doe Munster", Grandpa describes My Three Sons as being about a "crazy, mixed-up family that's always having weird adventures."
Al Lewis explained, "We can do a lot of satirical pointed things on society that you couldn't do on an ordinary show." Lewis also said, "Philosophically, the format is that in spite of the way people look to you physically, underneath there is a heart of gold.
The Munsters reflected changes in social attitudes during the civil-rights era, and in 2020 a speech that Herman makes to Eddie in the 1965 episode "Eddie's Nickname" went viral: "The lesson I want you to learn is that it doesn't matter what you look like. Whether you are tall or short; or fat or thin; or ugly or handsome—like your father—or you can be black, or yellow or white, it doesn't matter. What matters is the size of your heart and the strength of your character."
Cast
Main article: List of The Munsters charactersRegulars
- Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster
- Yvonne De Carlo as Lily Munster
- Al Lewis as Grandpa
- Butch Patrick as Eddie Munster
- Beverley Owen as Marilyn Munster (ep. 1–13)
- Pat Priest as Marilyn Munster (ep. 14–70)
- Mel Blanc – the voice of Charlie the Raven
- Bob Hastings – the voice of Charlie the Raven
Recurring characters
- Paul Lynde as Dr. Edward H. Dudley (ep. 4, 6, 19)
- Dom DeLuise as Dr. Edward H. Dudley (ep. 55)
- John Carradine as Mr. Gateman, Herman's boss at the funeral parlor (ep. 37, 62)
- Chet Stratton as Clyde Thornton, Herman's coworker at the funeral parlor (ep. 53, 61)
- Bryan O'Byrne as Uriah, Calvin and another coworker at the funeral parlor
Production
Development
The idea of a family of comical monsters was first suggested to Universal Studios by animator Bob Clampett, who developed the idea from 1943 to 1945 as a series of cartoons. The project did not make progress until mid-1963 when a similar idea was submitted by The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends writers Allan Burns and Chris Hayward. The proposal was later handed to writers Norm Liebman and Ed Haas, who wrote a pilot script, Love Thy Monster.
According to Burns, "We sort of stole the idea from Charles Addams and his New Yorker cartoons.... Because Universal owned the Frankenstein character and the Dracula character for movie rights, they decided to take their characters instead of the characters we had written."
While some executives believed that the series should be animated, others who argued for live action prevailed. In 1964, a live-action pilot titled "My Fair Munster" was filmed in color by MCA Television for CBS. Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis were the first to be cast early in February 1964. They had recently completed the series Car 54, Where Are You? and had good chemistry together. Beverly Owen was signed to play Marilyn, Joan Marshall was cast as Herman's wife Phoebe and "Happy" Nate Derman was cast as Eddie. A second pilot was ordered in April 1964 with Yvonne De Carlo replacing Marshall, and the character renamed Lily. For a third pilot, Derman was replaced by Butch Patrick. CBS liked both De Carlo and Patrick, but ordered a fourth pilot in which Eddie was less spoiled.
The show was produced by Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, who were already known for creating the Leave It to Beaver television series. Prior to that, they had written many episodes of Amos 'n' Andy, a popular network radio program, during its half-hour comedy era.
Filming
Over the course of Season 1, the makeup for Herman, Lily and Grandpa was adjusted. Lily's hair originally had a large white streak, which was reduced in later episodes. Her necklace featured a bat instead of a star, and her eyebrows were angled more. Grandpa's makeup was exaggerated, including heavier eyebrows, and Herman's face was widened for a dopier and less human appearance. Gwynne also added a stutter whenever Herman was angry or wanted to make a point, and he frequently left his mouth open, adding to the effect of a goofy, less frightening figure.
Sets
Main article: Munster MansionThe Munsters' home was a decaying Second Empire Victorian Gothic-style mansion. At one point the address was supposed to be 43 Mockingbird Lane, Camelot, New Jersey, but was changed to 1313 Mockingbird Lane in the city of Mockingbird Heights (state unknown) when filming began. In later incarnations of the series the location is described as a small town outside Los Angeles.
The Munster home was on the Universal Studios back lot. It was originally constructed with two other houses on Stage 12, the studio's largest soundstage, for the 1946 film So Goes My Love. After that film was completed, the sets were put in storage until 1950, when they (along with other house sets built from stock units) were reassembled on "River Road" along the north edge of the back lot. All three houses appeared in many television shows and films, including Leave It to Beaver.
In 1964, the house was redressed and distressed to portray the Munster home, and a stone wall was added around the property. After The Munsters ended its run, the house was restored. It was the home of the family in Shirley (NBC, 1979–80).
In 1981, all of the homes on River Road were moved from the north end of the lot to their present location. The former Munster house was used in Coach and, after another remodel, Desperate Housewives.
The interiors of the Munsters' mansion were filmed on Stages 30 and 32 at Universal Studios. The interior was riddled with dust, smoke and cobwebs. (When Lily "dusted" the house, her Electrolux emitted clouds of dust, which she applied to surfaces that would normally be cleaned.) As a running gag, parts of the house would often be damaged, mostly by Herman's tantrums or clumsiness, but the damage would not last.
Props
In the fourth episode ("Rock-A-Bye Munster"), Lily buys a hot rod and a hearse from a used-car dealership and has them customized into one car (the Munster Koach) as Herman's birthday present. The Munster Koach and DRAG-U-LA (built by Grandpa in episode 36, "Hot Rod Herman") were designed by Tom Daniel and built by auto customizer George Barris for the show. The Munster Koach was a hot rod built on a lengthened 1926 Ford Model T chassis with a custom hearse body. It was 18 feet long and cost almost $20,000 to build. Barris also built the DRAG-U-LA, a dragster built from a coffin (according to Barris, a real coffin was purchased for the car), which Grandpa used to win back the Munster Koach after Herman lost it in a race.
Theme song
The instrumental theme song, titled "The Munsters' Theme", was composed by composer/arranger Jack Marshall. Described by writer Jon Burlingame as a "Bernard-Herrmann-meets-Duane-Eddy sound", the theme was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1965. The song's lyrics, which were written by coproducer Bob Mosher, were never aired on CBS.
Episodes
Pitch episode
The first presentation was filmed in color and ran 16 minutes (later cut to just over 13 minutes). It was used to pitch the series to CBS and its affiliates. (The episode is available on the first season of The Munsters DVDs.) It never aired, but the script was reused as the basis for Episode 2, "My Fair Munster". The cast in the title sequence included Joan Marshall as Phoebe (instead of Lily), Beverley Owen as Marilyn, Nate "Happy" Derman as Eddie, Al Lewis as Grandpa and Fred Gwynne as Herman. Although the same house exterior was used, it was later changed to appear spookier for the series. This included adding the tower deck and Marilyn's deck, a new coat of paint and enlarging the living room. Although Grandpa had the same dungeon, Gwynne did not wear padding in the pitch episode, had a more protruding forehead, and was broad but thin. The most noticeable difference was his somber expression rather than his comic silliness during the series. Except for Marilyn, the family had a blue-green tint to their skin. The biggest character difference was that Eddie was portrayed by Derman as a nasty brat. Eddie, as played by Patrick, was mostly respectful.
The pilot title sequence had light, happy music borrowed from the Doris Day movie The Thrill of It All instead of the instrumental rock theme. It was also decided that Marshall too closely resembled Morticia Addams and that Derman was too nasty as Eddie, so both were replaced. On the basis of the first presentation, the new series, still not completely cast, was announced by CBS on February 18, 1964. A second black-and-white presentation was filmed with DeCarlo and Patrick. In this version, Eddie appeared with a more normal look, although his hairstyle was later altered to include a pronounced widow's peak.
Marineland Carnival (1965 Easter special)
During the first season, the Munster family appeared in an Easter special when they visited Marineland of the Pacific in Palos Verdes, California, to get a new pet for Eddie. Shot on videotape, the episode aired just once on CBS on April 18, and was long thought lost until a copy was donated to the Paley Center in New York in 1997.
Episode list
Main article: List of The Munsters episodesSeason | Episodes | Originally released | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
First released | Last released | |||
Pilots | Unaired | |||
1 | 38 | September 24, 1964 (1964-09-24) | June 10, 1965 (1965-06-10) | |
2 | 32 | September 16, 1965 (1965-09-16) | May 12, 1966 (1966-05-12) | |
Special | April 18, 1965 (1965-04-18) |
Syndication
The series entered syndication on local stations after its original run. In the 1990s, it aired on Nick at Nite and on TV Land from 1995 to 1998. In October 2011, the series was picked up by Cartoon Network's sister channel Boomerang and ran through the entire month of October that year for Halloween along with The Addams Family.
On October 5, 2015, Cozi TV began airing the series on weeknights and in a two-hour block on Sunday evenings.
Reception
Ratings
- 1964–1965: #18 (24.7 rating) – Tied with Gilligan's Island
- 1965–1966: #61 (no rating given, 30.7 share)
TV appearances in character
Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis appeared in full makeup and costumes riding in the Munster Koach in the 1964 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Gwynne made solo appearances in character on The Red Skelton Show in April 1965, in the special Murray The K – It's What's Happening, Baby in June 1965 and on and The Danny Kaye Show in April 1966.
Franchise
Film
Main article: The Munsters (film series)Several Munsters movies were released. Two featuring original cast members include Munster, Go Home! (1966), and The Munsters' Revenge (1981). A television film titled Here Come the Munsters aired in 1995, and The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas was released in 1996. A feature film titled The Munsters was released on September 22, 2022.
TV
The Mini-Munsters
Main article: The Mini-MunstersIn 1973, ABC aired an animated one-hour special, The Mini-Munsters, based on characters from the original series.
The Munsters Today
Main article: The Munsters TodayA first-run syndication television series titled The Munsters Today ran from 1988 to 1991 and lasted for 72 episodes. The unaired pilot episode, written by Lloyd J. Schwartz, explained the 22-year gap with an accident in Grandpa's lab that put the family to sleep. They awake in the late 1980s and must adapt to their new surroundings. The show features John Schuck (Herman), Lee Meriwether (Lily), Howard Morton (Grandpa) and Jason Marsden (Eddie). Marilyn was portrayed by Mary-Ellen Dunbar in the unaired pilot and by Hilary Van Dyke thereafter.
Mockingbird Lane
Main article: Mockingbird LaneA reboot by Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller was developed for NBC as a one-hour drama with "spectacular visuals." NBC ordered a pilot episode, and announced in January 2012 that it would be called Mockingbird Lane, a reference to the Munsters' address. NBC ultimately did not proceed with plans for Mockingbird Lane as a weekly series, but later announced that the pilot episode would air in late October 2012 as a Halloween special. NBC passed on the series over disagreements about the show's dark nature and inconsistent tone.
Unrealized projects
- In August 2004, it was announced that Keenen Ivory, Shawn and Marlon Wayans had signed a deal to write and produce a modern-day film featuring the Munsters, but that they would not appear in it.
- In August 2017, it was announced that Seth Meyers was developing a modern-day interpretation of the series for NBC. The show would place the Munsters in Brooklyn, New York, where they try to adapt to life as an ordinary family. However, the show was not produced.
Music
In 1998, Rob Zombie released the single "Dragula". Its title was taken from the name of Grandpa's dragster DRAG-U-LA. The music video mimics, in parts, the Munsters taking a ride in the car.
A sample of the show's theme-song guitar riff was used in the song "Uma Thurman" by Fall Out Boy.
Home media
Between 2004 and 2008, Universal Studios Home Entertainment released the entire series on DVD in Regions 1 & 2.
DVD Name | Ep# | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | Additional Information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season 1 | 38 | August 24, 2004 February 5, 2013 (re-released) |
October 17, 2005 | November 30, 2006 |
|
Season 2 | 32 | October 25, 2005 February 5, 2013 (re-released) |
May 1, 2006 | October 25, 2006 |
|
The Complete Series | 70 | October 7, 2008 September 13, 2016 (re-released) |
N/A | N/A |
|
The Complete Series (Closed Casket Collection) | 70 | N/A | October 8, 2007 |
| |
The Complete Series | August 3, 2016 |
|
The "Family Portrait" episode in color, which was absent from the Season 1 and 2 standalone box sets, was released on a standalone Region 1 DVD on October 7, 2008.
Merchandise
Gold Key Comics produced a Munsters comic book that ran for 16 issues from 1965 to 1968 and featured photo covers from the TV series. When the series first appeared, the Comics Code Authority still forbade the appearance of vampires in comic books. However, because Gold Key was not a member of the Comics Magazine Association of America, it was not obligated to conform to the Comics Code, and Lily and Grandpa appeared in the comics without controversy.
Other merchandise included a set of rubber squeaky toys, Colorforms, and an Aurora model kit of the living room and family. AMT produced model kits of the Munster Koach and DRAG-U-LA. The Aurora model of the living room featured Herman in his electric chair, Eddie squatting in front of the fire, Lily knitting and Grandpa hanging in a bat-like manner from the rafters. Marilyn was not included. ERTL later produced a very detailed 1:18 scale diecast of the Munster Koach. Mattel issued two Herman Munster dolls: one was a talking doll and the other was a hand puppet (both with rings that could be pulled to make them talk utilizing Gwynne's actual voice) that were issued from 1964 until around 1968.
A video game based on The Munsters was published by Again, Again (a division of Alternative Software) in 1989. It was available for the Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, MSX, and MS-DOS, but it was criticized by the gaming press because of its short length and lackluster gameplay.
In 1990, Atari Corporation released Midnight Mutants for the Atari 7800, featuring Al Lewis' likeness in his Grampa Munster character on the box and label. However, as Atari had reached an agreement with Universal, they could not call him Grampa Munster, so he was simply called Grampa.
In 1966, a three-reel View-Master set featuring The Munsters episode "The Most Beautiful Ghoul in the World" was released, accompanied by a booklet containing drawings and additional text. The set is notable because the photographs provide rare color views of the characters and sets, including house interiors, Grandpa's dungeon laboratory and the characters' heavy greenish-white facial makeup.
See also
Notes
- Episodes referring to the fact that Herman is Frankenstein's monster include #55, "Just Another Pretty Face," in which Grandpa explains how he came to possess Herman's original blueprint by reading the inscription on it: "To our favorite Count, Dracula - a souvenir from Dr. Frankenstein and all the guys and gals" and #61, "Cyrano de Munster," in which Lily, suspecting Herman of infidelity, tells Marilyn: "I'll take Herman apart so that even Dr. Frankenstein couldn't put him together"
- Episodes mentioning that Grandpa is Count Dracula include #55, "Just Another Pretty Face," in which he explains his possession of Herman's original blueprint by reading the inscription on it: "To our favorite Count, Dracula - a souvenir from Dr. Frankenstein and all the guys and gals," and #58, "Grandpa's Lost Wife," in which a legal document names him as "sometimes known as 'The Count,' sometimes known as 'Sam Dracula.'"
- A close-up of a bounced check in episode 44 reveals the family address and city, but no state.
- Nick at Nite's Classic TV Companion, edited by Tom Hill, copyright 1996 by Viacom International. "Some crystal ball you've got!" Herman complained to Grandpa. "All it can do is pick up reruns of My Little Margie!"
References
- Fox, Margalit (December 19, 2006). "Chris Hayward, 81, TV Writer and a Creator of 'Munsters,' Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
- "Yvonne De Carlo Is The Mama In a Nice Monster Family". St. Petersburg Times. June 23, 1964. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
- "The Munsters: The Complete First Season". DVD Talk. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
- "The Munsters: The Complete Series". DVD Talk. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
- "Munsters, The". Golden Globes. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- Genzlinger, Neil (March 14, 2005). "'TV Land Awards' turn back the time". Chicago Tribune. New York Times News Service. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- Fred John Del, Bianco Jr. (2012). 50 Favs of the '60s '70s '80s: A Look Back at Three Dynamic Decades. AuthorHouse. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-468-56111-1.
- Nolasco, Stephanie (October 30, 2019). "'Munsters' child star Butch Patrick explains why hit '60s series came to an end". Fox News. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
- Decaro, Frank (October 26, 2008). "A Neighborhood Where Every Day Was Halloween". The New York Times. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
- Furdyk, Brent (June 4, 2020). "'Woke' Herman Munster's Speech From 1965 Sitcom Episode Is Going Viral Over Its Timely Message". ET Canada. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
- ^ The Munsters: America's First Family of Fright (Television production). 2003.
- Daily Variety. July 29, 1964
- "How Herman Munster can be so right about racism and still be a little bit wrong - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
- Glut, Donald F. (September 11, 2015). The Frankenstein Archive. McFarland. ISBN 9780786480692.
- Monsters to Be Just Plain Folks On a CBS-TV Comedy Series. New York Times 15 Feb 1964
- Lewellen, Scott (2013). Funny You Should Ask: Oral Histories of Classic Sitcom Storytellers. McFarland. p. 130.
- Ingram, Billy (2002). Tvparty!: Television's Untold Tales. Bonus Books, Inc. p. 228. ISBN 1-566-25184-2.
- Cox, Stephen; De Carlo, Yvonne; Patrick, Butch (2006). "Munster Maestro: About Jack Marshall". The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-8230-7894-9. OCLC 68192546.
- ^ Cox, Stephen (2006). The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane. Random House Digital, Inc. pp. 35–36. ISBN 0-823-07894-9.
- Cox, Stephen (2006). The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane. Random House Digital, Inc. pp. 36, 38. ISBN 0-823-07894-9.
- ^ Biography, "The Munsters," 1998
- "Marineland Carnival". Munsterland. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- "Pop Colorture". Archived from the original on March 2, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- "The Munsters". Cozi TV. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
- Spencer, Walter (August 1967). "TV's Vast Grey Belt" (PDF). Television Magazine. 24 (8): 55. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- "The year the Munsters crashed Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade – brioux.tv". May 31, 2023.
- "Long-Lost "Happening" 1965 Music Special Resurfaces on PBS".
- Joyce Eng (September 30, 2010). "NBC, Bryan Fuller Remaking The Munsters". TVGuide.com.
- Michael Schneider (August 11, 2011). "Exclusive: The Munsters Back in Development at NBC". TVGuide.com.
- Hanh Nguyen (November 17, 2011). "NBC Picks Up Munsters Reboot Pilot From Pushing Daisies Creator". TVGuide.com.
- "NBC Orders 'The Munsters' Reboot to Pilot". Yahoo TV. November 17, 2011. Archived from the original on January 4, 2014.
- Jeffery, Morgan (February 2, 2012). "NBC's 'The Munsters' becomes 'Mockingbird Lane'". Digital Spy. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
- Andreeva, Nellie (October 11, 2012). "NBC's 'Mockingbird Lane' Pilot To Air on October 26 As Halloween Special". Deadline. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
- Andreevs, Nellie (January 6, 2013). "NBC May Take Another Stab At 'The Munsters' Reboot Series". Deadline. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
- Boston Globe. 29 Aug 2004: N11.
- "Seth Meyers Rebooting The Munsters TV Show". ScreenRant. August 10, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- Billboard, November 21, 1998 - Vol. 110, No. 47, Page 81.
- New Fall Out Boy Song 'Uma Thurman' Is Best Yet From New Album Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- "The Munsters – The Complete First Season: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Beverley Owen, Pat Priest, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV". Amazon. August 24, 2004. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- "The Munsters: Season 1: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Pat Priest, Beverley Owen, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV". Amazon. February 5, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- "The Munsters – Complete Second Season: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Pat Priest, Beverley Owen, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV". Amazon. October 25, 2005. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- "The Munsters: Season 2: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Pat Priest, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV". Amazon. February 5, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- Walmart. "The Munsters: The Complete Series (DVD)". Walmart.com. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- "The Munsters: The Complete Series: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Pat Priest, Beverley Owen, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV". Amazon. September 13, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- "The Munsters: Family Portrait: Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis, Yvonne De Carlo: Movies & TV". Amazon. October 7, 2008. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- The Munsters at SpectrumComputing.co.uk
Bibliography
- Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher. (1964). The Munsters. Hollywood: Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS).
- The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane.
External links
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