In the 1990's ( don't run away we just started) there seemed to be a new renewed interest in "The Addams Family". The likes of which the characters hadn't seen since the 70's . There was the popular "Addams Family" movie from 1991, an animated series in 1992, a sequel big screen movie in 1993, some video games, and made for TV movie in 1998. So maybe it was time for a new live action series too? In 1998 the Canadian Company Shavick Entertainment and the American company , Saban Entertainment decided , yes it was time to make a new Addams Family. That would be known as "The New Addams Family" the idea was to be a revival of the 1960's TV series.
It premiered in 1998 , in the states it aired on Saban and Fox owned , Fox Family. The series had 65 episodes, one more than the original 60's series. The first episode is aptly called "Halloween with the Addams Family". We are going to look at the episode since it's near Halloween anyway (unless you are reading later or something)
First, the theme song
As you can see it goes for a more jazzy up beat theme than the classic theme so that was something. At least they didn't try to 90's it up and make seem more "extreme" or something it also can show that this is a comedy.
A fun note about this series before we jump into the first episode: John Astin, the man who Gomez on the 1964 series came back to guest star as Grandpapa Addams so that's a nice touch.
The First episode , Gomez wakes up and it's Christmas! No wait it's Halloween and he's excited! He gives Morticia a gift, a pair of handcuffs. (woah this is a family show ) It's nice to see how they give Gomez and Morticia that loving relationship that they are known. Two crooks are trying to run from the cops (hey this reminds of me that Halloween episode from the 64 series) end up at the Addams' house and they are invited in. Jerry Van Dyke guest stars in this episode too. Gomez and Morticia think they are trick or treaters and see they have cash in their bag ,so they chose to give them more cash. (Yep this is like the Halloween episode of 64 series , I am going to only say that twice) Jerry Van Dyke (they didn't give him a name) and the son co -criminal decide to rob them but of course they think it's a game.
This is still not as strange as doing "My Mother the Car"
The Addams Family asking the criminals to beat them up and torture them is just too funny. Meanwhile , the Addams' kids : Wednesday and Puglsey are dressed as Siskel and Ebert. -- The one thing that maybe hurts this series is all the pop references the show makes it's not like the original series where that can seem more timeless, but at the same time the aren't too distracting to take away from the show so far. There's one house where the kids stop off and the couple asks for a trick they don't know what kids they just got. Meanwhile Jerry Van Dyke and other guy tie up the Addams. They go around looking for the valuables and get freaked out by the house. After the Addams' kids torture that couple by hooking them up to electricity then they stop a bully by blowing him up. (oh my!)
If critics don't like this they will be criticizing themselves
Jerry Van Dkye finds the money he wants after they are told by Morticia where it is. After they bored they get out of the ropes and search for them. Jerry and the other guy try to run away, while Grandmama goes searching for dinner, which escaped. ( I hate when that happens) Jerry and crime son are frightened by the normal Addams Family stuff. Their children are brought home for terrorizing the neighborhood and the robbers are caught by the police.
Ah a happy end!
What can I say? It's an alright show, they did recycle a plot from the 64 series, but maybe they were trying to make it feel new but familiar. The actors did a good job playing the characters kind of copying the 64 series. Though the children were given more of the personalities of the movie portrayals. The 1964 series ( yes I am saying that alot ) did play off the reactions of "ordinary" people to this family so this episode at least did that well. Starting the series off with Halloween was a nice touch since that makes sense. Anything else I've said is said above.
That's our quick but simple lookback , tune in next time when we found a Munsters - Addams Family cross over !
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