Yeah I'm going to start it this way. A few days after The Addams Family premiered on ABC, CBS had their concept of a strange family that doesn't fit in our society premiere. The Addams Family and The Munsters are often tied together by human people. The reasoning might be how they both ran nearly the same time :1964 to 1966. The Munsters started 6 days later and ran a couple weeks longer than the previous and has slightly more episodes going with 70, versus the other's 64. They also both have the concept of a family that is kind of spooky living in our normal society. Of course, there are differences to both shows.
The Munsters premiered on CBS on September 22, 1964. CBS had placed the show as the lead of their Thursday night line up airing at 7:30 pm Eastern and Pacific that's 6:30pm to us Central and Mountain folks. That slot that networks don't have anymore. It ran in the line up before Perry Mason, which would also end about a week after this show ended. They also had Password , and premiering that night with this show, was a sitcom called The Baileys of Balboa, which has the backstory of being created out of spite, the CBS network president didn't like Gilligan's Island -which also came out in 1964 and aired on CBS- and thought of a idea that would be better, in his mind. And finally, a show called "The Defenders" The Munsters was on against the Flintstones and Later Jonny Quest on ABC.
In this post, I am mostly going to use the first episode to talk about whilst weaving in stuff about the show. Also I have written about other Munsters media before, you can check those out too.
Monsters are Universal
Take some writers from Rocky and Bullwinkle, dash in the creators of Leave it To Beaver, sprinkle a mix of some Universal monsters, and small dash of Charles Addams. You get this. Allan Burns worked with Jay Ward on the Jay Ward cartoons and ended up working with Chris Hayward again for a new sitcom , then they also worked together to make My Mother the Car. Since they were working with MCA TV which was a studio owned with Universal Pictures they had access to the designs of classic monsters made by the movie studio. Since, specific designs are owned by the studio, like how the Frankenstein monster looks. Eventually, they even settled on making the show live-action instead of an animated one.
I'm trying to keep the "Addams Family" comparisons down a little, because I don't want to detract from either show, but I do want to offer one of the contrasts here. While, that series had people who, mostly, looked like people you'd run into and not think anything of, this show stands out. Starting with Herman Munster. Herman is the father and husband character of the show. He also happens to be a Frankenstein monster. Though he might not be the one from the 30's movies , otherwise Herman Munster killing a little girl is disturbing. Then there's Lily, his wife, who is the daughter of a vampire, possibly Count Dracula, but the Grandpa on the show is just called Grandpa (because when you get old you lose your name) and he lives with the family. Lily and Herman have a son who is a ware-wolf ish boy. Don't ask how that works.
Also a difference between that show and this one, is the Munsters were more working class, Herman works, they have money troubles at times, and sometimes Lilly and Grandpa take up jobs. The show has different basic premise than the other show, even if it seems they have the same joke. The Munsters, also see themselves as typical American family, and kind of think the world around them is strange. They take different approaches to that.
The First Episode (with an Asterisk )
First that (*) I will mention that other detail a bit later, but I am going on the first episode that aired on CBS that starts the series run on September 24, 1966 and the episode that starts in reruns in order. That episode is called "Munster Masquerade" written by Leave it To Beaver creators Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher.
The episode starts with a cold opening with one of the running gags in the series. I didn't mention her before, but Marilyn Munster, again I think Herman took his wife's last name, is Lily's niece and lives with the family. The running gag is that she is seen as the odd one because she's just -to our eyes- a normal looking human, so when she's on a date and brings them home, they get freaked out when they see Herman. And because she doesn't Herman as freaky, she thinks guys find something wrong with her. The rest of the family thinks that too.
Here she wants the guy to meet her folks because she's a traditionalist that way, apparently the 60's are setting in here. This episode doesn't do that here because they have a reason to not run that joke. Eventually, Marilyn tells her aunt and uncle that they've been invited to a masquerade party with her boyfriend , Tom's, family. Herman and Lily are enthused by the idea, but want to help their niece. Also laugh track, because 1960's.
The theme song starts and it's one of the best theme songs known to man. If anything is remembered from this show ,it's that. It was also nominated for a Grammy. The visuals are memorable and you get a quick sense of how all the characters are just by their short interactions.
The Munsters live in an impressive house for a working class family. Anyway, the more upper class family of Tom is concerned about the idea of inviting the Munster's, the way lady from Bewitched (Mabel Alberstson) says Munster almost feels like she means it as a slur. Then Grandpa is insulted because he wasn't invited.
Let's talk a bit about the cast. Herman Munster was played by Fred Gwynne. Gwynne is noted for being tall so he makes Herman dominate any space he's in. He's also the most make-uped of the actors and went through alot of work each time to film our hero. (our hero!) Gwynne makes Herman. His voice fills is distinct, but offers a sense of warmth that also helps show that Herman isn't a scary character.
Lily was played by Yvonne De Carlo, whom if you know her from anything it might be "The Ten Commandments". She was the second actress to play Lily, they had different plans at the start. She brings a strong performance to the show. Her distinct voice fits very well and makes Lily feel strong and firm against some of the silliness her husband and father bring.
Grandpa was played by Al Lewis who worked with Gwynne on "Car 54, Where Are You?" making them a duo that was proven to work well and bounce off each other. Grandpa plays a father-in-law but he doesn't seem to hate Herman, but does think he's stupid sometimes. He's not above being silly himself, and fits in between Lily and Herman.
Grandpa is invited to the party, guess that's plot is over. And again Tom's mom makes the word "Granda-Pa-Pa" sound like slur somehow. Albertson is good at playing this woman, her voice seethes at this all. The way she tells her husband about Grandpa, like he's some old chest they have hanging around is amazing. We also get the classic sitcom thing, because it's a sitcom where she says she hopes it doesn't rain and .... guess what? (it's snowed?)
I don't understand, classy people have their grandparents "put down" at proper time/ Copyright Universal
Finally, get to see Eddie Munster. Eddie is a typical boy character. I do feel having the Leave it To Beaver people in the series made them write him naturally, but the show doesn't have a lot with Eddie, it's way more focused on the adult cast. Eddie also doesn't seem to stick out in his look compared to the adults. He does have the slightly pointed ears and the pointy teeth. The clothing is not typical boys of even that era wear, much more 1860's versus 1960's. Kind of showing the gothic and classic appeal.
Butch Patrick, was the 2nd boy to play Eddie, again like Lily was played by someone else in un-aired pilot. Again, knock out casting, the 2nd time. Patrick plays the character naturally, then again they let him speak and act like an actual human child and not just an actor.
Marilyn Munster was played by Beverley Owen in this episode and the first thirteen, before they had to change actresses. I don't put this much on the actresses, Marilyn could be the weakest character on the series, mostly because she has to play a girl who is unself assured and feels like an outsider compared the rest of her family. The character is also saddled with the joke that she's the strange looking one in the family.
When Lily shows her costume, being Little Bo Beep, it scares Herman, who is wearing a knight's armor. She's going for the idea of it being a scary outfit. This is really the first time in the series we get their perspective on things. The idea of Herman wearing an outfit that covers his body and face is part of thing they are setting up later.
We also get to see another interesting set piece: the lab grandpa uses. This show decides that since most of the characters over 100 years old, and etc. might as well also have magic in the show as well. Funny enough, this show the same season as Bewitched and a year before I dream of Jeannie. Having sitcoms where things happen that aren't rooted in full reality were in style at the time. As mentioned before the creators of this show also created My Mother the Car , the show makes one wonder what did a guy's mom do to end up dying but having to end up living as a car?
I do have mention that laugh track is a very laugh heavy they really wanted viewers to laugh at stuff. Tom's parents are dressed up and his dad has chosen to dress up like a Frankenstein's monster. What did he mean by that? This is not a show you should question things about, but for fun here. This show will mention real TV shows and media , like mentioning Constance Bennett, who was mentioned in a episode that aired a couple months before she died. With that, was their a Frankenstein movie? For the guy to dress up like one? Like I said before, if Herman is so stand out why isn't he more well known?
Is this a crime? / Copyright Universal
The Munsters have hired a baby sitter since Eddie isn't going, most of the plot with him and Mrs. Morton (played by Lurene Tuttle) not really seeing Eddie and just finding the Munsters slightly strange, but not much else. While she is going around the house. The Munster's house is interestingly big and messy in decoration. There's dust and cobwebs and gives it an aged appeal. There's also the fun staircase that pops open. The more well-known pet is Spot. It's one you never saw the whole thing of, probably because it would look goofy, but having him be more shadowed gives him a more menacing feeling. Also, a black cat that roars. There's an episode where Eddie has to bring a pet, and he doesn't even think the cat is that special, which is just rude.
No , I don't want to change my Harp service/ Copyright Universal
The interaction between Herman and Tom's father is funny because Herman thinks that Tom's father didn't put on a costume, because of the costume looking like him and Tom's dad thinks it's an insult. This episode is really focused on the interactions as humor over the strict even sticom plot. Mrs. Morton's interactions with Eddie, without ever seeing him, but being slightly unnerved by everything. Then the Munsters at the party just being themselves, but awkwardness. Then everyone ends up thinking that Herman was wearing a second mask under the suit. Lily is upset because she heard the comment and wants them to go home.
Herman is going to drink that?/ Copyright Universal
The episode ends with Tom coming with Marilyn home and finding out that Herman really looks like that and freaks out, punchline.
The Munsters frames things in a view they are the typical family and the show is basically the reactions others have towards them and their ways. The first episode doesn't heavily set up the characters as much as it would go on. We do get glimpses with Herman's slight naivety and but warm kind heart, Lily is the more level headed one, and loves her husband and family.
Now here's where the asterisk comes in.
Alternate Munsters
Episode 2 of the series is called "My Fair Munster" that episode title was actually the first episode of the show. There's more, as I mentioned above, they had changed some cast members before the show premiered. That pilot didn't air, it is interesting to note and look at. The pilot is in color and uses the same aspects of the set and layout, but there are some cast differences that are before the cast we know was part of it. It still has Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis. It's also short at only 14 minutes.
It starts with Marilyn and a boyfriend in a car, she's played by Beverly Owen here too. I will note it's kind of strange to see the Munsters in color, probably why seeing "Munsters Today" jars me. It does lose some of the spooky edge. It's fine until you see Herman and he's very blue. The theme music and intro plays, it's like the show, but music starts like "Dark Shadows" then oddly shifts tones guessing to fit each character, but not where you're not even sure what its going for. I can see why this didn't make it. Or was never intended to be the theme, would even be the better bet. This is really just to sell the idea of a show.
Herman is cheating! Nah, they had a different wife name and actress here. Her name was Phoebe and played by Joan Marshall. The look of Phoebe does really give the reason why they changed that too, she um does look like Morticia is cheating on Gomez. It does the set up of how the characters act and inter strange interactions. Eddie is different too in a few ways. One he's played by "Happy" Nate Derman. I'm not sure what direction they gave him, but I don't think Nate bad at it, but they made Eddie annoying. He's more hunched, growling, yells, ---yeah annoying. This would have killed the show if they kept that. My assumption was to make a child character be more monstrous, but they still needed to not be unwatchable.
They did keep some of the script here for making the actual episode of "My Fair Munster". Again some of the changes make sense, they are a little more mean about Marilyn here. There's not a lot to this, since it cuts off after 14 minutes, but I can see where and why they tuned things to the show we've seen. They reshot a pilot then that one seemed to work to get a show.
60 Years
"The Munsters" is a classic show and is a fun half hour of television, even know. It still even has TV reruns. It does work on the main joke being the Munsters being well monster people, but plays with the idea well. They are a pretty nice family if you met them and got pass their looks you'd not be in a bad spot. The show seems to also be slightly ahead of a trend where there's a more dumb but good natured dad/husband and the more level headed and sometimes strict wife. That idea wasn't invented with the FOX network, and wasn't even invented with this show, but it does seem to have more the hallmark of that, compared to shows that had a fathers still be more level headed.
Interestingly, compared to "The Addams Family" [sorry] the show has had a slightly different track in its life. There was a revival series in 1980's where they apparently thought it made sense to have the Munsters just kind of be sleep for 20 years then wake up in our time zone. (Their time zone) Oddly "The Munsters Today" has two more episodes, and one more season the main show. It's also had a cartoon , and some made for TV movies and a some tries at revivals. But seemingly hasn't been able to stick as well. Might also fit with how many of the classic monster movie characters haven't been as brought to time as well.
The main show has a great charm and alot of fun to it. Making the 60's a fun time for sitcoms.
That's it for now, tune in next time when meet a normal family living in a strange world of people who are made of butter.
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