Munsters Vs Addams' Family - Page 2

Right on, Lima!

Addams Family. I actually don't think I've seen an episode of the Munsters from beginning to end, but I wore out the tapes of the Addams tv show. And the movies were a pretty fundamental part of my childhood, especially the sequel. "I have decided to scalp you, and burn your village to the ground."

Testify! The Addams Family had a somewhat psychotic edge to their comedy that The Munsters was lacking.

Plus, Morticia would speak FRENCH!

I grew up loving both to be honest, but I simply have to go with the family I enjoyed just that little bit more as a boy...



They only win by a bees dick though.

That's right, fuck the car. Lurch will show you just who the fuckin boss is around here.

Hells yes.

I don't even see how there's any contest, it's Addams Family no question. And yet, I'm really enjoying this thread because the Munsters fans seem to feel exactly the same way (but opposite, of course).

I always thought The Munsters was kind of a generic Addams Family. For one thing, the Munsters were pretty much a typical sitcom family in traditional monster makeup. I know, that's the point, but the Addams' had to WORK for their weirdness. Plus, the Addams' had a much kinkier, subversive sense of humor. And finally, RIP Fred Gwynne, but Jon Astin struck the perfect tone as Gomez. He sold that shit.

Edited to add - The Addams Family had a short-lived cartoon series that, actually, was pretty good. Rip Taylor as Fester and a Paul Lyndeish neighbor. And for all the praise the Munsters' theme has gotten, I submit that the Addams Family theme is much more entrenched in our collective pop culture consciousness!

Monster Mashy MUNSTERS vs WTF Addams? For me, it's a tie.

How do The Gruesomes (AKA The Creepleys) fit into all of this?

If you remember The Monster Squad before it was a movie title, you might be an old fuck.

I vaguely remember The Monster Squad, but I do remember The Drak Pack vivedly, so I guess I'm only semi-old as fuck...

The Monster Squad reads like Mego needed at tv property to base a figure line on.

Drack Pack was also a band, no? Damn, hadn't seen them in decades. I like thinking the boy's super-power- that he becomes a reanimated corpse- to be a one time deal, because, you know, how does he change back? And the alternative - that he has the power to resurrect himself from the DEAD?? Religious/folk imagery GAME CHANGER!

So funny this thread came up, because I've been researching both series the last couple of weeks. By the way, anyone with Instant Netflix can watch every episode of the Munsters and the first Addams Family set.

Watching all of the Munsters makes you realize that every single episode dealt with either-

A) Herman going somewhere normal people go, with hilarious results.

B) Some guy trying to date Marion, with hilarious results.

C) Grandpa cooking up a spell, with hilarious results.

Every. Single. One.

Finally got a chance to watch the Dragula episode though (Hot Rod Herman), which was a treat.

Munsters all the way.

Saw a lot of both shows as a kid but the Munsters always struck more of a cord with me. For some reason I was convinced Lilly Munster was the original Catwoman as well but I think my memory is playing tricks on me.


Also the Groovie Ghoulies rocked.

I see your Gruesomes and raise you the Groovie Goolies, THE preeminent cartoon monsters:

Growing up, I hated the Munsters for it's pure goofiness and adored the Addams Family for it's eccentricity (including the 2 theatrically run movies). I'm a very morbid person, an obsessed horror fanatic, and was a goth-metal kid in highschool. I blame all of those things in some part on the Addams Family. In past recent years, however, I've revisited both shows a lot, and really find them 100% on par with each other. I think if the two families moved in next door to each other, they'd get along just fine. The only thing that really edges the Addams Family ahead for me is the rich family history (especially in the movies). "Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc". The fact that I still remember the family credo after all these years in somewhat disturbing. STILL, the Munsters also edges it's way back up because of the shear fun factor. I can watch Herman break things all day long. I say tie.

As a kid I loved the Munsters more, because I grew up loving the Universal monsters (anyone remember the series of orange-backed books that used to be out back in the 70s or 80s where each one featured a different Universal monster with info about the makings of all their films?). To me, the Munsters was basically all of the Universal monsters in a sitcom setting.

Now, I liked The Addams Family as well, but not as much. Now that I'm older, that has reversed. I appreciate the dark humor and eccentricity of The Addams family more. Though, I still enjoy The Munsters as well.


Oh, and Phil? You were mentioning The Monster Squad series? Looks like it's slated to come out on DVD soon.

I remember this cartoon VERY well. This was part of my Saturday morning cartoon ritual for the very brief period when it was on.

Now, does anyone else remember Fangface?

Yes, especially when they unleashed the blight that was Fangpuss.

Judas Booth, Yes I remember...Fang Face, and the Drac Pack, as well.

I did some research as a result of this thread. You can still hire Butch Patrick to come to your Halloween party dressed as Eddie Munster.

Shit, you can still hire Adam West.

Revisited this on DVD recently. If Alex thought the Munsters eps blurred together... The GGs were almost nothing but songs and puns every episode. I can't help but smile at the character designs though. I've amassed quite a collection of Monster Mash music and horror/Halloween themed novelty records (MP3s) over the past couple years, and it's strange just how "simply pop" the GGs tunes are compared to other similarly-themed stuff. More in line with Hanna-Barbera music than my preference of old-school surf/rockabilly/dragster novelty.
OOH! OOH!

I do. One of the better Scooby ripoffs (created by Ruby/Spears too!). Had my daughter listen to some old story-record I found online. Doesn't work very well without the visuals though, since Fang is such a goofy character and the transformations can't be seen. I remember this being on with Plastic Man. Fangface does have a blink and you'll miss it cameo in the recent SCOOBY DOO AND THE GOBLIN KING dvd movie I reviewed. It would be nice if they dug this up for a DVD release.

I also picked up Filmation's GHOSTBUSTERS on dvd recently. I haven[t cracked it open, but I do believe there's a sampling of the live-action show as a special feature (which is also available in its own set).

All this Monster Mashy talk reminds me of the Jack Davis designed Rankin/Bass produced MAD MONSTER PARTY.

EDIT: I voted just to see the poll results. Nearly neck & neck.

Bless you for reminding me of 'Mad Monster Party'. I've been meaning to get a copy of that ever since we did the Horror movie draft.

It would appear i'm not as mad as I thought. Lee Meriwether played Lilly Munster in The Munsters today.

Sometimes I feel like an Uncle Fester wishing he were a Herman Munster.

Al Lewis used to host latter-day Godzilla movies on TBS while also hawking Grandpa's Pasta. I'm getting sad thinking about that.

I must have watched Mad Monster Party a hundred times or more as a little kid.

Huge favourite of mine. I'd love to track it down these days

He also repeatedly said "fuck" on the air and proceeded to shit his pants at a Howard Stern rally in the early 90s.

I saw Mad Monster Party all over the place on DVD around Halloween last year.

The Rain Dog, Amazon.com has it for $9.99.

Munster Mash!

That's so wrong it must be right.

Some Fred Gwynne trivia I learned today: he attended Harvard (graduating in 1951), and was a cartoonist and eventual president of the Harvard Lampoon.