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A [[Mundane Fantastic]] [[Dom Com]] that originally ran from 1964 to 1966 about a working class family of would-be monsters. Experienced surprising high ratings during the period before the ''[[Batman (TV)|Batman]]'' TV series came on, revolutionizing color TV.
A [[Mundane Fantastic]] [[Dom Com]] that originally ran from 1964 to 1966 about a working class family of would-be monsters. Experienced surprising high ratings during the period before the ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' TV series came on, revolutionizing color TV.


The humor of the series came from the odd juxtaposition of many [[Animation Tropes|"cartoon"]] antics in a live action series, namely "Fast Motion", as well as the fact that despite their gothic appearance, the family doesn't seem to think they're different from anyone else, with the exception of cousin Marilyn who didn't inherit "The Family Look". Though sometimes compared to the Addams family, there are considerable differences. [[The Addams Family (TV)|The Addams Family]] are in essence landed gentry (their history in the US goes back to the Pilgrim era), very refined and elegant, and independently wealthy; the Munsters are working-class recent immigrants (Grandpa having immigrated from Transylvania), and Herman has a quite coarse sense of humour. The Addamses are borderline supernatural in some undefined way; the Munsters are explicit monsters. The most important difference, however, is in the families' views of themselves and the people around them. The Addamses consider themselves perfectly normal, and cannot understand why the people they meet are so very strange; the Munsters believe themselves to be just like the people around them, and cannot understand why said people seem to think the family is so strange.
The humor of the series came from the odd juxtaposition of many [[Animation Tropes|"cartoon"]] antics in a live action series, namely "Fast Motion", as well as the fact that despite their gothic appearance, the family doesn't seem to think they're different from anyone else, with the exception of cousin Marilyn who didn't inherit "The Family Look". Though sometimes compared to the Addams family, there are considerable differences. [[The Addams Family]] are in essence landed gentry (their history in the US goes back to the Pilgrim era), very refined and elegant, and independently wealthy; the Munsters are working-class recent immigrants (Grandpa having immigrated from Transylvania), and Herman has a quite coarse sense of humour. The Addamses are borderline supernatural in some undefined way; the Munsters are explicit monsters. The most important difference, however, is in the families' views of themselves and the people around them. The Addamses consider themselves perfectly normal, and cannot understand why the people they meet are so very strange; the Munsters believe themselves to be just like the people around them, and cannot understand why said people seem to think the family is so strange.


The main characters are:
The character list is as follows:


* '''Herman''', the [[Gentle Giant|7-foot-tall]] [[Frankensteins Monster|Frankenstinian]] patriarch of the family. Though he believed himself to be a [[Standard Fifties Father]], he was really more of a [[Bumbling Dad]] and [[Idiot Hero|loveable idiot]]. [[Afraid of Blood]].
* '''Herman''', the [[Gentle Giant|7-foot-tall]] [[Frankenstein's Monster|Frankenstinian]] patriarch of the family. Though he believed himself to be a [[Standard Fifties Father]], he was really more of a [[Bumbling Dad]] and [[Idiot Hero|loveable idiot]]. [[Afraid of Blood]].
* '''Lily''', the doting [[Housewife]]. The child of immigrant parents, Lily was more keenly aware of social standards than the rest of her family, but nevertheless cheerily went about her bizarre habits anyway. Usually became involved to bail Herman and Grandpa out of trouble.
* '''Lily''', the doting [[Housewife]]. The child of immigrant parents, Lily was more keenly aware of social standards than the rest of her family, but nevertheless cheerily went about her bizarre habits anyway. Usually became involved to bail Herman and Grandpa out of trouble.
* '''Eddie''', a boy with werewolf tendencies, Eddie had the typical problems of a pre-teen in 1950s America: too much homework, not enough television, can't stop chewing the teacher's leg, etc.
* '''Eddie''', a boy with werewolf tendencies, Eddie had the typical problems of a pre-teen in 1950s America: too much homework, not enough television, can't stop chewing the teacher's leg, etc.
* '''Marilyn''', the [[Girl Next Door|pretty]] [[Hair of Gold|blonde]] [[Unfazed Everyman]] of the series, Marilyn was the shockingly normal [[Muggle]] niece of the family. Rather than proud of being able to conform better, Marilyn was convinced that ''she'' was the freak, and her aunt and uncle regarded her "weirdness" as a tragic affliction. Despite being ripe for storylines, Marilyn was a background character at best. Her (second) actress even said years after the fact that anyone could have played her.
* '''Marilyn''', the [[Girl Next Door|pretty]] [[Hair of Gold|blonde]] [[Unfazed Everyman]] of the series, Marilyn was the shockingly normal [[Muggle]] niece of the family. Rather than proud of being able to conform better, Marilyn was convinced that ''she'' was the freak, and her aunt and uncle regarded her "weirdness" as a tragic affliction. Despite being ripe for storylines, Marilyn was a background character at best. Her (second) actress even said years after the fact that anyone could have played her.
* '''Grandpa''', Herman's [[The Lancer|Lancer]] and usually the instigator for the show's zany scheme of the week. A combination [[Dracula|Count Dracula]] and [[Mad Scientist]], Grandpa was an [[Omnidisciplinary Scientist]] with at least one degree in Occult Magic. He sometimes reported being discriminated against by his neighbors -- not because he was a blood-sucking demon of the night, but because he was ''European''.
* '''Grandpa''', Herman's [[The Lancer|Lancer]] and usually the instigator for the show's zany scheme of the week. A combination [[Dracula|Count Dracula]] and [[Mad Scientist]], Grandpa was an [[Omnidisciplinary Scientist]] with at least one degree in Occult Magic. He sometimes reported being discriminated against by his neighbors -- not because he was a blood-sucking demon of the night, but because he was ''European''.
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=== Tropes Include: ===


In summer 2017, a [[Continuity Reboot|reboot series]] was announced, which would relocate the Musters from suburbia to [[Big Applesauce|Brooklyn, NY]].

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{{tropelist}}
* [[Amusing Alien]]
* [[Amusing Alien]]
* [[Animated Adaptation]]: ''The Mini-Munsters'', a 1973 animated TV movie.
* [[Animated Adaptation]]: ''The Mini-Munsters'', a 1973 animated TV movie.
* [[Blind Without Em]]: Dr. Dudley.
* [[Blind Without'Em]]: Dr. Dudley.
* [[Bumbling Dad]]: Herman.
* [[Bumbling Dad]]: Herman.
* [[Cool Car]]: The Munster Koach and the Dragula race car. The Munster Koach was arguably the show's signature.
* [[Cool Car]]: The Munster Koach and the Dragula race car. The Munster Koach was arguably the show's signature.
** Note: The car used in [[Rob Zombie (Music)|Rob Zombie]]'s ''Dragula'' music video is not the Dragula, but the Munster Koach.
** Note: The car used in [[Rob Zombie]]'s ''Dragula'' music video is not the Dragula, but the Munster Koach.
* [[Cool House]]
* [[Cool House]]
* [[Cute Monster Girl]]: Lily.
* [[Cute Monster Girl]]: Lily.
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* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: The Raven in the Clock. Also, Grandpa.
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: The Raven in the Clock. Also, Grandpa.
* [[Development Hell]]: A prospective [[The Film of the Series|feature film adaptation]] was trapped in this for years in the mid-'00s, with the Wayans Brothers attached at one point, before the idea was ultimately scrapped.
* [[Development Hell]]: A prospective [[The Film of the Series|feature film adaptation]] was trapped in this for years in the mid-'00s, with the Wayans Brothers attached at one point, before the idea was ultimately scrapped.
* [[Dueling Shows]]: ''[[The Addams Family (TV)|The Addams Family]]''.
* [[Dueling Shows]]: ''[[The Addams Family]]''.
* [[Dysfunctional Family]]
* [[Dysfunctional Family]]
* [[Extremely Dusty Home]]
* [[Extremely Dusty Home]]
* [[Fantasy Kitchen Sink]]: Frankenstein monster, vampires, and a werewolf...all related!
* [[Fantasy Kitchen Sink]]: Frankenstein monster, vampires, and a werewolf...all related!
* [[Fast Forward Gag]]: Whenever someone meets the Munsters and runs away.
* [[Fast-Forward Gag]]: Whenever someone meets the Munsters and runs away.
* [[Forgotten Theme Tune Lyrics]]
* [[Forgotten Theme Tune Lyrics]]
* [[Fluffy the Terrible]]: Spot The Dragon.
* [[Fluffy the Terrible]]: Spot The Dragon.
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* [[Housewife]]: Lily
* [[Housewife]]: Lily
* [[I Am Not Spock]]: Averted. Al Lewis loved his Grandpa Munster character, and eagerly exploited it.
* [[I Am Not Spock]]: Averted. Al Lewis loved his Grandpa Munster character, and eagerly exploited it.
* [[I Want You to Meet An Old Friend of Mine]]: Previously, Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis were featured in the series ''[[Car 54 Where Are You]]''.
* [[I Want You to Meet An Old Friend of Mine]]: Previously, Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis were featured in the series ''[[Car 54, Where Are You?]]''.
* [[It Runs in The Family]]
* [[It Runs in The Family]]
* [[Lightning Can Do Anything]]: Like turn Herman into a normal human.
* [[Lightning Can Do Anything]]: Like turn Herman into a normal human.
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* [[Mad Scientist]]/[[Bungling Inventor]]: Grandpa
* [[Mad Scientist]]/[[Bungling Inventor]]: Grandpa
* [[Man Child]]: Herman. One of the [[Running Gag|Running Gags]] was him throwing foundation-shaking temper tantrums.
* [[Man Child]]: Herman. One of the [[Running Gag|Running Gags]] was him throwing foundation-shaking temper tantrums.
* [[Mirror Cracking Ugly]]: Herman.
* [[Mirror-Cracking Ugly]]: Herman.
* [[Monster Mash]]: Another difference from the Addams Family who were general gothic, while the Munsters were based on specific movie monsters.
* [[Monster Mash]]: Another difference from the Addams Family who were general gothic, while the Munsters were based on specific movie monsters.
* [[The Movie]]: Several
* [[The Movie]]: Several
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* [[The Other Darrin]]: Beverly Owen played Marilyn in the first 13 episodes. After she left to marry ''[[Sesame Street]]'' writer-producer-director Jon Stone, Pat Priest took over for the rest of the series.
* [[The Other Darrin]]: Beverly Owen played Marilyn in the first 13 episodes. After she left to marry ''[[Sesame Street]]'' writer-producer-director Jon Stone, Pat Priest took over for the rest of the series.
* [[Our Werewolves Are Different]]
* [[Our Werewolves Are Different]]
* [[Eerie Pale Skinned Brunette]]
* [[Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette]]
* [[Quirky Household]]
* [[Quirky Household]]
* [[Revival]]: The 1980s series ''The Munsters Today'' and a revival movie from the 90s.
* [[Revival]]: The 1980s series ''The Munsters Today'' and a revival movie from the 90s.
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* [[Sequel Series]]: ''The Munsters Today''.
* [[Sequel Series]]: ''The Munsters Today''.
* [[Sexophone]]: Used when Grampa's latest invention turns Herman [[Gender Bender|into a woman]]. ([[Lightning Can Do Anything|He got changed back]] [[Status Quo Is God|by the end of the episode]]).
* [[Sexophone]]: Used when Grampa's latest invention turns Herman [[Gender Bender|into a woman]]. ([[Lightning Can Do Anything|He got changed back]] [[Status Quo Is God|by the end of the episode]]).
* [[Shout Out]]: Butch Patrick's 1983 novelty single "Whatever Happened to Eddie?" is set to the tune of the theme song and details his life as Eddie Munster.
* [[Shout-Out]]: Butch Patrick's 1983 novelty single "Whatever Happened to Eddie?" is set to the tune of the theme song and details his life as Eddie Munster.
** Marilyn, of course, is a reference to [[Marilyn Monroe]].
** Marilyn, of course, is a reference to [[Marilyn Monroe]].
* [[Sit Com]]
* [[Sitcom]]
* [[Skunk Stripe]]: Lily
* [[Skunk Stripe]]: Lily
* [[Sleeping Single]]: Subverted. Then again these Munsters are strange folk.
* [[Sleeping Single]]: Subverted. Then again these Munsters are strange folk.
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Fantastic Comedy]]
[[Category:Fantastic Comedy]]
[[Category:The Sixties]]
[[Category:The Sixties]]
[[Category:American Series]]
[[Category:American Series]]
[[Category:The Munsters]]
[[Category:TV Series]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Munsters, The}}
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[[Category:Series]]

Latest revision as of 20:22, 11 August 2017

A Mundane Fantastic Dom Com that originally ran from 1964 to 1966 about a working class family of would-be monsters. Experienced surprising high ratings during the period before the Batman TV series came on, revolutionizing color TV.

The humor of the series came from the odd juxtaposition of many "cartoon" antics in a live action series, namely "Fast Motion", as well as the fact that despite their gothic appearance, the family doesn't seem to think they're different from anyone else, with the exception of cousin Marilyn who didn't inherit "The Family Look". Though sometimes compared to the Addams family, there are considerable differences. The Addams Family are in essence landed gentry (their history in the US goes back to the Pilgrim era), very refined and elegant, and independently wealthy; the Munsters are working-class recent immigrants (Grandpa having immigrated from Transylvania), and Herman has a quite coarse sense of humour. The Addamses are borderline supernatural in some undefined way; the Munsters are explicit monsters. The most important difference, however, is in the families' views of themselves and the people around them. The Addamses consider themselves perfectly normal, and cannot understand why the people they meet are so very strange; the Munsters believe themselves to be just like the people around them, and cannot understand why said people seem to think the family is so strange.

The main characters are:

  • Herman, the 7-foot-tall Frankenstinian patriarch of the family. Though he believed himself to be a Standard Fifties Father, he was really more of a Bumbling Dad and loveable idiot. Afraid of Blood.
  • Lily, the doting Housewife. The child of immigrant parents, Lily was more keenly aware of social standards than the rest of her family, but nevertheless cheerily went about her bizarre habits anyway. Usually became involved to bail Herman and Grandpa out of trouble.
  • Eddie, a boy with werewolf tendencies, Eddie had the typical problems of a pre-teen in 1950s America: too much homework, not enough television, can't stop chewing the teacher's leg, etc.
  • Marilyn, the pretty blonde Unfazed Everyman of the series, Marilyn was the shockingly normal Muggle niece of the family. Rather than proud of being able to conform better, Marilyn was convinced that she was the freak, and her aunt and uncle regarded her "weirdness" as a tragic affliction. Despite being ripe for storylines, Marilyn was a background character at best. Her (second) actress even said years after the fact that anyone could have played her.
  • Grandpa, Herman's Lancer and usually the instigator for the show's zany scheme of the week. A combination Count Dracula and Mad Scientist, Grandpa was an Omnidisciplinary Scientist with at least one degree in Occult Magic. He sometimes reported being discriminated against by his neighbors -- not because he was a blood-sucking demon of the night, but because he was European.

In summer 2017, a reboot series was announced, which would relocate the Musters from suburbia to Brooklyn, NY.

Tropes used in The Munsters include:
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/The_Munsters?oldid=1543256"