A Debate For The Ages
This has raged on and on in my subconscious for decades now. The Addams Family vs. The Munsters. Surely, the choice is fundamentally defining of one's personality. I'm not certain I want to tip my hand just yet. Perhaps it's best to see what the commenters think first. But, I'm getting ahead of myself, aren't I?First, some comparison inforrmation:
[A = Addams Family, M = Munsters]
First episode aired - A: Sept 18, 1964, M: Sept 24, 1964
Network - A: ABC, M: CBS
# of Episodes - A: 64, M: 70
Male Lead - A: Gomez, M: Herman
Female Lead - A: Morticia, M: Lily
Other Adult Male - A: Uncle Fester, M: Grandpa
Male Child - A: Pugsley, M: Eddie
Female Child - A: Wednesday, M: Marilyn*
Other - A: Lurch, M: Lester
A: Grandmama, M: Gilbert
A: Thing, M: Spot
A: Cousin Itt, M: Igor
* Marilyn was a niece, not a daughter.
Both of these shows are classic B&W reruns. I thought they were both hilarious at one time or another during my childhood. But...Oh, OK, I'll just come out and say it. I think The Addams Family is better. There. I said it. And, Lurch could kick Herman Munster's ass. So, take that.
posted by haahnster at 5:23 PM
16 Comments:
Hands down: The Addams Family. Gomez is one of the greatest characters of all time.
I always found the humor on the Addams Family to be of a more clever variety. Of course, I haven't seen either show in at least 15 years. But, my memory is always reliable (cough, cough).
And, I should add that not only would Lurch whip the snot out of Herman, but Herman would surely cry like a baby in the process. That sissy. (Spoken with all the confidence of a guy who hasn't been in a fight since the 7th grade)
But I bet you could still take Herman, Haahnster.
I like that alliteration. HERMAN! HAAHNSTER!!! I can hear the crowd roaring their bloody cheers now.
The Addams family rocked. The Munsters were kind of a rip-off of that (or so I thought) but it appears they both started at the same time???
Vampires will always outdo Frankenstein Monsters (with the exception of the "Young Frankenstein" - which will eternally rock and make me shoot milk out of my nose).
Besides, I always thought the semi-sexual nature of the parents in the Addams family was kind of hot.
And let us not forget that a re-make was only done of one of them and it really wasn't too bad. Although Angelica Huston scares me for some reason........
Happy Friday!
Didn't you grow up always hoping you had a Gomez-and-Morticia kind of marriage? Maybe that's why I'm still single ... I need more cara mia in my life.
Beth: You might be right. I'm guessing Herman scares easily.
Keith: I neglected to mention that The Addams Family was based on a comic that dates back to the '30s (maybe the '20s?). In any event, both shows starting in the same week seems too odd to be a coincidence, doesn't it? One of the networks must've heard about the other's show, and come up with something similar, right? So, were The Munsters created, and then The Addams Family an easy copy (because the characters had already been created in the comic)? Or, were the plans to make a live-action show of The Addams Family discovered, and The Munsters rushed into production? Who knows? Or, maybe it was just a coincidence. I know I always used to ask any adult I could find which one came first, and no one ever knew. It turns out, they were so close that it would've been hard for anyone to remember.
I know I always thought one had to be a rip-off of the other. I'm guessing Munsters...how hard is it to throw a Frankenstein's monster with a vampire wife & father-in-law, a Godzilla pet under the stairs, etc.?
And, yes, Gomez and Morticia were light years ahead of other TV couples in the mid-'60s, romance-wise.
I guess I'm the odd man out -- I have always LOVED the Munsters. I had a major crush on Eddie and wished Spot lived under my stairs. I wanted their car, too. The Addams family rocked, to be sure, but Herman, Lillie and especially Grandpa were so darn funny to me!
Kudos to the Addams family, though... who couldn't love a family with a kid named PUGsly?! Huh? Seriously!
Yes, the pug connection should certainly resonate with you!!!
I liked The Munsters. I just liked The Addams Family more.
Grandpa did have excellent hair, though.
And Grandpa just died. So sad.
The Addams Family was by Charles Addams, whose cartoons were published by The New Yorker from 1938 until his death in 1988.
I will go with the Addams family for the sexual tension alone. Though Lily was really hot.
I think a Grandpa vs. Uncle Fester cage match would be great though as they were clearly the big characters.
Hands down the Adams Family. I feel no need to justify my answer.
Cara Mia!
Amazing how childhood memories fade, coupled with one's own perceptions evolving through the passage of time, and the addition of new experiences.
I pulled that out of my ass. However, I'm glad to see you're on board with The Addams Family, Mat.
Welcome, old lady & laaw-yuhr.
And, JM, we *need* to promote a concept to some game manufacturer somewhere, "The Addams Family" vs. "The Munsters": Cage Matches -- Lurch vs. Herman, Grandpa vs. Uncle Fester...I smell success...
I know many 3D animators and game developers ... so y'all get the story worked out! We (yes, I'm including myself in this brilliant venture) could become thousandaires!
Success is secondary...cash is always first.
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