bkoganbing
One look at that Gothic horror mansion you knew that the Munsters were one special family. Though the show only lasted two seasons it left some last memories and a feature film. Even the Addams family never got a feature film, the original Addamses that is.Meet Herman and Lily Munster Fred Gwynne and Yvonne DeCarlo. Herman was a creation of some scientist and he's modeled on the famous Frankenstein creation of Boris Karloff. He's also big and clumsy and stammers a lot. He makes a living at a mortuary the only place he won't frighten the clientele. Yvonne DeCarlo is a proper wife and dutiful daughter of a vampire Al Lewis. Both Gwynne and Lewis were in Car 54 Where Are You. Lewis with that New York Jewish speech pattern wasn't exactly Bela Lugosi. Gwynne and DeCarlo had a werewolf son Eddie played by Butch Patrick. He had some socialization issues as you can imagine.Two actresses played Marilyn Munster, Lily's nice Beverly Owen and Pat Priest. She was the 'ugly duckling' of the family. The Munsters had alternative standards as far as physical beauty. That gag kind of wore thin as Marilyn got so much attention from the male of he species.The Munsters were cute and kind of sweet. They clearly did not socialize much with their neighbors, but had their own kind of fun which they shared for two seasons with their viewers.
Xander Seavy (RiffRaffMcKinley)
"The Munsters" isn't quite as good as its contemporary, "The Addams Family," but it's still a great show-- just very different.In fact, the Munster/Addams comparison, I've come to realize, is totally unfair. As "AF" cast member Lisa Loring said on a DVD commentary, "the Addams Family is more like the Marx Brothers and the Munsters were like the 3 Stooges." That's a great way to sum it up. The humor on "The Munsters" is more in rimshot-oriented jokes ("Have you heard of our family doctor back in Germany? Dr. Frankenstein? He made me what I am today") and the bumbling goofiness of Herman. Lily is also a far more independent and formidable wife than Morticia, who's not afraid to bend Herman to her will, and she's played so perfectly by the late, great Yvonne de Carlo. Al Lewis is terrific as Grandpa, and Butch Patrick is probably the most grown-up of them all, the 1960s equivalent of Tommy Solomon in attitude and appearance. And the various Marilyns are interesting as well.However, a lot of the jokes on this show can be very corny and predictable, and it was starting to stagnate a little after the end of the first season. But it's still a very memorable show worth watching and laughing at.
samcracc
I have seen this show on Tvland and it is an excellent show. Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster was outstanding. Al Lewis as Grandpa Munster was funny. Yvonne De Carlo as Lily Munster was brilliant Pat Priest as Marilyn Munster and Butch Patrick as Eddie Wolfgang Munster where cute. The Munsters are a weird but honest family. Herman (the father) is a representation of Frankenstein's monster. Lily (his wife) and Grandpa (her father) are vampires. Eddie (their little son) is a werewolf. Marilyn (their niece) is the only normal one (that is the ugly duck of the family). This show is excellent watch The Munsters soon or if you can not find TV land buy the season.
abrafocus
I don't think any spoilers can ruin a perfect show like this one.Fred Gwynne plays Herman Munster, part machine, part human who looks a little like Frankenstein's monster. I think that's who he's supposed to be, but I'm no expert.This is a good show. I'm shocked it only lated two Seasons; I think the creators were very smart casting Al Lewis as the Grandfather. AHe was very funny, and played his part very well. And I can't seem to say enough about Marilyn. Beverley Owen played her for a while, then she left the show to get married, and Pat Priest took over.Not having seen any of the second season, I can't say it was 100% perfect, but from what I saw, it was rally good.