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Its remarkable how far more dated the Munsters Today is than the original show. The big side effect of going all in on contemporary fashion and design I guess.
60s TV was shot on film, while most 80s TV was shot on tape. More than anything, this downgrade in image quality makes the 80s shows feel older, cheaper, and overall lower quality.
@@ZachAttackIsBack And in the case of The Munsters, the old show was in black and white and looked like the old Universal movies, whereas the reboots keep being made in color for some reason. They just don't look right in color, even in that movie where they were (except Marilyn) played by the same actors. (Edit: corrected wrong character recast)
@@ZachAttackIsBackYup, especially in America, though. Go back to British shows like 60s Doctor Who or Allo Allo and you'll see it switch between extremely cheap-looking tape and beautiful-looking film
@justmeherethereandeverywhere I think in this case the 80s version made an effort to play up the fact that these characters were now in the present day. Its making a big deal about of being in the 80s. The 60s version just happened to be made in the 60s and didn't make a point of it.
In design, black and white tends to be timeless (think of how a little black dress has been a staple item for all time, or how many black and white home decor styles have come and gone). It’s easier to blend it in as a sort of ethereal fantasy. The 80s color palate is pretty specific to the 80s, and while it’s come back in and out of style the combo of EVERYTHING being those colors with the cheap video quality just pegs it for exactly when it is.
I actually remember watching this live with my folks. My mom was disgusted by the makeup and crummy jokes. I can't wait for him to talk about Mockingbird Lane.
Recently watched a mini doc on Fred Gwynne, and aside from his obvious skills in acting, he was extremely talented in multiple areas; he could have easily become a success as a cartoonist (and already basically was one, with cartoons published nationally)... But more importantly, he was just as wholesome a person as the ones he portrayed on screen, which only helped his depiction of the characters shine that much more.
I'm amazed there are so many OG Munsters clips that can perfectly critique the 80's version. But that's thanks to your always-improving editing skills.
If the Munsters had gotten a 90's New Addams Family style reboot by the same production company, I'd have been happy. That show always felt like it understood how to pay respects to the original while updating.
indeed, though it might have been kind of more difficult. They were satirizing things in very different ways. unlike the norm-defying Addamses freaking people out, the munsters WERE the normies, the squares, looking at everyone around them as weird and ugly but tolerating them anyway. The only way it could have worked is if they'd done a similar tone to the 90s Brady movies.
Well, there was a lot of love and passion behind that Addams Family series. Gomez's actor said it was his dream job and absolutely lived that dream when he got to work along side John Astin. This Herman did it for the paycheck. Big difference.
@@mightyfilm I assume our good Penguin was referring to the classic 90s movies, not the new addams family series (which WAS pretty watchable and did get to include John Astin)
@@KairuHakubi If he's talking about the movies, that's The Munster's problem right there. Those movies evolved the characters and elevated the already great source material. In an era where they made bad movies based on old sitcoms where the joke was "lookit how bad this thing was," The Addams Family took what was established by the television series, but made it its own thing. Didn't hurt things that said films lead to a cartoon series and eventually The New Addams Family. Not saying that The Munsters was stuck in it's 60's sitcom role, and it's not for the lack of trying, it just never had that big project that went from revival to cultural reestablishment of the franchise. It just never had that reinvention of itself the Addams' movies outside of Mockingbird Lane. With THIS series the problem was they went about it as semi-parody. Almost a "Honey I'm Home" type concept. And it seems they were trying for a younger audience, so we're in the dreaded Kidcom/Tweencom market. Seems more like a Nickelodeon show in retrospect. I'd imagine if the Addams Family did the same exact Boomer Nostalgia Meta concept, that wouldn't have worked for it either. Supposedly there was a horrendous Addams Family variety show pitched in the 70's that was so bad it became lost media. I'd imagine that would have ruined that franchise before it even became one.
The New Addams Family was corny as hell, but still pretty alright given it was a Saban production. I never went out of my way to watch it, but if I saw it on I wouldn't immediately change the channel.
@@bobstevens457 that’s one of my favorite universal films of the 60s along with those Don Knotts comedies between 1966, and 1971 and the Doris day and rock Hudson comedies between 1959, 1964 and those two movies, Blake Edwards made for Universal international in the late 50s the perfect furlough 1958, and operation petticoat 1959
Yes, but they ended up with a total of 70 episodes in that two seasons which would be like a 1990s series that lasted 3 years (back then Network TV shows had about 22 episodes per season) so I look at it like it was on for 3 seasons. Plus there's MUNSTER, GO HOME!
I disagree on Al. Don't get me wrong. He was perfect as Grandpa but Robert Morse and Daniel Roebuck were great in the rolls because they delivered lines like him and did a good impression. Fred I definitely agree. Even the late great Edward Herman couldn't do it
Nothing against the actors, but man, they really look like they belong in a very crummy Munsters parody sketch. For instance, the Addams Family 90's movie despite the actors having to work based on pre-existing roles, really nailed the part with their own takes on the characters. Their outfits and make up really made them look like an upgrade instead of a low budget Halloween costume.
The Addams Family reboot is trash, beloved ONLY by kids who grew up with that. Nothing beats the original TV cast. Gomez was funnier, Morticia was sexier and Uncle Fester was the best.
The Addams Family movies from the 90's where based more on the original source material by Charles Addams that was more darker than the 60's tv series While Munsters Today looked like a school play
Something interesting, Al Lewis continued to play the Grandpa character (without using the name Munster) as a horror host at the same time this show aired.
Why did the actor who played Herman choose to do Paul Lynde impression? Also, only Al Lewis can play grandpa. He set the tone and acting for that character perfectly.
@@masterseal0418Wait really?!? He was Max from Goof Troop, Chester from the Fairly OddParents; and Noel from Fina Fantasy Xll-2? All those notable characters? I thought the guy's name sounded familiar; but I thought it was just because he had a familiar sounding name...
They used to show this on a Saturday afternoon in the UK. I enjoyed it, though it would never compare to the comedic genius of Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis in the original.
It's strange that,at least over the last 35 years the Munsters never had a major movie released in theaters. It's like,studio executives seemed to thing they only work on television. Meanwhile,the Addams family has had several movies released to the big screen since 1991.
You could say that The Addams Family have had everything thrown at the wall; to try and make them more relevant, but The Munsters, have had basically nothing; for nearly 40 years; probably because of how amazing the original Munsters is. And sure; even though "The Munsters Today" ran further than the original series, it doesn't automatically make it BETTER than the original no matter how many things they may have tried in this version.
I liked Mockingbird Lane. One of the problems with the new Munsters show is they picked a short actor to play Herman. Even with the platform boots he was short. The biggest problem is when the show came out Hollywood was obsessed with live audience shows. Which severely limited the show. The original series not being performed before a live audience could use multiple sets on different sound stages, outdoor scenes, and location shots.
@@axelalvarado7031 Fred Gwynne was tall but skinny. They had to put a real heavy prosthetic suit which Fred suffered horribly. He had to drink pitchers of Lemonade.
Mockingbird lane could've been something. Can't wait to next Halloween for your retrospect on it. Eddie Izzard was perfect in it. One of my fav comedians ever!
I remember watching this show it aired Sat. afternoon along with Small Wonder & Out of this World (For a cheap syndicated tv show it wasn’t bad) it was very 80’s it was later moved to evenings on Sat. night (Looking back at it the biggest problem was it being in color if it was in b&w it would’ve actually looked better! The key of the 1980’s was pure excess (everyone in LA were doing massive amounts of Bolivian Marching powdered) everything was over saturated in that decade
Exactly! They can't ever catch a break! They kept getting closer and closer, until rob zombie had to get his filthy hands on it, and this show probably wasn't THAT bad; but couldn't touch the original series, I mean; sure "The Addams Family" 90's movies weren't the best; but with the late, great Raul Julia as the dad; in both of those movies; makes them work, but they couldn't get any similar kind of magic working for The Munsters? What were they smoking with ALL these reboots/remakes/spin-offs? They just didn't know when to stop. I mean; they really wanted to re-create the magic of the original Munsters, didn't they? But they clearly couldn't...how desperate were they to get a "hit"? Because it NEVER worked out once; and it's never GOING to work, with the way they're doing it, they're never going to re-create the magic of the original series, no matter how many times they try this; no matter how many times they try to recast the actor's, no matter how many times they try to find the magic, it's just NOT there! I mean; putting people like Rob Zombie on for the recent movie? That was a terrible idea just waiting to fail from the start, if his other projects weren't enough of a sign already, because Zombie can't make a good movie to save his life(in my opinion). But even though I didn't grow up with the original show, it looks pretty good in these black and white clips. And nothing's going to be able to replicate the original series; no matter what they do, but it doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to catch a break, right? How hard is it to get any adaptations of The Munsters right; even once? Sorry if I went on too long though...
Protip: Don't use a red border. The youtube 'already watched' bar is red. So if someone see the red bar at the bottom of the thumbnail, they may skip the video (as I did the first 3 times this popped up on my home page).
Thank you for your great work, friend! Forgotten Failures is brilliantly entertaining. And this episode truly showed how great the original Munster’s were. That show is something that can never be replicated.
If they ever do a Munters reboot/remake/whatever it would be way better for it to be animated, but if they need to be it in live-action, they would have to make a chemistry test with all the actors. And I would NEVER place it in modern times, if I was doing it, I would at least place it in a time without internet, so we can avoid Marilyn and Eddie's being the “cool kids” that makes the show dated very fast, it would be nice to explore the 60s again, and I would keep the show black and white. Monster High shows that kids loves monsters, it's a fun concept to work with, and being animated helps too (plus getting people who sound like the original actors would neat too). Just so food for thought.
I had no idea that this show existed. My first exposure to The Munsters was on Nick @ Nite back in the late 90s when they were playing the original show.
Oh wow. A Roseanne Barr fat joke, how original and tasteful. I know Roseanne went crazy only recently but surely there was something else to make fun of her about.
Wow, you are bringing back memories for me. I remember this show from when I was a kid. I didn't like it then and it's even worse now. The 'Munsters Rap' scene made me cringe with embarrassment on behalf of the cast. Excellent work on this video as always!
Fun video. There's no truth in the story that Al Lewis auditioned for Munsters Today - he was never even considered. I interviewed cast and crew about this and the rest of the show's development for an extended feature in the November 2023 of UK sci-fi/fantasy magazine SFX. Everyone was pretty candid and gave a lot of insight into the creative decisions behind the show and its compromises as a low-budget production. I hope Munster fans will seek it out.
No al Lewis which is funny cause he reprised his role as a horror host presenting old monster movies on the wtbs superstation show "super scary saturday" 1987-1989. Ofcourse I'm on older side of early 40s. Look it up.
I thought I knew about all the different terrible versions of The Munsters but this one is completely new to me. Fred Gwynne said it best, "Sometimes dead is better."
What was perfect about Fred Gwynne was he was believable as Frankenstein's monster. He towered over everyone. In this show, Herman and Grandpa were almost the same height. Herman Munster should be equal parts frightening and goofy. This guy is just goofy.
I was able to find the series on DVD being sold on eBay, and I actually liked it better than I had liked it when it was first run. I preferred Marilyn actually liking herself, and not going on about how unattractive she was, like in the original series. I also thought it was a good idea if Eddie was going to Junior high, dropping the velvet suit. Not a good series, but I still liked it. At a future time, you might consider doing a review of "Mini-Munsters" an Animated special, where Al Lewis provided the voice of Grand-pa.
THE problem with remakes you expect it to be exciting just like the original NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THAT'S WHY i never watch any type of remakes i always get disappointed 😞 cheers Stephen 🤠⭐👍🦅🍀
This was a regular Saturday afternoon syndicated watch for me as a kid along with Small Wonder, Charles in Charge, Out of This World, etc. Reminded me a little of The New Monkees
I think I only watched this at all because they wedged it in between 'Out of This World' and 'My Secret Identity'...and I thought 80's Marilyn Munster was kinda cute😅
Despite being the target demographic, I never saw this. I did see the commercial, featuring the theme song, and it just didn’t work; it felt so try hard, not to mention the hokey 80s sitcom conventions they didn’t properly spoof but moreover relied upon. I’m surprised it lasted longer. That’s crazy. Very excited to see Mockingbird Lane coming next year. That’s a show that didn’t get a proper chance and had so much potential. Hopefully I’m not the only one who thinks so.
The problem is obvious. Not only is it an 80's sitcom, it's an 80's low budget syndicated sitcom. Anyone remember "Out of this World?" I used to watch that one all the time and I still have trouble remembering it was real and not a weird recurring dream. I'd imagine if it had network backing there would have been a little more money and quality control over it, but I could also think it wouldn't have lasted a full season. I'd imagine that, being syndicated, they also had a quick turn around to get all the episodes out at once, leading to slipshod writing and an exhausted cast limbering through them. Anything else I can't say, since I saw these when I was really little and I do remember enjoying them, but not much else about them. I remember seeing an episode as part of a new digital over the air channel's start up programming, and thinking it was okay, but overall unmemorable. They went camping in that one, so maybe the episodes where they aren't mostly in the house set are rare. Anyway, this at least looks a hell of a lot better than the weak animated series pilot. Yes. There was going to be a Munsters cartoon that focused on Eddie and his friends with Grampa and Herman just being there for maybe one or two lines of comic relief. Think an even worse Pebbles and Bamm Bamm. I think the pilot aired as part of one of those 70's Super Movie blocks (with other failed animated pilots), and I can't remember where I found it and if it's still available, but it was just dull and forgettable.
Why did they try to recreate the bit where Herman Munster is changed into a regular person, Fred Gwynne looks dashing and John Schuck just looks like a guy, a large part of the humorous contrast is missing.
Are people complain about networks remaking IPS from the 80s and 90ss, they forget that back in the 80s they did the same thing with the 50s and 60s IP's
Yeah but they didn't have streaming services back then. Choices were very limited. My point is that there are nearly more infinite choices today for making content. So if you have a huge world of possibilities and the only thing going for you is remaking or rebooting say, Night Court, the whole Disney canon, or Masters of the Universe, you have no excuse
And people complained about them back then, too, but they were nowhere near as frequent as they are today. And they didn't say, "Jed Clampett is now a black lesbian, and if you don't like it you're a racist".
Jason Marsden has portrayed the voice of Robin Dick Grayson in many cartoons and video games. He also famously portrayed the role of young Burt Ward in the TV movie Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt (TV Movie 2003)
Every time I hear his voice, be it in anything from his various voices in Skyrim to a single episode of Myster Inc., I will always only think one thing: Oh hey! It's Max Goof!
For many years, right up until he died. He had an episode with the guy that directed the live-action Flintstones movie. That guy said he had a deal all lined up to do his own remake, but it got cancelled at the last minute by one of the recent ones. (Either that Mockingbird Lane or the Rob Zombie one, I don't remember which.)
I loved watching the original Munsters in syndication and have vague memories of watching this reboot as a kid. Having seen clips of the reboot over the years... yeesh, some things are better left forgotten.
Howard Morton captures Al Lewis so well I still find myself smiling whenever Grandpa is on screen, his face and voice are so close, even Daniel Robuck in the Rob Zombie movie, there's some kind of magic the right nose and voice has that makes it easy to forget it isn't Al Lewis, Herman on the other hand seems impossible to get spot on, Edward Herman in 'here come the munsters' is the only man who comes close to making you forgot about Fred Gwynne and just see 'Herman', and in an entirely different category Jeff Daniel Phillips from the Rob Zombie movie nearly reinvents the character in his efforts to be as little like Fred Gwynne as possible and represent the Herman psyche as a bumbling goofball, it was the only route to take knowing he could never replicate Fred's voice or stature, his well spoken voice combined with preposterous screaming and abrupt reference pulls fully won me over, just so awkward I couldn't help but love what he was doing
I feel like this ran for years on UK TV. Like, way into the late 90s on repeats. We had a few channels that'd pack out the schedules with random American sitcom repeats though.
Billy Barty: "I can't get you Mel Gibson, but I CAN get you Jackie Mason!" 14:58 Wow, I just found the accidentally funniest joke on the show. He can't get Marilyn an actor who was later confirmed as a raging anti-semite, so he'll instead get her one of the most profoundly Jewish comedians of all time.
Haha I was in 2 episodes of this show as one of Eddie's classmates - 'Silver Bullet' and 'The Eyes Have It'. Basically because my cousin was the casting director. lol. Have to say, it was a fun experience.
I think that they should either retire the Munsters IP or just make something completely new with a different premise. Its like you said the originals charm was because of the actors who portrayed them and the time it was made. Any remake or show attempt is never gonna live up to its predecessor so might as well just scrap it and do something different but with its own new charm. Fat chance that will happen though xD
@eatatjoes6751 humm 🤔 The Addams have gotten some pretty good actors and sequels to it. Maybe its just the casting choices and the script? The last movie that came out with the Munsters was just good awful. Guess well see if they get another movie after that
They touched on Mockingbird Lane at the end. Not sure why the network didn't pick it up. It had alot of partial. The major problem i saw with it is that they did exactly what the original series avoided. It was an actual horror show, albeit tonight in cheek. They implied killing people on this version of the Munsters. That nixes the show for kids viewing. And might raise some eyebrows from network censors. Although the characters were very different from the Munsters of the 60's, they felt very real and the relationship was nuanced and complicated. Eddie was going through puberty while also becoming a werewolf. One line in the show that stood out was Eddie was hugging on the roof because he was upset. Herman very sweetly climbed up to have a chat with his son. Eddie said that he wanted to be a vegetarian. "So you can be a vegetarian" responded his father. "But i can't be a vegetarian and a werewolf" responded the confused teenager. "So you can be a vegetarian when you're not a werewolf" responded his dad. My favorite line in the show, far and away.
interesting there wasn't a 90s Munsters movie, done by barry Sonnenfeld or Tim Burton for that matter. plus, what would a 90's movie version of I dream of Jeanie been like
The series needs to get into the hands of someone who cares for a proper reboot. Not Rob Zombie. Not the Mockingbird Lane people, who were making a Castlevania TV series with a different brand name glued on. Someone who cares. And maybe get rid of the green skin makeup, since it wasn't supposed to be green- the filming makeup was due to how black & white TV filming worked, but it wasn't supposed to be canon. The same for Addams Family. I never cared for Wednesday being an unhinged psychopath, either, it went against the good nature the family had overall in the 60s. Some defend it with "the original newspaper strips" but those were so underdeveloped the TV show had to fabricate much of its canon(no one even had NAMES at the time!). At least that had the 90s cartoon with John Astin though. It could use a proper return. Maybe bring both back in a shared universe.
I really wish shows like this would get dumped on any of the streaming services we have available. I'd love to go back and watch this or "The New Addams Family" .... which I actually have been watching here on TH-cam.
this show munsters was funny. Can you imagine if we can another show with this family and Herman was being played by Patrick warburton or Herman was being played by will Ferrell And Lily could be played by mila kunis or Lily can you play Be Emma Stone? And grandpa munster could be played by Tom Hanks or Martin short And Maryland could be played by Rowan Blanchard
I actually enjoyed this as a kid. Shows how much attention I paid to TV. I think Grandpa was really good in this, though. The better character in this show.
Don't know how true it is but supposedly after this remake was cancelled the plan was to include it alongside the original Munster's syndication package.
This show was part of the trend during the 80's to take hit shows from the 60's and reboot them. The Munsters, Star Trek, The Monkees, Lucy, and I think there was even an attempt to reboot I Dream of Jeannie. They were all pretty awful. Even the first season of Star Trek the Next Generation was so poorly received, it nearly torpedoed the whole franchise.
Gwynne , a fine actor and is big enough to play Frankenstein and Yvonne is a 100% movie star and then there's Al... The actors in the new Munsters can't compete with them.
How could the original cast (the adults anyway) look too old in 1988, when they were made to look old with makeup in the original series? They look fine to me in the brief clips here.
Was this really a failure? It ran for 3 seasons. This was my introduction to the Munsters then I got into the original series. This used to air on my local Fox station paired with the forgotten Harry & the Hendersons series, Out of This World, and Mt Secret Identity.
That’s f up the original Munster grandpa couldn’t even get cast for his role Lmao 🤣 Ernie Hudson also lost on being cast as Winston Zeddemore to Arsenio Hall for the cartoon series The Real Ghostbusters 😢
I couldn't ever bring myself to watch this show after seeing the intro. I'm kind of surprised how much the new Herman actually does seem like a decent recast but he is utterly let down by the makeup and the incessantly bad singing.
Yeah but it is surprising that monsters today didn't even get shown on one of the free streaming services like tubi. Since tubi does have a lot of similar B movie quality material.
I remember watching this when it originally aired, and I liked it at the time. Looking at it now, it does look inferior to the original series. Ironically, this series got one more season than the original series (the original was 2 seasons, Today lasted 3 seasons - I don't know if calling it a failure is accurate, since it was on for 3 seasons).
Its remarkable how far more dated the Munsters Today is than the original show. The big side effect of going all in on contemporary fashion and design I guess.
60s TV was shot on film, while most 80s TV was shot on tape. More than anything, this downgrade in image quality makes the 80s shows feel older, cheaper, and overall lower quality.
@@ZachAttackIsBack And in the case of The Munsters, the old show was in black and white and looked like the old Universal movies, whereas the reboots keep being made in color for some reason. They just don't look right in color, even in that movie where they were (except Marilyn) played by the same actors. (Edit: corrected wrong character recast)
@@ZachAttackIsBackYup, especially in America, though. Go back to British shows like 60s Doctor Who or Allo Allo and you'll see it switch between extremely cheap-looking tape and beautiful-looking film
@justmeherethereandeverywhere I think in this case the 80s version made an effort to play up the fact that these characters were now in the present day. Its making a big deal about of being in the 80s. The 60s version just happened to be made in the 60s and didn't make a point of it.
In design, black and white tends to be timeless (think of how a little black dress has been a staple item for all time, or how many black and white home decor styles have come and gone). It’s easier to blend it in as a sort of ethereal fantasy. The 80s color palate is pretty specific to the 80s, and while it’s come back in and out of style the combo of EVERYTHING being those colors with the cheap video quality just pegs it for exactly when it is.
The balls on Al Lewis to show up to audition for his own re-casting. It's honestly inspirational.
They should have made a Grandpa Munster tv series instead
The people who cast the original show knocked it out of the park. The 80s series had dreadful casting by comparison.
They could have made a role for him as "Great-Grandpa Munster". Like how The New Addams Family made John Astin "Grandpapa Addams."
@@duckman2173 Grandpa Dracula, you mean. He was Lily's father, not Herman's.
I actually remember watching this live with my folks. My mom was disgusted by the makeup and crummy jokes. I can't wait for him to talk about Mockingbird Lane.
Can't believe the writers got paid for those scripts and lines I heard in this mess. Stealing show concepts from the original show is pure laziness.
Now that pilot was terrible! 😆
Recently watched a mini doc on Fred Gwynne, and aside from his obvious skills in acting, he was extremely talented in multiple areas; he could have easily become a success as a cartoonist (and already basically was one, with cartoons published nationally)... But more importantly, he was just as wholesome a person as the ones he portrayed on screen, which only helped his depiction of the characters shine that much more.
What a lovely comment
Fred was so great. Was the doc on YT?
I think when he excepted Herman, he wanted to translate that wholesomeness into the character and he definitely succeeded with that
I saw that documentary. Gwynne was such an interesting, talented, kind person.
I'm amazed there are so many OG Munsters clips that can perfectly critique the 80's version. But that's thanks to your always-improving editing skills.
I'm sure that's the case for basically anything. Joe is just that good at finding fitting clips and editing them accordingly.
If the Munsters had gotten a 90's New Addams Family style reboot by the same production company, I'd have been happy. That show always felt like it understood how to pay respects to the original while updating.
indeed, though it might have been kind of more difficult. They were satirizing things in very different ways. unlike the norm-defying Addamses freaking people out, the munsters WERE the normies, the squares, looking at everyone around them as weird and ugly but tolerating them anyway. The only way it could have worked is if they'd done a similar tone to the 90s Brady movies.
Well, there was a lot of love and passion behind that Addams Family series. Gomez's actor said it was his dream job and absolutely lived that dream when he got to work along side John Astin. This Herman did it for the paycheck. Big difference.
@@mightyfilm I assume our good Penguin was referring to the classic 90s movies, not the new addams family series (which WAS pretty watchable and did get to include John Astin)
@@KairuHakubi If he's talking about the movies, that's The Munster's problem right there. Those movies evolved the characters and elevated the already great source material. In an era where they made bad movies based on old sitcoms where the joke was "lookit how bad this thing was," The Addams Family took what was established by the television series, but made it its own thing. Didn't hurt things that said films lead to a cartoon series and eventually The New Addams Family. Not saying that The Munsters was stuck in it's 60's sitcom role, and it's not for the lack of trying, it just never had that big project that went from revival to cultural reestablishment of the franchise. It just never had that reinvention of itself the Addams' movies outside of Mockingbird Lane.
With THIS series the problem was they went about it as semi-parody. Almost a "Honey I'm Home" type concept. And it seems they were trying for a younger audience, so we're in the dreaded Kidcom/Tweencom market. Seems more like a Nickelodeon show in retrospect. I'd imagine if the Addams Family did the same exact Boomer Nostalgia Meta concept, that wouldn't have worked for it either. Supposedly there was a horrendous Addams Family variety show pitched in the 70's that was so bad it became lost media. I'd imagine that would have ruined that franchise before it even became one.
The New Addams Family was corny as hell, but still pretty alright given it was a Saban production. I never went out of my way to watch it, but if I saw it on I wouldn't immediately change the channel.
So hard to believe the original show only lasted two seasons
Not all. Plus, a film in 1966.
@@bobstevens457 that’s one of my favorite universal films of the 60s along with those Don Knotts comedies between 1966, and 1971 and the Doris day and rock Hudson comedies between 1959, 1964 and those two movies, Blake Edwards made for Universal international in the late 50s the perfect furlough 1958, and operation petticoat 1959
Yes, but they ended up with a total of 70 episodes in that two seasons which would be like a 1990s series that lasted 3 years (back then Network TV shows had about 22 episodes per season) so I look at it like it was on for 3 seasons. Plus there's MUNSTER, GO HOME!
10:29 I audibly yelled "No!" the moment the sentimental sitcom music started to play. The original Grandpa Munster would never get this sappy.
Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis are irreplaceable.
I agree. They made these characters work, and nobody came close to them since.
I mean they worked together before the munters on the show car 54 where are you? So they did have years of experience working together
@@Nick-ty9us they gone and done it indeed
I disagree on Al. Don't get me wrong. He was perfect as Grandpa but Robert Morse and Daniel Roebuck were great in the rolls because they delivered lines like him and did a good impression. Fred I definitely agree. Even the late great Edward Herman couldn't do it
@@andywinslow9638 I'll have to check the out.
Nothing against the actors, but man, they really look like they belong in a very crummy Munsters parody sketch.
For instance, the Addams Family 90's movie despite the actors having to work based on pre-existing roles, really nailed the part with their own takes on the characters. Their outfits and make up really made them look like an upgrade instead of a low budget Halloween costume.
The Addams Family reboot is trash, beloved ONLY by kids who grew up with that. Nothing beats the original TV cast. Gomez was funnier, Morticia was sexier and Uncle Fester was the best.
The Addams Family movies from the 90's where based more on the original source material by Charles Addams that was more darker than the 60's tv series While Munsters Today looked like a school play
Something interesting, Al Lewis continued to play the Grandpa character (without using the name Munster) as a horror host at the same time this show aired.
i love the playful passion, that dictates
Wow, were have all the years gone!!!
The orginal Monsters were on the air in 1964 that is only 24 years from 1988. This show was on 35 years ago
Why did the actor who played Herman choose to do Paul Lynde impression? Also, only Al Lewis can play grandpa. He set the tone and acting for that character perfectly.
I don't know if that was his intention, but John Schuck has often been more than a little camp.
John Schuck sounded like he was choking on something
This makes Rob zombie's look good. Some how this is worse than his Herman..that opening theme...yeesh.
Was just about to say that
No one is replacing Fred Gwynne in that role, and that's all there is to it. He was one of a kind.
Hard to imagine that in a few short years Jason Marsden would go from playing a werewolf on this show to hunting them on Eerie, Indiana.
So Extreme Ghostbusters wasn't the first time he hunted ghosts?
Holy shit, that's quite the character arc before Marsden voiced a cat and later on Max Goof, Chester from FOP and even Noel from Final Fantasy XIII-2.
Jason played the mysterious character named Dash in the later episodes of Eerie, Indiana. He was kind of a frienemy to the two leads.
@maximusprime3459 I see its just I never saw Eerie, Indiana back in the day
@@masterseal0418Wait really?!? He was Max from Goof Troop, Chester from the Fairly OddParents; and Noel from Fina Fantasy Xll-2? All those notable characters? I thought the guy's name sounded familiar; but I thought it was just because he had a familiar sounding name...
Every clip from this show feels like a weird Adult Swim parody that's about to turn sinister in the end except it's a real 80s sitcom with no point.
They used to show this on a Saturday afternoon in the UK. I enjoyed it, though it would never compare to the comedic genius of Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis in the original.
Munster, Go Home deserves its own episode.
It's strange that,at least over the last 35 years the Munsters never had a major movie released in theaters. It's like,studio executives seemed to thing they only work on television. Meanwhile,the Addams family has had several movies released to the big screen since 1991.
You could say that The Addams Family have had everything thrown at the wall; to try and make them more relevant, but The Munsters, have had basically nothing; for nearly 40 years; probably because of how amazing the original Munsters is. And sure; even though "The Munsters Today" ran further than the original series, it doesn't automatically make it BETTER than the original no matter how many things they may have tried in this version.
Rob Zombies version was going to be released in theaters but was so bad it went straight to video ( streaming).
This show and The Charmings (Snow White and her family in the 80s) live rent free in my brain
Lee Mariweather was Lily Munster… good casting choice
Meryl Streep wasn’t available
Ahh no!
I liked Mockingbird Lane.
One of the problems with the new Munsters show is they picked a short actor to play Herman. Even with the platform boots he was short.
The biggest problem is when the show came out Hollywood was obsessed with live audience shows. Which severely limited the show. The original series not being performed before a live audience could use multiple sets on different sound stages, outdoor scenes, and location shots.
I also enjoyed Mockingbird Lane and it has me oddly nervous about next year's video.
It's just really bad makeup.
Good point. Fred Gwynne was a really tall guy which made him look imposing, and ironically that was a contrast to his wholesome personality.
@@axelalvarado7031 and yet they still put platform boots on him. 6'6" plus 4" lifts = 6'10"
@@axelalvarado7031 Fred Gwynne was tall but skinny. They had to put a real heavy prosthetic suit which Fred suffered horribly. He had to drink pitchers of Lemonade.
Mockingbird lane could've been something. Can't wait to next Halloween for your retrospect on it. Eddie Izzard was perfect in it. One of my fav comedians ever!
Indeed. I was rooting for it for Eddie alone. The show was… a big swing.
John Schuck also played Frankenstein's monster in "The Night Dracula Saved The World 1979.
You got me googling "Al Lewis Urine Analysis" trying to find the context of that quote
I remember watching this show it aired Sat. afternoon along with Small Wonder & Out of this World (For a cheap syndicated tv show it wasn’t bad) it was very 80’s it was later moved to evenings on Sat. night (Looking back at it the biggest problem was it being in color if it was in b&w it would’ve actually looked better! The key of the 1980’s was pure excess (everyone in LA were doing massive amounts of Bolivian Marching powdered) everything was over saturated in that decade
Why can the munsters never catch a break? Just one good adaptation is all we're asking for
Exactly! They can't ever catch a break! They kept getting closer and closer, until rob zombie had to get his filthy hands on it, and this show probably wasn't THAT bad; but couldn't touch the original series, I mean; sure "The Addams Family" 90's movies weren't the best; but with the late, great Raul Julia as the dad; in both of those movies; makes them work, but they couldn't get any similar kind of magic working for The Munsters?
What were they smoking with ALL these reboots/remakes/spin-offs? They just didn't know when to stop. I mean; they really wanted to re-create the magic of the original Munsters, didn't they? But they clearly couldn't...how desperate were they to get a "hit"? Because it NEVER worked out once; and it's never GOING to work, with the way they're doing it, they're never going to re-create the magic of the original series, no matter how many times they try this; no matter how many times they try to recast the actor's, no matter how many times they try to find the magic, it's just NOT there! I mean; putting people like Rob Zombie on for the recent movie? That was a terrible idea just waiting to fail from the start, if his other projects weren't enough of a sign already, because Zombie can't make a good movie to save his life(in my opinion). But even though I didn't grow up with the original show, it looks pretty good in these black and white clips. And nothing's going to be able to replicate the original series; no matter what they do, but it doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to catch a break, right? How hard is it to get any adaptations of The Munsters right; even once? Sorry if I went on too long though...
@@shawnfields2369
Rob Zombie always cast his wife who can't act as well
The only remark of the Munsters that is good is Here Comes The Munsters (1995)
@@duckman2173 Well; if he loves his wife; that'd be fine; but really, shouldn't he be casting people who can you know...act?
@@duckman2173 You're(probably) right. Because I haven't ever seen The Munsters myself; I'll take your word.
Oh man, I've been waiting so long to see your take on Mockingbird Lane. I'm looking forward to next year! Excellent video as always.
So you heard of that one too?
God bless Forgotten Media for introducing me to that
Protip: Don't use a red border. The youtube 'already watched' bar is red. So if someone see the red bar at the bottom of the thumbnail, they may skip the video (as I did the first 3 times this popped up on my home page).
Thank you for your great work, friend! Forgotten Failures is brilliantly entertaining.
And this episode truly showed how great the original Munster’s were. That show is something that can never be replicated.
If they ever do a Munters reboot/remake/whatever it would be way better for it to be animated, but if they need to be it in live-action, they would have to make a chemistry test with all the actors.
And I would NEVER place it in modern times, if I was doing it, I would at least place it in a time without internet, so we can avoid Marilyn and Eddie's being the “cool kids” that makes the show dated very fast, it would be nice to explore the 60s again, and I would keep the show black and white.
Monster High shows that kids loves monsters, it's a fun concept to work with, and being animated helps too (plus getting people who sound like the original actors would neat too).
Just so food for thought.
The editing for this episode was stupendous, attaboy Hats Off Entertainment.
Original makeup was spot on and amazing. And everytime they do a new reboot it keeps getting worse and worse
That "she hasn't been new anywhere in years" line got me more than I expected 😂
I had no idea that this show existed. My first exposure to The Munsters was on Nick @ Nite back in the late 90s when they were playing the original show.
Oh wow. A Roseanne Barr fat joke, how original and tasteful.
I know Roseanne went crazy only recently but surely there was something else to make fun of her about.
Wow, you are bringing back memories for me. I remember this show from when I was a kid. I didn't like it then and it's even worse now. The 'Munsters Rap' scene made me cringe with embarrassment on behalf of the cast.
Excellent work on this video as always!
Fun video. There's no truth in the story that Al Lewis auditioned for Munsters Today - he was never even considered. I interviewed cast and crew about this and the rest of the show's development for an extended feature in the November 2023 of UK sci-fi/fantasy magazine SFX. Everyone was pretty candid and gave a lot of insight into the creative decisions behind the show and its compromises as a low-budget production. I hope Munster fans will seek it out.
Sounds like good trivia was provided.
I watched all the seasons. My Sunday morning schedule was Superboy, Munsters Today, etc.
I loved this show as a kid. I'll always have a soft spot for it.
Same. I see it's faults but I still find it funny
No al Lewis which is funny cause he reprised his role as a horror host presenting old monster movies on the wtbs superstation show "super scary saturday" 1987-1989. Ofcourse I'm on older side of early 40s. Look it up.
I thought I knew about all the different terrible versions of The Munsters but this one is completely new to me.
Fred Gwynne said it best, "Sometimes dead is better."
I know so forgettable
What was perfect about Fred Gwynne was he was believable as Frankenstein's monster. He towered over everyone. In this show, Herman and Grandpa were almost the same height. Herman Munster should be equal parts frightening and goofy. This guy is just goofy.
Yeah, and while I agree, it's a serious shame that Goofy was already taken and a household name before this though...
I was able to find the series on DVD being sold on eBay, and I actually liked it better than I had liked it when it was first run. I preferred Marilyn actually liking herself, and not going on about how unattractive she was, like in the original series. I also thought it was a good idea if Eddie was going to Junior high, dropping the velvet suit. Not a good series, but I still liked it. At a future time, you might consider doing a review of "Mini-Munsters" an Animated special, where Al Lewis provided the voice of Grand-pa.
Their apartment is totally stolen from Empty Nest. the 6 people who remember that show will probably agree.
I remember it!
That was a show that I only watched because my mom had it on. The "Joe Isuzu" guy was the neighbor.
THE problem with remakes you expect it to be exciting just like the original NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THAT'S WHY i never watch any type of remakes i always get disappointed 😞 cheers Stephen 🤠⭐👍🦅🍀
This was a regular Saturday afternoon syndicated watch for me as a kid along with Small Wonder, Charles in Charge, Out of This World, etc.
Reminded me a little of The New Monkees
Last year Peacock had the whole show in 1080p around this I am guessing for the Halloween season.
Well, probably a raw upscale from 480p or whatever it was shot in.
I think I only watched this at all because they wedged it in between 'Out of This World' and 'My Secret Identity'...and I thought 80's Marilyn Munster was kinda cute😅
I actually liked this crap when I was a little kid.
I just liked anything Munsters, I guess
As an ‘80’s kid, the time capsule catches me in its jaws once again. I watch these clips and am instantly transported back to then. Quite a time…
Bill & Ted Face the Music | Forgotten Failures lol
Despite being the target demographic, I never saw this. I did see the commercial, featuring the theme song, and it just didn’t work; it felt so try hard, not to mention the hokey 80s sitcom conventions they didn’t properly spoof but moreover relied upon. I’m surprised it lasted longer. That’s crazy.
Very excited to see Mockingbird Lane coming next year. That’s a show that didn’t get a proper chance and had so much potential. Hopefully I’m not the only one who thinks so.
The problem is obvious. Not only is it an 80's sitcom, it's an 80's low budget syndicated sitcom. Anyone remember "Out of this World?" I used to watch that one all the time and I still have trouble remembering it was real and not a weird recurring dream. I'd imagine if it had network backing there would have been a little more money and quality control over it, but I could also think it wouldn't have lasted a full season. I'd imagine that, being syndicated, they also had a quick turn around to get all the episodes out at once, leading to slipshod writing and an exhausted cast limbering through them. Anything else I can't say, since I saw these when I was really little and I do remember enjoying them, but not much else about them. I remember seeing an episode as part of a new digital over the air channel's start up programming, and thinking it was okay, but overall unmemorable. They went camping in that one, so maybe the episodes where they aren't mostly in the house set are rare.
Anyway, this at least looks a hell of a lot better than the weak animated series pilot. Yes. There was going to be a Munsters cartoon that focused on Eddie and his friends with Grampa and Herman just being there for maybe one or two lines of comic relief. Think an even worse Pebbles and Bamm Bamm. I think the pilot aired as part of one of those 70's Super Movie blocks (with other failed animated pilots), and I can't remember where I found it and if it's still available, but it was just dull and forgettable.
It's on TH-cam man. It's called the mini Munsters
Why did they try to recreate the bit where Herman Munster is changed into a regular person, Fred Gwynne looks dashing and John Schuck just looks like a guy, a large part of the humorous contrast is missing.
Can’t wait to see the Mockingbird Lane video. I watched the pilot the day it came out and loved it
Are people complain about networks remaking IPS from the 80s and 90ss, they forget that back in the 80s they did the same thing with the 50s and 60s IP's
Yeah but they didn't have streaming services back then. Choices were very limited. My point is that there are nearly more infinite choices today for making content. So if you have a huge world of possibilities and the only thing going for you is remaking or rebooting say, Night Court, the whole Disney canon, or Masters of the Universe, you have no excuse
And people complained about them back then, too, but they were nowhere near as frequent as they are today. And they didn't say, "Jed Clampett is now a black lesbian, and if you don't like it you're a racist".
Those of us who were there haven't forgotten!
This show was *HUGE* in Latin America, it was one of the first ones one could see on our "Saturdays Cartoon" hour version of the US one.
Jason Marsden has portrayed the voice of Robin Dick Grayson in many cartoons and video games.
He also famously portrayed the role of young Burt Ward in the TV movie Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt (TV Movie 2003)
Every time I hear his voice, be it in anything from his various voices in Skyrim to a single episode of Myster Inc., I will always only think one thing: Oh hey! It's Max Goof!
He’s a well known voice actor
Gilbert Gottfried had a podcast?
For many years, right up until he died. He had an episode with the guy that directed the live-action Flintstones movie. That guy said he had a deal all lined up to do his own remake, but it got cancelled at the last minute by one of the recent ones. (Either that Mockingbird Lane or the Rob Zombie one, I don't remember which.)
I watched the original on Nick at Nite. That had so many 50s 60s reruns that didnt exist anywhere else at the time.
I loved watching the original Munsters in syndication and have vague memories of watching this reboot as a kid. Having seen clips of the reboot over the years... yeesh, some things are better left forgotten.
Howard Morton captures Al Lewis so well I still find myself smiling whenever Grandpa is on screen, his face and voice are so close, even Daniel Robuck in the Rob Zombie movie, there's some kind of magic the right nose and voice has that makes it easy to forget it isn't Al Lewis, Herman on the other hand seems impossible to get spot on, Edward Herman in 'here come the munsters' is the only man who comes close to making you forgot about Fred Gwynne and just see 'Herman', and in an entirely different category Jeff Daniel Phillips from the Rob Zombie movie nearly reinvents the character in his efforts to be as little like Fred Gwynne as possible and represent the Herman psyche as a bumbling goofball, it was the only route to take knowing he could never replicate Fred's voice or stature, his well spoken voice combined with preposterous screaming and abrupt reference pulls fully won me over, just so awkward I couldn't help but love what he was doing
I feel like this ran for years on UK TV. Like, way into the late 90s on repeats. We had a few channels that'd pack out the schedules with random American sitcom repeats though.
In theory this show is less ill-conceived than "The New Monkees"🤣
I watched pet semetary recently and i was like!!! Thats Herman!
Mockingbird Lane video next year? That was an interesting attempt at rebooting the show with a darker tone.
Billy Barty: "I can't get you Mel Gibson, but I CAN get you Jackie Mason!" 14:58
Wow, I just found the accidentally funniest joke on the show. He can't get Marilyn an actor who was later confirmed as a raging anti-semite, so he'll instead get her one of the most profoundly Jewish comedians of all time.
Haha I was in 2 episodes of this show as one of Eddie's classmates - 'Silver Bullet' and 'The Eyes Have It'. Basically because my cousin was the casting director. lol. Have to say, it was a fun experience.
What gave John Shuck the idea to make Herman Munster sound like Charles Nelson Reilly?
I think that they should either retire the Munsters IP or just make something completely new with a different premise.
Its like you said the originals charm was because of the actors who portrayed them and the time it was made.
Any remake or show attempt is never gonna live up to its predecessor so might as well just scrap it and do something different but with its own new charm.
Fat chance that will happen though xD
Same with the Addamses.
@eatatjoes6751 humm 🤔
The Addams have gotten some pretty good actors and sequels to it.
Maybe its just the casting choices and the script?
The last movie that came out with the Munsters was just good awful.
Guess well see if they get another movie after that
They touched on Mockingbird Lane at the end. Not sure why the network didn't pick it up. It had alot of partial. The major problem i saw with it is that they did exactly what the original series avoided. It was an actual horror show, albeit tonight in cheek. They implied killing people on this version of the Munsters. That nixes the show for kids viewing. And might raise some eyebrows from network censors. Although the characters were very different from the Munsters of the 60's, they felt very real and the relationship was nuanced and complicated. Eddie was going through puberty while also becoming a werewolf. One line in the show that stood out was Eddie was hugging on the roof because he was upset. Herman very sweetly climbed up to have a chat with his son. Eddie said that he wanted to be a vegetarian. "So you can be a vegetarian" responded his father. "But i can't be a vegetarian and a werewolf" responded the confused teenager. "So you can be a vegetarian when you're not a werewolf" responded his dad. My favorite line in the show, far and away.
interesting there wasn't a 90s Munsters movie, done by barry Sonnenfeld or Tim Burton for that matter. plus, what would a 90's movie version of I dream of Jeanie been like
The guy playing Herman sounds more Rip Taylor than Fred Gwyenne
This was my first introduction to The Munsters as a youngster. Thankfully the original series later got reissued on TV and I much preferred that.
The series needs to get into the hands of someone who cares for a proper reboot. Not Rob Zombie. Not the Mockingbird Lane people, who were making a Castlevania TV series with a different brand name glued on. Someone who cares. And maybe get rid of the green skin makeup, since it wasn't supposed to be green- the filming makeup was due to how black & white TV filming worked, but it wasn't supposed to be canon.
The same for Addams Family. I never cared for Wednesday being an unhinged psychopath, either, it went against the good nature the family had overall in the 60s. Some defend it with "the original newspaper strips" but those were so underdeveloped the TV show had to fabricate much of its canon(no one even had NAMES at the time!). At least that had the 90s cartoon with John Astin though. It could use a proper return. Maybe bring both back in a shared universe.
Can’t believe this lasted three seasons
I really wish shows like this would get dumped on any of the streaming services we have available. I'd love to go back and watch this or "The New Addams Family" .... which I actually have been watching here on TH-cam.
this show munsters was funny. Can you imagine if we can another show with this family and Herman was being played by Patrick warburton or Herman was being played by will Ferrell And Lily could be played by mila kunis or Lily can you play Be Emma Stone? And grandpa munster could be played by Tom Hanks or Martin short And Maryland could be played by Rowan Blanchard
I remember watching this every Sunday morning on wworn/channel 9
along with My secret identity, steampipe alley, they came from outter space....
I actually enjoyed this as a kid. Shows how much attention I paid to TV.
I think Grandpa was really good in this, though. The better character in this show.
Don't know how true it is but supposedly after this remake was cancelled the plan was to include it alongside the original Munster's syndication package.
This show was part of the trend during the 80's to take hit shows from the 60's and reboot them. The Munsters, Star Trek, The Monkees, Lucy, and I think there was even an attempt to reboot I Dream of Jeannie. They were all pretty awful. Even the first season of Star Trek the Next Generation was so poorly received, it nearly torpedoed the whole franchise.
It’s weird that sing the clips of 80s Eddie Munster and Marilyn look like they’re trying to give Bud and Kelly Bundy from married with children
Good lord, John Schuck looked horrible as Herman. His facial structure with that makeup made him look legit terrifying.
Gwynne , a fine actor and is big enough to play Frankenstein and Yvonne is a 100% movie star and then there's Al...
The actors in the new Munsters can't compete with them.
The complete series of The Munsters Today was on Hulu for the longest time. So sad they removed it ☹
_The Munsters Today_ wasn't a failure; in fact, it has more episodes than the original.
Looked forward to this every Friday whilst being in Kindergarten.
How could the original cast (the adults anyway) look too old in 1988, when they were made to look old with makeup in the original series? They look fine to me in the brief clips here.
Was this really a failure? It ran for 3 seasons. This was my introduction to the Munsters then I got into the original series. This used to air on my local Fox station paired with the forgotten Harry & the Hendersons series, Out of This World, and Mt Secret Identity.
Lee Meriwether was also on Barnaby Jones
That’s f up the original Munster grandpa couldn’t even get cast for his role Lmao 🤣 Ernie Hudson also lost on being cast as Winston Zeddemore to Arsenio Hall for the cartoon series The Real Ghostbusters 😢
Anything other than film doesn't make the characters look good, see also Rob Zombie's The Munsters shot on digital.
I couldn't ever bring myself to watch this show after seeing the intro. I'm kind of surprised how much the new Herman actually does seem like a decent recast but he is utterly let down by the makeup and the incessantly bad singing.
I had to look up who played Grandpa and why his voice seemed so familiar. Howard Morton played the dumb cop on Gimme a Break.
I never even heard of this version.
Yeah but it is surprising that monsters today didn't even get shown on one of the free streaming services like tubi. Since tubi does have a lot of similar B movie quality material.
I remember watching this when it originally aired, and I liked it at the time. Looking at it now, it does look inferior to the original series. Ironically, this series got one more season than the original series (the original was 2 seasons, Today lasted 3 seasons - I don't know if calling it a failure is accurate, since it was on for 3 seasons).