The Great Debate: The Addams Family vs The Munsters

[Amasov]

I'm curious which of the two gothic sitcoms you prefer.

I, myself, have to pledge allegiance to The Munsters. Herman is such a clumsy, but lovable buffoon. I love the schemes cooked up between him and Grandpa -- and most of all, the childish insults the two throw back at each other. Like this one below.

"The mail addressed in this goes to Mister HERMAN MUNSTER. All the mail that you get says CARE of Herman Munster. Hmph!"

"Are you calling me a freeloader?"

"No. I'm calling you a bum!"

"Call me a bum?! I'll throw you down and walk all over you!"

"You do and I'll get you for trespassing!"

Wish I could explain why, but it just made me laugh so hard, especially the part when Herman called Grandpa a bum. He said like such a spoiled little child who didn't get what he wanted.

Out of the two, which do you prefer?

 

[SchwEnt]

The Addams Family.

Despite the outward monster-family similarities, the two shows featured different styles of humor. I prefer The Addams Family style.

 

[Saga]

i love both shows but if forced to choose i'd go with the Munsters.

 

[Cicero]

I can't fully separate the Addams Family films from the TV series in my mind, so I'll have to choose The Addams Family.

 

[Amaris]

Ooh, tough choice.

I love both shows, and for different reasons, but if I had to choose, I'd choose The Addams Family over The Munsters, just by a bit. While I love The Munsters brand of goofy pratfall comedy (and Herman in golf clothes ), The Addams Family had a more slicker, wittier humor that just really appealed to me.

 

[Amasov]

Ooh, tough choice.

I love both shows, and for different reasons, but if I had to choose, I'd choose The Addams Family over The Munsters, just by a bit. While I love The Munsters brand of goofy pratfall comedy (and Herman in golf clothes ), The Addams Family had a more slicker, wittier humor that just really appealed to me.

I think I remember the golf episode. Didn't Herman do tons of damage to the green everytime he swung the club?

 

[JohnChod]

It is tough to decide because, as previously noted, the tone of the humor is far different in the shows.

I enjoy them both but find the wackiness of The Munsters makes that show far more re-watchable.

 

[Lonemagpie]

They're two completely opposite tones, of course - one a family of monsters trying to live a normal sitcom life, and the other a family of humans trying to be as unnatural as possible - and they're both pretty good.

Having said that, I much prefer The Munsters as a sitcom, because it both fits with and subverts the genre so well. The Addams Family works better as one-offs and vignettes, either in the form of Charles Addams' cartoons, or as single movies.

 

[Admiral2]

The Addams Family had Carolyn Jones in skin-tight black. End of debate.

 

[I Grok Spock]

As a kid, it was The Munsters. As an adult, I appreciate The Addams Family much more. In general, I love those genre/wacky-concept sitcoms of the 60s.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The Addams family was far far better.

But still, I'm curious what Bryan Fuller might do with The Munsters (assuming that project survives the development process).

 

[Lonemagpie]

The Addams Family had Carolyn Jones in skin-tight black. End of debate.

Lily is hotter Though that's also one downside to any franchises - Addams are adaptations from the cartoons, so recasting isn't so problematic if you can get the tone right. Munsters, OTOH, depends so heavily on the skills of Fred Gwynne, Yvonne DiCarlo and Al Lewis, that it just doesn't work without them, so it only works in that incarnation.

 

[Christopher]

The Addams Family had Carolyn Jones in skin-tight black. End of debate.

You win the thread.

I love The Addams Family and could never get into The Munsters. The latter seemed more self-conscious to me somehow. As Lonemagpie says, they were monsters trying to be normal. I prefer the Addamses' gleeful nonconformity. They're all just so happy with who they are even though they're outcasts by normal society's standards. To me growing up, as something of a social outcast myself, that was a very attractive idea.

And of course John Astin and Carolyn Jones were utterly charming. Great fun to watch individually, and Gomez and Morticia had such a warm, loving, and passionate relationship. Gwynne and DeCarlo just never held my interest to the same degree.

 

[Admiral2]

The Addams Family had Carolyn Jones in skin-tight black. End of debate.

Lily is hotter

Out of the make-up maybe, but the Lilith, Daughter of Dracula costume detracts from Yvonne DeCarlo's real beauty in my opinion, whereas Carolyn Jones was smokin' hot in and out of costume.

Though that's also one downside to any franchises - Addams are adaptations from the cartoons, so recasting isn't so problematic if you can get the tone right. Munsters, OTOH, depends so heavily on the skills of Fred Gwynne, Yvonne DiCarlo and Al Lewis, that it just doesn't work without them, so it only works in that incarnation.

Absolutely true. I thought the casts of the Addams Family movies did a fantastic job in the roles. OTOH, there was a syndicated Munsters remake - The Munsters Today - that just reeked.

I'll say this for the original Munsters: The theme song and the tricked-out Munster-mobiles ruled.

The Addams Family had Carolyn Jones in skin-tight black. End of debate.

You win the thread.

I love The Addams Family and could never get into The Munsters. The latter seemed more self-conscious to me somehow. As Lonemagpie says, they were monsters trying to be normal. I prefer the Addamses' gleeful nonconformity. They're all just so happy with who they are even though they're outcasts by normal society's standards. To me growing up, as something of a social outcast myself, that was a very attractive idea.

I've heard that the whole idea behind the Munsters was that it was supposed to be social commentary, in that these strange people move into a nice normal neighborhood and try to fit in, but are generally only tolerated by their neighbors, so you're definitely right about the self-conscious part of it. It's got to be that "trying to fit in" part that turns you off.

I'm not saying I hate the Munsters. I liked both shows, but contrasting and comparing I have to give the Addamses the clear lead.

And of course John Astin and Carolyn Jones were utterly charming. Great fun to watch individually, and Gomez and Morticia had such a warm, loving, and passionate relationship. Gwynne and DeCarlo just never held my interest to the same degree.

Actually, the real chemistry of the Munsters isn't really between Herman and Lily. It's between Herman and Grandpa. What you have is these two ridiculous roles played by two excellent comedic actors - Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis - and they just drive the show. Because of what they get into, Lily actually takes on the mother role with both of them more than loving wife and daughter. It kind of drives away any hint of romance.

Of course, Morticia would never take the mother role with Gomez. She looks like she's having to much fun being his lover.

 

[Lonemagpie]

OTOH, there was a syndicated Munsters remake - The Munsters Today - that just reeked.

Yep. John Schuck makes a great Klingon ambassador, but was *not* Herman Munster!

Actually, the real chemistry of the Munsters isn't really between Herman and Lily. It's between Herman and Grandpa. What you have is these two ridiculous roles played by two excellent comedic actors - Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis - and they just drive the show.

Exactly - it's the new (and far superior, IMO) show from the boys behind Car 54 Where Are You, and it works fantastically!

(In this respect, it's kind of like Bottom is to The Young Ones)

 

[Amasov]

I did love The Addams Family movie from 1991. Raul Julia as Gomez was brilliant!

 

[1001001]

The Addams Family was, IMHO, far superior. I loved it as a kid, especially Lurch and Thing.

And the snapping...

 

[Admiral2]

If there were a poll, the Addamses would be owning it...

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

The Addams Family, easily. But I'm kind of interested in the Munsters remake Bryan Fuller's putting together.

 

[Davros]

Addams Family is the better show and has more interesting characters, but the Munsters have the better theme music.