the addams or the munsters - The Addams Family (1964) Discussion

[–] Storm23S 16 years ago

Addam's family definitely! I was never really a fan of the Munsters to be honest, although I did enjoy a few episodes

"Why... so... serious?"

reply

[–] master_of_all 16 years ago

Munsters is still funny
Addams famuily has dated, so it's the Munsters every time.

Elvira mistress of the dark is the coolest woman ever.

reply

[–] tracyfigueira 15 years ago

I like The Addams Family, but I was always a bigger fan of the Munsters. The Munsters were a little easier for the average person to identify with: they were working class, the father had to work for a living, they lived in a delapidated house, Eddie was a normal kid, and Marilyn was the one who seemed out of place (like Becky on the early "Roseanne" episodes), Grandpa was an old New York Jewish leftist who liked cheap cigars. The Addams Family were more like an eccentric Old Money family that was beginning to show the effects of inbreeding, they were like something out of a Bunuel movie.

reply

[–] hillbrian2005 15 years ago

Morticia and Lily could possibly be friends, but I really doubt that Herman and Gomez could even get along well. They were totally different people.

reply

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] toking65000 15 years ago

Yeah I've always thought that Grandpa and Gomez might get along well, they are quite similar in their old world ways and love for cigars.

I always wanted to see a crossover between I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched too!

HANG UP AND DRIVE!!!

reply

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] toking65000 15 years ago

As I've said, I think Samantha and Jeannie would get along GREAT, but I think there would be some conflict between Jeannie and Endora. I think Endora would try to screw with Major Nelson for some WHATEVER reason, then Jeannie would jump to his defense and battle Endora.

HANG UP AND DRIVE!!!

reply

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] roysfire 8 years ago

I think both shows reflected the people behind the scenes. Addams Family was written by Marx brothers movie writers, and you can see a lot of Groucho in John astins Gomez. The Munsters was from the Leave it to Beaver folks, and was basicly a parody of sitcom tropes.

reply

[–] Trioxin_Zombie 15 years ago

The Munsters!.

"You idiots have just loaded up a haired-triggered double barreled sh!t machine gun!."

reply

[–] onwardsandupwards 15 years ago

Hey there folks!,

Thought I'd add my thoughts into the mix.

I happen to be a fan of both "The Addams Family" & "The Munsters". For decades, the debate has gone on with regards to which show was better. Not surprising since both programs began and finished at virtually the same time (1964-1966). Both shows were shot in black and white and both followed similar premises.

The difference lay within the writing. "The Addams Family" placed a strong focus on wit whereas "The Munsters" was more broad with it's approach to comedy. Ultimately it comes down to what style of humour you prefer.

Both series were fortunate to have had talented cast ensembles. "The Addams Family" had John Astin, Carolyn Jones & Jackie Coogan leading the charge and "The Munsters" had Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo & Al Lewis representating the Mockingbird Lane gang.

For me, I enjoyed both shows enormously for different reasons. I love the panache of "The Addams Family" but I also love the slapstick sheningans of "The Munsters"........

In short, I like both programs as they each hold a special place in my heart. I can't pick one over the other. Sorry if that makes me a fence sitter. If that's the case, so be it!..... :)

Those are my thoughts anyway folks!.

reply

[–] toking65000 15 years ago

Yeah I like both too, but I think I like the Addams' Family a little better, just the clever ways they deliver their lines is SO FUNNY!

HANG UP AND DRIVE!!!

reply

[–] Scott351w2001 14 years ago

Check out my post "Here's why The Munsters was a better show than the Addams Family" on the Munsters Message Board

reply

[–] toking65000 14 years ago

The Munsters was more silly humore, I found the Addams' more intellectual in a way.

The past doesn't exist and the future is only an illusion.

reply

[–] 2butch 14 years ago

I like both, but Addams family was the better show. The Munsters had the better car.

reply

[–] beatlepat 8 years ago

Car(s)! The Munster's Koach and Grampa's Dragula. I have scale models of both. And I got to see the real cars when I was a kid.

reply

[–] PretoriaDZ 14 years ago

The Addams Family was more esoteric and were amusing, upperclass gothic, but the Munsters, blue-collar ghouls, made me laugh more and I think I'd choose the Munsters to live with because they seemed warmer and I'd like to get together with Grandpa in his lab. There are a few exeriments I'd like to see him try (like the water into oil bit).

reply

[–] rocketXpert 14 years ago

As a kid, I found The Munsters easier for my mind to grasp. At least they were proper monsters, whereas I didn't know what the heck the Addamses were supposed to be. I still don't. They're not really monsters, but they're not exactly normal human beings either. They don't make much sense outside the context of a single panel cartoon. To be fair, I never understood how the Munsters could be so dense that they never figured out that people were frightened of them.

It's a bit hard for me to be objective about which is the better show, however. While they're both enjoyable, The Munsters is the one I grew up with, so I have more of a sentimental attachment.

reply

[–] Hairspraydude 14 years ago

I've always enjoyed both. I grew up watching them on television. However, I think I enjoy THE ADDAMS FAMILY a little more.

reply

[–] Louisifer 13 years ago

I like both, but I find The Munsters theme song a bit more catchy for some reason.

Try not to take life too seriously, no one gets out alive.

reply

[–] Al_and_Smithy 10 years ago

You pretty much summed up my feelings. I was also a kid when these shows were on, and the slapstick type stuff was more appealing. I was a car guy even at that age, and it's tough to beat the drag racing episode.

reply

[–] GoUSN 13 years ago

Munsters. It was played entirely as farce, and watching Herman, Lily, and Grandpa ham it up distinguishes it from Addams Family.

"But I'm a Democrat. What has happened to my Party?"

reply

[–] shempXIV 12 years ago

Both were/are great, BUT ONE CRUCIAL DIFFERENCE:

The Addams' knew they were a little "weird" but the Munsters thought they were NORMAL...hence their "problems" dealing with the world & vice verse~! So the Munsters "represent" every misfit from the mid-1960s onward...

reply

[–] Darwinskid 11 years ago

Both were/are great, BUT ONE CRUCIAL DIFFERENCE:

The Addams' knew they were a little "weird" but the Munsters thought they were NORMAL...hence their "problems" dealing with the world & vice verse~! So the Munsters "represent" every misfit from the mid-1960s onward...

Right, this is why I always get a bigger laugh out of The Munsters than I do with The Addams Family.

Spider-Man 3. The Dark Knight Rises. Really, what's the difference?

reply

[–] cwoliver-1 11 years ago

I see it somewhat like you do. It seems to me that;
- the Munsters saw themselves to be like the world - normal. They were normal just like everyone else.

- the Addams family saw themselves to be UNLIKE the world - normal. They were normal while nearly everyone else in the world was abnormal.

The one exception to this is Marilyn. The Munsters all thought she had trouble in the world because she wasn't normal (eg that's why all of the boys RAN back to their cars when dropping her off). She wasn't "normal" like them (Munsters) and everyone else as she'd been cursed with being ugly.

I liked the Addams Family better primarily because of the way Gwynne played Herman. If he hadn't been such a weenie I think I'd liked it better - and I love Gwynne. But Astin's portrayal Gomez was wonderful.

Another thing that I didn't like about the Munsters is that in the intro each week they teased us with it, but they never did show us, that damned dragon. Oh, they'd talk about Spot, but we never got to see more than a bit of fire, smoke, and his tail! That is a definite thumbs down.

They were entertaining programs and I watched both, but for me it was the Addams.

reply

[–] rockmail 11 years ago

You are correct. Their writing is more sophisticated, the characters richer in depth and personality, and the production was slightly higher level.

The Munsters was basically "Leave it to Beaver" (same producers even) for a frankly lower intellect working class audience. It has it's own charm and humor, but it is definitely lower class/quality.

reply