The Munsters Today

The Munsters Today is an American sitcom and a revival of the original 1964–66 sitcom The Munsters that aired in syndication from October 8, 1988 to May 25, 1991.[2][3]

The Munsters Today
GenreSitcom
Directed byNorman Abbott
Bob Claver
Bonnie Franklin[1]
Peter Isacksen
Marlene Laird
Lee Lochhead
Russ Petranto
Scott Redman
Doug Rogers
StarringJohn Schuck
Lee Meriwether
Howard Morton
Jason Marsden
Hilary Van Dyke
Theme music composerJack Marshall
ComposersBill Fulton
Larry Groupé
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes73 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersArthur L. Annecharico
Bryan Joseph
Lloyd J. Schwartz
ProducerBryan Joseph
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companiesThe Arthur Company
MCA TV
DistributorMCA TV
(1988-1991)
NBCUniversal Television Distribution
Release
Original networkSyndication
Original releaseOctober 8, 1988 (1988-10-08) 
May 25, 1991 (1991-05-25)
Chronology
Preceded byThe Munsters

Plot

The series concerns the day-to-day life of a family of benign monsters, with married couple Herman Munster and vampire Lily Munster. Lily's Father Grandpa, who is also a vampire, lives with the family. Herman and Lily have a son named Eddie, who is a werewolf, and their niece, Marilyn, whom the family deems as strange, but is the only “normal” member of the family, also lives with them.

This sequel series starts with Grandpa creates "Sleeping Chambers," coffins which make the user fall asleep for a selected amount of time, and insists the entire family try them out. After Grandpa sets the dial for 30 minutes and shuts the door, a flash of light and a falling beam change the dial to "Forever." 22 years later, a man named Mr. Prescott and his assistant explore the Munsters' house with plans to turn it into a parking lot when they unknowingly awaken the Munsters from their Sleeping Chambers. Finding themselves in the 1980s, the Munsters work to adjust themselves to the current time period.

Cast

Main cast

The cast of "The Munsters Today."

Recurring cast

Special guest stars

Production

Development

This color revival of The Munsters starred John Schuck (Herman), Lee Meriwether (Lily), Howard Morton (Grandpa), Hilary Van Dyke (Marilyn) and Jason Marsden (Eddie), and broadcast 73 episodes from October 8, 1988, to May 25, 1991, giving it more first-run episodes than the original series. The pilot explained the 22-year gap following the original series by showing the family as they were in 1966. They were testing out a machine that Grandpa had created. The machine allows someone to sleep for ages without aging. But then an accident took place; the family then proceeds to sleep for years, only to wake up in 1988.[4]

It was created following a failed attempt to revive the show with most of the original cast (Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis and Yvonne De Carlo) in the 1981 NBC telefilm The Munsters' Revenge.

Episodes

Pilot

TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
"Still the Munsters After All These Years"John RobinsLloyd J. SchwartzUnaired
Series pilot: Grandpa creates "Sleeping Chambers," coffins which make the user fall asleep for a selected amount of time, and insists the entire family try them out. After Grandpa sets the dial for 30 minutes and shuts the door, a flash of light and a falling beam change the dial to "Forever." Twenty-two years later, a developer named Mr. Preston (Dave Madden) and his assistant want to buy the Munsters' home and turn it into a parking lot. While Mr. Preston and his assistant are exploring the house, down in Grandpa's lab, the assistant gets tangled in spider webs and knocks the dial to "off." The Munster family awakens to the world of 1988 and have to figure out a way to buy back their own house which is being foreclosed upon due to 22 years of missed taxed payments and fines.

Season 1 (1988–89)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Vampire Pie"Norman AbbottBarbara BerkowitzOctober 8, 1988 (1988-10-08)
Herman decides to enter a baking contest, using an old family recipe. Too bad there was an ingredient Grandpa forgot...
22"A Little Russian Dressing"Dick HarwoodHope Juber & Lloyd J. SchwartzOctober 15, 1988 (1988-10-15)
33"Flyweight Champion of the World"Bob ClaverBryan JosephOctober 22, 1988 (1988-10-22)
After being bullied, Grandpa mixes Eddie a strong-man formula that inflates Eddie's ego as well as his muscles.
44"Magna Cum Munsters"Bob ClaverAnn Gibbs & Joel KimmelOctober 29, 1988 (1988-10-29)
After feeling useless for not being asked questions in his home, Herman takes night school, which leads him to the fourth grade: in Eddie's class.
55"Designing Munsters"Peter IsacksenBill Rosenthal & Noah TaftNovember 5, 1988 (1988-11-05)
66"Farewell, Grandpa"Peter IsacksenElroy SchwartzNovember 12, 1988 (1988-11-12)
Grandpa is in big trouble when the family finds out he forgot to get a green-card when he came to the country. After Herman breaks him out, only an invisibility potion can save them.
77"Corporate Munsters"Bonnie FranklinBill Rosenthal & Noah TaftNovember 19, 1988 (1988-11-19)
Stock that Herman bought many years ago has accumulated so much that he holds a position in the business. However, he debates keeping the job when it conflicts with Eddie and Father/Son Day.
88"Herman the Astronaut"Doug RogersDanny MorrisNovember 26, 1988 (1988-11-26)
99"Rock Fever"Peter IsacksenTed Bergman & Kathy JosephDecember 3, 1988 (1988-12-03)
1010"Professor Grandpa"Lee LochheadWilliam CyrDecember 10, 1988 (1988-12-10)
1111"Say Ah!"Doug RogersBryan JosephDecember 17, 1988 (1988-12-17)
1212"A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Cereal"Peter IsacksenSteven Baum & Neil Alan LevyDecember 28, 1988 (1988-12-28)
After saving a kid, Herman becomes a hero. When a cereal company offers him a deal, he accepts. But once he finds out the cereal is a flop, will he keep on endorsing it?
1313"Computer Mating"Lee LochheadHope Juber & Kim MortensenFebruary 4, 1989 (1989-02-04)
Grandpa gets a new girlfriend after feeling lonely. But after finding out his girlfriend has buried a large amount of husbands, Herman and Lily fear for Grandpa's life.
1414"McMunsters"Doug RogersPatty Gordon & Joy GrdnicFebruary 11, 1989 (1989-02-11)
1515"One Flu Over the Munsters' Nest"Lee LochheadAnn GibbsFebruary 18, 1989 (1989-02-18)
1616"Green Eyed Munsters"Peter IsacksenBill Rosenthal & Noah TaftFebruary 25, 1989 (1989-02-25)
Herman gets jealous when Lily's teacher takes up too much of her time. Will he win her back?
1717"The Not So Great Escape"Bob ClaverMichael DavidoffMarch 4, 1989 (1989-03-04)
1818"Two Left Feet"Peter IsacksenAnn Gibbs & Joel KimmelMarch 1989 (1989-03)
1919"Lights, Camera, Munsters"Peter IsacksenAdele Styler & Burt StylerApril 29, 1989 (1989-04-29)
Marilyn gets to make a movie for a project, while the family debates what type of film she should do. Meanwhile, Eddie is doing poor in school, causing panic for the teacher when it turns out that a parent-teacher conference is in order.
2020"Neighborly Munsters"Norman AbbottBill Rosenthal & Noah TaftMay 6, 1989 (1989-05-06)
With new neighbors next door, everyone tries to make a good impression, while the wife tries to do everything to get a fancy pool in her yard (which would dig into the Munsters') except talk with them.
2121"Munster Hoopsters"Lee LochheadMarc BrownMay 13, 1989 (1989-05-13)
Eddie wants to take up basketball, so that Herman can brag about him. There's only one problem: he cannot sink a shot!
2222"Don't Cry Wolfman"Peter IsacksenLloyd J. SchwartzMay 20, 1989 (1989-05-20)
When two burglars hid the fortune in the Munster house, they were asleep. Now that they are awake, they devise a plan: one would pretend to be one of them. Unfortunately, he comes to like the Munsters' ways and even saves them. In the end, the "wolfman" burglar and the Munsters all vote to return the money.
2323"The Howling"Peter IsacksenBob Hilgenberg & Billy RibackMay 27, 1989 (1989-05-27)
2424"Eau de Munster"Peter IsacksenBryan JosephJune 3, 1989 (1989-06-03)
When the town wants to demolish Munster Moore for a museum, Herman tries to put a stop to it. There's only one problem: Grandpa accidentally got him with a love potion, which takes effect on the woman running the idea.

Season 2 (1989–90)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
251"Threehundredsomething"Bonnie FranklinBill Rosenthal & Noah TaftOctober 7, 1989 (1989-10-07)
262"There's No Place Like Home"Lee LochheadLeslie Eberhard & Barbara HobartOctober 14, 1989 (1989-10-14)
273"Raging Hormones"Scott RedmanJeffrey J. SachsOctober 21, 1989 (1989-10-21)
284"Murder in Munsterland"Bob ClaverRon Jarvis & Philip A. ScorzaOctober 28, 1989 (1989-10-28)
295"The Trial"Bonnie FranklinJanice Pieroni & Bruce TeicherNovember 4, 1989 (1989-11-04)
306"It's a Wonderful Afterlife"Bruce BilsonMichael DavidoffNovember 11, 1989 (1989-11-11)
317"The Eyes Have It"Scott RedmanMark CassuttNovember 18, 1989 (1989-11-18)
328"It's a Sad, Sad World"Bonnie FranklinBryan JosephNovember 25, 1989 (1989-11-25)
339"The Melting Pot"Bonnie FranklinAndrew BorakoveDecember 1989 (1989-12)
3410"Once in a Blue Moon"Bonnie FranklinBill Rosenthal & Noah TaftDecember 9, 1989 (1989-12-09)
3511"Drac the Ripper"Peter IsacksenRobert SchechterDecember 16, 1989 (1989-12-16)
3612"Gateman and Son"Bonnie FranklinBryan JosephJanuary 27, 1990 (1990-01-27)
3713"Reunion"Scott RedmanLisa DeBenedictis & Daryl Rowland (s)
Leslie Eberhard & Barbara Hobart (t)
February 3, 1990 (1990-02-03)
3814"Pants on Fire"Peter IsacksenAndrew BorakoveFebruary 10, 1990 (1990-02-10)
3915"Munstergeist"Lee LochheadBill Rosenthal & Noah TaftFebruary 17, 1990 (1990-02-17)
4016"Never Say Die"Bonnie FranklinMichael DavidoffFebruary 24, 1990 (1990-02-24)
4117"It's a Baby"Scott RedmanDavid Carren & J. Larry Carroll (s)
Scott Redman (t)
March 1990 (1990-03)
4218"Tell 'Em Herman Sent You"Bonnie FranklinPaul LanderApril 28, 1990 (1990-04-28)
4319"Thicker Than Water"Lee LochheadAndrew Borakove & Michael DavidoffMay 5, 1990 (1990-05-05)
4420"Misadventures in Time"Bonnie FranklinCarol Hatfield Sarasohn & Lane SarasohnMay 12, 1990 (1990-05-12)
4521"Will the Real Herman Munster Please Stand Up?"Bonnie FranklinDonna Blinder & Laura Glendinning (s)
Bill Rosenthal & Noah Taft (t)
May 19, 1990 (1990-05-19)
4622"Deadlock"Lee LochheadJanice Pieroni & Bruce TeicherMay 26, 1990 (1990-05-26)
4723"Take This Job and Shovel It"Lee LochheadRobert SchechterJune 2, 1990 (1990-06-02)
4824"That's Gratitude"Bonnie FranklinMichael DavidoffJune 9, 1990 (1990-06-09)

Season 3 (1990–91)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
491"The Silver Bullet"Russ PetrantoAndrew BorakoveOctober 6, 1990 (1990-10-06)
502"The Reel Munsters"Russ PetrantoAlan MoskowitzOctober 13, 1990 (1990-10-13)
513"Wishing You Were Here"Russ PetrantoRobert SchechterOctober 20, 1990 (1990-10-20)
524"Three Munsters and a Baby"Russ PetrantoMichael Lyons & Kimberley WellsOctober 27, 1990 (1990-10-27)
535"It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To"Russ PetrantoMark MillerNovember 3, 1990 (1990-11-03)
546"Makin' Waves"Russ PetrantoAndrew BorakoveNovember 10, 1990 (1990-11-10)
557"Just Another Pretty Face"Russ PetrantoHoward Friedlander & Ken PeragineNovember 17, 1990 (1990-11-17)
Remake of an original episode from the 1960s series.
568"Kiss Kiss"Russ PetrantoAndrew BorakoveNovember 24, 1990 (1990-11-24)
579"Mind Reader"Russ PetrantoMark MillerDecember 1, 1990 (1990-12-01)
5810"No More Mr. Nice Guy"Marlene LairdJanice Pieroni & Bruce TeicherDecember 8, 1990 (1990-12-08)
5911"A House Divided"Scott RedmanMark CassuttJanuary 19, 1991 (1991-01-19)
6012"A Matter of Trust"Jerry RossJeffrey RusselJanuary 26, 1991 (1991-01-26)
6113"Large"Russ PetrantoAlan Moskowitz (t) & Robert Schechter (s)February 2, 1991 (1991-02-02)
6214"Genie from Hell"Russ PetrantoBryan JosephFebruary 9, 1991 (1991-02-09)
6315"Lotsa Luck"Russ PetrantoBryan JosephFebruary 16, 1991 (1991-02-16)
6416"If I Only Knew Now"Scott RedmanCraig Kellem (s) & Alan Moskowitz (t)February 23, 1991 (1991-02-23)
6517"Beating of Your Heart"Russ PetrantoAndrew BorakoveMarch 2, 1991 (1991-03-02)
6618"Parenthood vs. Childhood"Marlene LairdNeil Rosen & George TrickerMarch 9, 1991 (1991-03-09)
6719"Das Trunk"Russ PetrantoAndrew Borakove (t) & Ann Gibbs (s) & Bryan Joseph (t) & Joel Kimmel (s)March 16, 1991 (1991-03-16)
6820"A-Camping We Will Go"Russ PetrantoMark MillerApril 27, 1991 (1991-04-27)
6921"Breaking the Chain"Peter IsacksenMark CassuttMay 4, 1991 (1991-05-04)
7022"Diary of a Mad Munsterwife"Russ PetrantoMark MillerMay 11, 1991 (1991-05-11)
7123"The Bet"Russ PetrantoJanice Pieroni & Bruce TeicherMay 18, 1991 (1991-05-18)
7224"Family Night"Russ PetrantoJames GatesMay 25, 1991 (1991-05-25)

Reception

The series lasted three seasons in syndication, and proved popular with international audiences.

The series proved to be very popular in the United Kingdom where the ITV channel started to air it from 1990, scheduling it in the Saturday lunchtime slot (usually 12.30pm) which attracted a younger family audience and proved very popular, however some ITV regions choose to air it in on Saturday early evenings (around 5.30pm), providing a decent family-friendly lead-in for their important Saturday prime time schedule.[5]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Result Category Recipient
1990Daytime Emmy AwardsWonOutstanding Achievement in MakeupGilbert A. Mosko and Carlos Yeaggy
1991WonOutstanding Achievement in MakeupDavid Abbott, Gilbert A. Mosko and Carlos Yeaggy
Outstanding Achievement in HairstylingJody Lawrence
1989Young Artist AwardsNominatedBest Syndicated Family Drama or Comedy Series
Best Young Actress in a Family Syndicated ShowHilary Van Dyke
Best Young Actor in a Family Syndicated ShowJason Marsden
1990NominatedBest Young Actress in an Off-Primetime Family SeriesHilary Van Dyke
Best Young Actor in an Off-Primetime Family SeriesJason Marsden
Best Off-Primetime Family Series
1991NominatedOutstanding Young Comedian in a Television SeriesJason Marsden
Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime SeriesHilary Van Dyke
Best Young Actor Starring in an Off-Primetime SeriesJason Marsden
Best Off-Primetime Family Series

Stations

City Station
Boston WSBK 38[6]
Charleston WCSC 5[7]
Chicago WPWR 50[8][9]
Cleveland WOIO 19[10]
Fort Wayne WFFT 55[11]
Green Bay WGBA 26[12]
Greensboro WGGT 48[13]
Hartford WTIC 61[14]
Minneapolis KITN 29[15]
Oakland KTVU 2[16][17]
Oklahoma City KAUT 43[18]
Philadelphia WTXF 29[19]
Salem WBKI 58[20]
Salt Lake City KSTU 13[21]
Seattle KTZZ 22[22][23]
Secaucus WWOR 9[24][25]
Spokane KAYU 28[26]
Tacoma KCPQ 13[27]
Yakima KCYU 41[28]

See also

References

  1. Buck, Jerry (1989-07-19). "Bonnie Franklin Directing 'Munsters Today'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  2. "BBC – Comedy Guide – The Munsters Today". Archived from the original on 2005-03-01. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
  3. Dretzka, Gary (1988-10-08). "Bright Mood Makes New 'Munsters' A Bore". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  4. Clark, Kenneth R (1988-09-20). "Munsters Awaken From 22-year Nap". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  5. https://adamnostalgia.wordpress.com/2020/01/09/more-tv-memories-the-munsters-today/
  6. "CONNECTICUT TV- Sunday December 3, 1989". Radio Discussions. February 15, 2006.
  7. "Retro: Charleston, SC, Sat. Nov 10, 1990, 7am-8pm". Radio Discussions. March 13, 2012.
  8. Clark, Kenneth R. (September 20, 1988). "MUNSTERS AWAKEN FROM 22-YEAR NAP". Chicago Tribune.
  9. "Retro: Chicago, Friday, May 31, 1991". Radio Discussions. May 26, 2019.
  10. "Retro Cleveland/Akron: Saturday, February 17, 1990". Radio Discussions. January 12, 2011.
  11. "Northern Indiana - Sunday, February 26, 1989". Radio Discussions. October 13, 2006.
  12. "Retro: Northern Wisconsin/Western U.P. Michigan Fri, Mar 15, 1991". Radio Discussions. March 12, 2010.
  13. "Retro: North Carolina, 9/14/91". Radio Discussions. August 25, 2005.
  14. "HARTFORD/NEW HAVEN RETRO - March 23-29, 1991 - Independents/Fox Affiliate". Radio Discussions. February 26, 2006.
  15. "Retro: Minnesota Thurs 6/24/93". Radio Discussions. October 19, 2005.
  16. KTVU 2 The Munsters Today Promo (1988) on YouTube
  17. 80's Commercials Vol. 434 on YouTube
  18. "Retro: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Week of August 11th, 1991". Radio Discussions. October 20, 2018.
  19. "Who aired what where: Lesser-known syndicated shows". Radio Discussions. June 16, 2017.
  20. "Retro: Louisville/Cincinnati, Wednesday, November 8, 1995". Radio Discussions. February 10, 2018.
  21. "Retro: Salt Lake City, Sunday, November 5, 1989". Radio Discussions. November 13, 2017.
  22. "The Munsters Today" US TV promo (1990) on YouTube
  23. KTZZ The Munsters Today promo, 1990 on YouTube
  24. 1989 - The Munsters Today on YouTube
  25. "Munsters Today" Promo on YouTube
  26. "Retro: Spokane, Washington — Sunday, February 19, 1989". Radio Discussions. January 24, 2019.
  27. "Retro: Yakima, WA; Sat. July 15th, 1989". Radio Discussions. August 2, 2015.
  28. "Who aired what where: Lesser-known syndicated shows". Radio Discussions. May 2, 2016.
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