The Munsters Today

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The Munsters Today
Directed by Norman Abbott, Bruce Billson ,
Bonnie Franklin, Russ Petranto,
Lee Lochhead.
Produced by Arthur L. Annecharico
Lloyd Schwartz, Craig Kellem.
Written by Lloyd Schwartz, Bill Rosenthal and Noah Taft
Starring John Schuck
Lee Meriwether
Howard Morton
Jason Marsden
Hilary Van Dyke
Richard Horvitz
Music by Jack Marshall (theme)
Distributed by MCA, The Arthur Company.
Running time 22 min.
Country Flag of the United States United States
Language English
IMDb profile

The Munsters Today is an American syndicated television series that was a sequel from the 1960s comedy The Munsters. It was produced from 1988 to 1991 with 72 episodes (it had more first run episodes than the original series). The pilot explained the 22 year gap from the original series, by showing the family as they were in 1966 when an accident took place; and the family then proceed to wake up in 1988.

The 1988 colourized remake of classic TV sitcom The Munsters, starring John Schuck (Herman), Lee Meriwether (Lily), Howard Morton (Grandpa), Hilary Van Dyke (Marilyn) and Jason Marsden (Eddie).

"The Munsters Today" series lasted three successful seasons on syndicated television, and proved popular with international audiences.

Despite its clever writing the show was never given a fair chance by die hard fans of the original series as the shows producers (that included some of the original shows team) decided on recasting the entire family following a failed attempt to revive the show with most of the original cast (Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis and Yvonne De Carlo) in 1981 in the TV movie The Munsters' Revenge. Munsters' Revenge was a network test for a possible new show. The idea was dropped as the film flopped. Gwynne turned down the chance to reprise his role as Herman. Lewis was irate he was never asked to reprise his role, which he kept close to his heart for years since the show ceased. Morton was however a well chosen new Grandpa, and Meriwether as Lily.

John Schuck was never favored by fans of Gwynne as his portrayal of Herman was very different later as the "today" series moved along. A lot of original series fans also turned off to the "new" show as the family progressed into modern attire and ways of living (Eddie discovering girls and MTV, and Marilyn becoming a rock chic and finding a potential career as a magazine editor). Grandpa also discovers the wonders of computers, while Herman and Lily bring their marriage and clothes into the 90’s.

Contents

[edit] Unaired pilot

An unaired pilot written by Lloyd J. Schwartz was filmed featuring a different Marilyn than the one who appeared in the series to follow (Hilary Van Dyke). The Marilyn in the pilot was Mary Ellen Dunbar, who bore resemblance to the Marilyn portrayed in the old series. The pilot began in black and white with the family as they were in 1966 and later changed to color.

[edit] Storyline

Grandpa Munster creates a "Sleeping Machine" which makes the user fall asleep for a selected amount of time. While the victim is asleep, his/her age does not change. The machine was tested on the entire family. When 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 developer named Mr.Preston and his assistant want to buy the Munsters home and turn it into a parking lot. Mr. Preston and his assistant are exploring the house Mr. Preston forces his employee to search Grandpas Lab, after getting tangled in spider webs he knocks the dial to off. The Munster family awakens to the world of 1988. They all struggle to find their way in the strange new era.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Episodes

[edit] Season 1

  • "Still the Munsters After All These Years" (Pilot)
  • "Vampire Pie"
  • "A Little Russian Dressing"
  • "Flyweight Champion of the World"
  • "Magna Cum Munsters"
  • "Designing Munsters"
  • "Farewell, Grandpa
  • "Corporate Munsters"
  • "Herman The Astronaut"
  • "Rock Fever"
  • "Professor Grandpa"
  • "Say Ahh"
  • "A Hero Ain't Nothin'But a Cereal"
  • "Computer Mathing"
  • "McMunsters"
  • "One Flu Over The Munster's Nest"
  • "Green Eyed Munsters"
  • "The Not So Great Escape
  • "Two Left Feet"
  • "Lights,Camera,Munsters"
  • "Neighborly Munsters"
  • "Munster Hoopster"
  • "Don't Cry Wolfman"
  • "The Howling"
  • "Eau De Munster"

[edit] Season 2

  • "Three Hundred Something"
  • "No Place Like Home"
  • "Raging Hormones"
  • "Murder in Munster Land"
  • "Trail"
  • "It's A Wonderful Afterlife"
  • "The Eyes Have It"
  • "It's a Sad, Sad World"
  • "Melting Pot"
  • "Once in a Blue Moon"
  • "Drac The Ripper*
  • "Gateman and Son"
  • "Reunion"
  • "Pants on Fire"
  • "Munstergeist"
  • "Never Say Die"
  • "It's a Baby"
  • "Tell'em Herman Sent You"
  • "Thicker Than Water"
  • "Misadventures in Time"
  • "Will The Real Herman Munster Please Stand Up?"
  • "Deadlock"
  • "Take This Job and Shovel It
  • "That's Gratitude"

[edit] Season 3

  • The Silver Bullet
  • The Reel Munsters
  • Wishing You Were Here
  • Three Munsters and a Baby
  • It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want to
  • Makin' Waves
  • Just Another Pretty Face
  • Kiss, Kiss
  • Mind Reader
  • No More Mr. Nice Guy
  • A House Divided
  • A Matter of Trust
  • Large
  • Genie from Hell
  • Lotsa Luck
  • If I Only Knew Now
  • Beating of Your Heart
  • Parenthood vs. Childhood
  • Das Trunk
  • A Camping We Will Go
  • Breaking the Chain
  • Diary of a Mad Munster Wife
  • The Bet
  • Family Night

[edit] External links

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