The Munsters Today

The Munsters Today

Main title card
Genre Sitcom
Directed by Norman Abbott
Bob Claver
Bonnie Franklin[1]
Peter Isacksen
Marlene Laird
Lee Lochhead
Russ Petranto
Scott Redman
Doug Rogers
Starring John Schuck
Lee Meriwether
Howard Morton
Jason Marsden
Hilary Van Dyke
Theme music composer Jack Marshall
Composer(s) Bill Fulton
Larry Groupé
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 3
No. of episodes 72
Production
Executive producer(s) Arthur L. Annecharico
Bryan Joseph
Lloyd J. Schwartz
Producer(s) Bryan Joseph
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time 2224 minutes
Production company(s) The Arthur Company
MCA TV.
Distributor NBCUniversal Television Distribution
Broadcast
Original channel Syndication
Original run October 8, 1988 – May 25, 1991
Chronology
Preceded by The Munsters

The Munsters Today is an American sitcom that aired in syndication from 1988 to 1991. The series served as a sequel to the 1964-66 sitcom, The Munsters.[2]

Production

This color revival of The Munsters starred John Schuck (as Herman), Lee Meriwether (Lily), Howard Morton (Grandpa), Hilary Van Dyke (Marilyn) and Jason Marsden (Eddie), and broadcast 72 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 when an accident took place; the family then proceeds to wake up in 1988.[3]

The series lasted three seasons on syndicated television, and proved popular with international audiences. 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. Gwynne turned down the chance to reprise his role as Herman, while Lewis expressed unhappiness at not being asked to return as Grandpa.

Some episodes have Herman singing words to the theme song, which include "We're the Munsters, we went to sleep 20 years ago" (this can be viewed at YouTube under the "Computer Dating" episode).

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.

Grandpa 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." 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. Mr. Preston and his assistant are exploring the house. Mr. Preston forces his employee to search Grandpa's 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.

Episodes

Season 1 (1988-89)

Season 2 (1989-90)

Season 3 (1990-91)

Cast

The cast of "The Munsters Today."

Special guest stars

Recurring cast

Awards and nominations

Year Award Result Category Recipient
1990 Daytime Emmy Awards Won Outstanding Achievement in Makeup Gilbert A. Mosko and Carlos Yeaggy
1991 Won Outstanding Achievement in Makeup David Abbott, Gilbert A. Mosko and Carlos Yeaggy
Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling Jody Lawrence
1989 Young Artist Awards Nominated Best Syndicated Family Drama or Comedy Series
Best Young Actress in a Family Syndicated Show Hilary Van Dyke
Best Young Actor in a Family Syndicated Show Jason Marsden
1990 Nominated Best Young Actress in an Off-Primetime Family Series Hilary Van Dyke
Best Young Actor in an Off-Primetime Family Series Jason Marsden
Best Off-Primetime Family Series
1991 Nominated Outstanding Young Comedian in a Television Series Jason Marsden
Best Young Actress Starring in an Off-Primetime Series Hilary Van Dyke
Best Young Actor Starring in an Off-Primetime Series Jason Marsden
Best Off-Primetime Family Series

See also

References

  1. Buck, Jerry (1989-07-19). "Bonnie Franklin Directing 'Munsters Today'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  2. Dretzka, Gary (1988-10-08). "Bright Mood Makes New `Munsters` A Bore". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  3. Clark, Kenneth R (1988-09-20). "Munsters Awaken From 22-year Nap". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-10-10.

External links