The Munsters Today

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".

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)

• "Still the Munsters After All These Years" (Pilot) - 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.
• "Vampire Pie"- Herman decides to enter a baking contest, using an old family recipe. Too bad there was an ingredient Grandpa forgot...
• "A Little Russian Dressing"
• "Flyweight Champion of the World"- After being bullied, Grandpa mixes Eddie a strong-man formula, that inflates Eddie's ego as well as his muscles
• "Magna Cum Munsters"- 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
• "Designing Munsters"
• "Farewell, Grandpa" - 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
• "Corporate Munsters" - 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 the Father/Son day
• "Herman The Astronaut"
• "Rock Fever"
• "Professor Grandpa"
• "Say Ahh"
• "A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Cereal"- 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?
• "Computer Mating"- 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
• "McMunsters"
• "One Flu Over The Munster's Nest"
• "Green Eyed Munsters"- Herman gets jealous when Lily's teacher takes up too much of her time. Will he win her back?
• "The Not So Great Escape"
• "Two Left Feet"
• "Lights, Camera, Munsters" - 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 a parent teacher conference is in order
• "Neighborly Munsters" - 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 Munster's) except talk with them
• "Munster Hoopster" - Eddie wants to take up basketball, so that Herman can brag about him. Only one problem: he can't sink a shot!
• "Don't Cry Wolfman" - When two burglars hide 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 into the Munster's ways, and even saves them. In the end, the 'wolfman' burglar, and the Munsters all vote to return the money
• "The Howling"
• "Eau De Munster" When the town wants to demolish Munster Moore for a museum, Herman tries to put a stop to it. Only one problem: Grandpa accidently got him with a love potion, which take effect on the woman running the idea

Season 2 (1989-90)

• "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"

Season 3 (1990-91)

• "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" (remake of an original episode from the 1960s series)
• "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"

Cast

The cast of "The Munsters Today."

• John Schuck - Herman Munster
• Lee Meriwether - Lily Munster
• Jason Marsden - Edward "Eddie" Wolfgang Munster
• Hilary Van Dyke - Marilyn Munster
• Howard Morton - "Grandpa" Vladimir Dracula

Special guest stars

• Kaye Ballard - Mother Nature
• Billy Barty - Genie
• Shelley Berman - Sam Hawkins
• Jonathan Brandis - Matt Glover
• Dr. Joyce Brothers - Mrs. Cousins
• Ruth Buzzi - Dracula's Mother
• Gordon Cooper - Himself
• Bill Daily - Count Strimpkin
• Dustin Diamond - Rob
• Moosie Drier - Andy Graves
• Nancy Dussault - Dr. Sandra Brown
• Nanette Fabray - Dottie
• Norman Fell - Mr. Maurice
• Kathleen Freeman - Grandma
• George Furth - Dr. Carver
• Zsa Zsa Gabor - Herself
• Kip King - Burt Fearman
• Dave Madden - Mr. Preston
• Eddie Mekka - Mr. Sweetzer
• Richard Moll - Genghis Khan
• Pat Morita - Neighbor
• Don Most - Barney Morley
• Lois Nettleton - Jessica Brown
• Marcia Wallace - Dr. Susan Evans
• Jo De Winter - Katja Dracula
• Yetta - Shirley

Recurring cast

• Cathy Lind Hayes - Dee Dee Nelson
• Richard Steven Horvitz - Howie Buchanan
• Greg Mullavey - Roger Nelson
• Scott Reeves - Dustin Nelson

Awards and nominations

See also

• Vampire film

References

External links

• The Munsters Today at the Internet Movie Database
• The Munsters Today at TV.com
• The Munsters Today Information Archives