The Munsters

The Munsters is a black and white situation comedy that aired on CBS for two seasons from September 24th, 1964 to May 12th, 1966 spanning a total of 72 episodes. The series proved popular enough to spawn a 1966 feature-length film (following the show's cancellation) entitled Munster, Go Home!. A second full-length feature was broadcast on television in full-color in 1981 called The Munsters' Revenge. This second film added a new cast member, the Phantom of the Opera, who served as the Munsters' butler and whose soprano voice could shatter glass. A second Munsters television series, called The Munsters Today was broadcast from 1988 to 1991. While the program repurposed the comedic feel of the original, it never quite acquired the same level of popularity even though it lasted 73 episodes. This series likewise spawned a telemovie in 1995 called Here Come the Munsters.

The original series centered on the dysfunctional Munsters family, a clan of creepy, yet good-natured people who lived in a crumbling, haunted mansion at 1313 Mockingbird Lane. One of the repeating gaffs of the series was the idea that the Munsters viewed themselves as normal people and it was the rest of the world that abnormal or peculiar. The black sheep of the Munster family was niece Marilyn Munster, who by all accounts, is a relatively normal-looking, well-adjusted young woman, which is why she is perceived as being the "strange one" in the family.

Notes & Trivia

 * Also known as Meet the Munsters.


 * There were two unaired pilots produced for this series, which eventually evolved into the second episode of the series, "My Fair Munster".


 * Fred Gwynne was a life-long friend of co-star Al Lewis who played Grandpa Munster.


 * Herman Munster was ranked #19 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time"


 * Beverley Owen disliked playing the role of Marilyn Munster and only accepted the job due to contractual obligations to Universal Studios. She appeared in only thirteen episodes of the series and was replaced by Pat Priest.