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{{Short description|American television series (1964–1966)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{For-multi|the 2022 film|The Munsters (2022 film){{!}}''The Munsters'' (2022 film)|the ''Succession'' episode|The Munsters (Succession){{!}}The Munsters (''Succession'')}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = The Munsters title card.png
| caption              = Early Season One opening, with [[Yvonne De Carlo]] featured behind the title
| creator              = [[Allan Burns]]<br/>[[Chris Hayward]]<ref>{{cite news|title= Chris Hayward, 81, TV Writer and a Creator of 'Munsters,' Is Dead|work= The New York Times|date=December 19, 2006|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/19/obituaries/19hayward.1.html?scp=8&sq=the%20munsthsbsers&st=cse|access-date=October 10, 2010|first=Margalit|last=Fox}}</ref>
| developer            = Norm Liebmann<br/>Ed Haas
| starring             = [[Fred Gwynne]]<br/>[[Yvonne De Carlo]]<br/>[[Al Lewis]]<br/>[[Beverley Owen]] (1964)<br/>[[Pat Priest (actress)|Pat Priest]] (1964–66)<br/>[[Butch Patrick]]
| theme_music_composer = [[Jack Marshall (composer)|Jack Marshall]]<br/>Bob Mosher (unaired lyrics)
| opentheme            = "The Munsters' Theme"
| endtheme             = “The Munsters’ Theme”
| composer             = Jack Marshall
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 2
| num_episodes         = 70
| list_episodes        = List of The Munsters episodes
| executive_producer   = 
| producer             = [[Joe Connelly (producer)|Joe Connelly]]<br/>[[Bob Mosher]]
| location             = [[Universal Studios, Inc.|Universal Studios]], [[Universal City, California]]
| camera               = [[Single-camera setup|Single-camera]]
| runtime              = 23-26 minutes
| company              = Kayro-Vue Productions<br />[[Universal Television]]
| network              = [[CBS]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1964|09|24}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1966|05|12}}
| related              = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[The Munsters Today]]''
* ''[[Mockingbird Lane]]'' 
}}
}}
'''''The Munsters''''' is an American [[sitcom]] about the home life of a family of benign [[monster]]s that aired from 1964 to 1966 on [[CBS]]. The series stars [[Fred Gwynne]] as [[Herman Munster]] ([[Frankenstein's monster]]),<ref group="Notes">Episodes referring to the fact that Herman is Frankenstein's monster include #55, "Just Another Pretty Face," in which Grandpa explains how he came to possess Herman's original blueprint by reading the inscription on it: "To our favorite Count, Dracula - a souvenir from Dr. Frankenstein and all the guys and gals" and #61, "Cyrano de Munster," in which Lily, suspecting Herman of infidelity, tells Marilyn: "I'll take Herman apart so that even Dr. Frankenstein couldn't put him together"</ref> [[Yvonne De Carlo]] as his vampire wife [[Lily Munster|Lily]],<ref name="Yvonne De Carlo Is The Mama In a Nice Monster Family">{{cite news|title=Yvonne De Carlo Is The Mama In a Nice Monster Family|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19640623&id=nWJSAAAAIBAJ&pg=5511,1718564|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|date=June 23, 1964|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606002627/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19640623&id=nWJSAAAAIBAJ&pg=5511%2C1718564|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Al Lewis (actor)|Al Lewis]] as [[Grandpa (The Munsters)|Grandpa]] ([[Count Dracula]]),<ref group="Notes">Episodes mentioning that Grandpa is Count Dracula include #55, "Just Another Pretty Face," in which he explains his possession of Herman's original blueprint by reading the inscription on it: "To our favorite Count, Dracula - a souvenir from Dr. Frankenstein and all the guys and gals," and #58, "Grandpa's Lost Wife," in which a legal document names him as "sometimes known as 'The Count,' sometimes known as 'Sam Dracula.{{'"}}</ref> [[Beverley Owen]] (later replaced by [[Pat Priest (actress)|Pat Priest]]) as their niece [[Marilyn Munster|Marilyn]], and [[Butch Patrick]] as their [[werewolf]]-like son [[Eddie Munster|Eddie]]. The family pet, named "Spot", was a fire-breathing dragon.

Produced by the creators of ''[[Leave It to Beaver]]'', the series was a [[satire]] of American suburban life, the wholesome television family fare of the era and traditional [[monster movie]]s.<ref>{{cite news|title= The Munsters: The Complete First Season|publisher= [[DVD Talk]] |url= https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/11996/munsters-the-complete-first-season-the/ |access-date= December 7, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= The Munsters: The Complete Series|publisher= [[DVD Talk]]|url= https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/34944/munsters-the-complete-series-the/ |access-date= December 7, 2010}}</ref> It achieved higher [[Nielsen ratings]] than did the similarly macabre-themed ''[[The Addams Family (1964 TV series)|The Addams Family]],'' which aired concurrently on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].

In 1965, ''The Munsters'' was nominated for the [[Golden Globe Award]] for Best Television Series<ref name="Golden Globe Award nomination">{{cite web|title=Munsters, The|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/munsters|website=[[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globes]]|access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref> but lost to ''[[The Rogues (TV series)|The Rogues]]''. In the 21st century, it received several [[TV Land Award]] nominations, including one for Most Uninsurable Driver (Herman Munster).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Genzlinger|first1=Neil|title='TV Land Awards' turn back the time|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/03/14/tv-land-awards-turn-back-the-time/|access-date=April 6, 2018|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|agency=[[New York Times News Service]]|date=March 14, 2005}}</ref>

The series originally aired on Thursdays at 7:30&nbsp;p.m. from [[1964–65 United States network television schedule|September 24, 1964]] to [[1965–66 United States network television schedule|May 12, 1966]]. Seventy episodes were produced. The show was canceled after ratings had dropped to a series low in the face of competition from ABC's ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fred John Del|first=Bianco Jr.|title=50 Favs of the '60s '70s '80s: A Look Back at Three Dynamic Decades |year=2012|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=978-1-468-56111-1|page=58}}</ref> Patrick said, "I think ''Batman'' was to blame. ''Batman'' just came along and took our ratings away."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/munsters-butch-patrick-why-show-ended|title='Munsters' child star Butch Patrick explains why hit '60s series came to an end|first=Stephanie|last=Nolasco|date=October 30, 2019|website=Fox News|access-date=May 3, 2021}}</ref> However, ''The Munsters'' found a large audience in [[Broadcast syndication|syndication]]. A spinoff series ensued, as well as several films, including one with a theatrical release and several more recent attempts to reboot it.<ref>{{cite news|title= A Neighborhood Where Every Day Was Halloween|work= The New York Times|date=October 26, 2008|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/arts/television/26deca.html |access-date=October 10, 2010|first=Frank|last=Decaro}}</ref>

== Premise ==
The Munsters are a [[Transylvania]]n-American family living at 1313 Mockingbird Lane in the fictional city of Mockingbird Heights.<ref group="Notes">A close-up of a bounced check in episode 44 reveals the family address and city, but no state.</ref> The series' running gag is that the odd-looking family with strange tastes considers itself to be an average American family.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Furdyk|first=Brent|date=4 June 2020|title='Woke' Herman Munster's Speech From 1965 Sitcom Episode Is Going Viral Over Its Timely Message|work=[[ET Canada]]|url=https://etcanada.com/news/653172/woke-herman-munsters-speech-from-1965-sitcom-episode-is-going-viral-over-its-timely-message/|access-date=October 17, 2021|archive-date=October 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017013739/https://etcanada.com/news/653172/woke-herman-munsters-speech-from-1965-sitcom-episode-is-going-viral-over-its-timely-message/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Herman is the family's sole wage-earner, although Lily and Grandpa make short-lived attempts to earn money from time to time. While Herman is the head of the household, Lily also makes many decisions. According to episode 44 ("Happy 100th Anniversary"), they were married in 1865.

Other than Marilyn, the characters' costumes and appearances were based on the [[Universal Classic Monsters|classic monsters of Universal Studios]] films of the 1930s and 1940s, including the iconic version of [[Frankenstein's monster]]<ref name=first>{{cite video|year=2003 |title=The Munsters: America's First Family of Fright|medium=Television production }}</ref> developed by [[Jack Pierce (makeup artist)|Jack Pierce]] for the 1931 Universal film ''[[Frankenstein (1931 film)|Frankenstein]]''. As Universal jointly produced ''The Munsters'', the show was able to employ the copyrighted designs. Makeup for the series was credited to [[Bud Westmore]], who pioneered many other makeup effects and designs for the studio's monsters after Pierce.

The show satirized the typical family sitcom formula of the era: the well-meaning father, the nurturing mother, the eccentric live-in relative, the naïve teenager and the precocious child. The show also references several real sitcoms. In episode 45, "Operation Herman", Lily tells Herman to have a father-son talk with Eddie because "a thing like this is up to the father. Anyone who's watched ''[[Father Knows Best]]'' for nine years ought to know that," to which Herman replies, "All right. But [[The Donna Reed Show|Donna Reed]] always handles things on ''her'' show." In episode 47, "John Doe Munster", Grandpa describes ''[[My Three Sons]]'' as being about a "crazy, mixed-up family that's always having weird adventures."<ref group="Notes">''Nick at Nite's Classic TV Companion'', edited by Tom Hill, copyright 1996 by [[Viacom (1952–2005)|Viacom International]]. "Some crystal ball ''you've'' got!" Herman complained to Grandpa. "All it can do is pick up reruns of ''[[My Little Margie]]''!"</ref>

Al Lewis explained, "We can do a lot of satirical pointed things on society that you couldn't do on an ordinary show." Lewis also said, "Philosophically, the format is that in spite of the way people look to you physically, underneath there is a heart of gold.<ref name="Daily Variety. July 29, 1964">Daily Variety. July 29, 1964</ref>

''The Munsters'' reflected changes in social attitudes during the civil-rights era, and in 2020 a speech that Herman makes to Eddie in the 1965 episode "Eddie's Nickname" went [[Viral video|viral]]: "The lesson I want you to learn is that it doesn't matter what you look like. You can be tall or short; or fat or thin; ugly or handsome—like your father—or you can be black, or yellow or white, it doesn't matter. What does matter is the size of your heart and the strength of your character."<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/how-herman-munster-can-be-so-right-about-racism-and-still-be-a-little-bit-wrong/2020/06/04/fc17fe6e-a6aa-11ea-b473-04905b1af82b_story.html| title = How Herman Munster can be so right about racism and still be a little bit wrong - The Washington Post| newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

==Cast==
{{Main|List of The Munsters characters}}

[[File:The Munsters Cast 1964.jpg|thumb|right|270px|The cast of ''The Munsters'' in an early publicity photo. Standing, L–R: [[Yvonne De Carlo]], [[Al Lewis (actor)|Al Lewis]]. Sitting: [[Butch Patrick]], [[Fred Gwynne]], [[Beverley Owen]]]]

===Regulars===
*[[Fred Gwynne]] as [[Herman Munster]]
*[[Yvonne De Carlo]] as [[Lily Munster]]
*[[Al Lewis (actor)|Al Lewis]] as [[Grandpa (The Munsters)|Grandpa]]
*[[Butch Patrick]] as [[Eddie Munster]]
*[[Beverley Owen]] as [[Marilyn Munster]] (ep. 1–13)
*[[Pat Priest (actress)|Pat Priest]] as Marilyn Munster (ep. 14–70)
*[[Mel Blanc]] – the voice of Charlie the Raven
*[[Bob Hastings]] – the voice of Charlie the Raven

===Recurring characters===
*[[Paul Lynde]] as Dr. Edward H. Dudley (ep. 4, 6, 19)
** [[Dom DeLuise]] as Dr. Edward H. Dudley (ep. 55)
*[[John Carradine]] as Mr. Gateman, Herman's boss at the funeral parlor (ep. 37, 62)
*Chet Stratton as Clyde Thornton, Herman's coworker at the funeral parlor (ep. 53, 61)
*[[Bryan O'Byrne]] as Uriah, Calvin and another coworker at the funeral parlor

==Production==
===Development===
The idea of a family of comical [[monsters]] was first suggested to [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] by animator [[Bob Clampett]], who developed the idea from 1943 to 1945 as a series of [[cartoons]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=96y-V5chpgkC&q=bob+clampett+%22monster+family%22&pg=PA106|title=The Frankenstein Archive|isbn=9780786480692|last1=Glut|first1=Donald F.|date=September 11, 2015|publisher=McFarland }}</ref> The project did not make progress until mid-1963<ref>Monsters to Be Just Plain Folks On a CBS-TV Comedy Series. New York Times 15 Feb 1964</ref> when a similar idea was submitted by ''[[The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends]]'' writers [[Allan Burns]] and [[Chris Hayward]]. The proposal was later handed to writers Norm Liebman and Ed Haas, who wrote a pilot script, ''Love Thy Monster''.

According to Burns, "We sort of stole the idea from [[Charles Addams]] and his ''[[The New Yorker|New Yorker]]'' cartoons.... Because Universal owned the Frankenstein character and the Dracula character for movie rights, they decided to take their characters instead of the characters we had written."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lewellen|first1=Scott|title=Funny You Should Ask: Oral Histories of Classic Sitcom Storytellers|date=2013|publisher=McFarland|page=130}}</ref>

While some executives believed that the series should be animated, others who argued for live action prevailed. In 1964, a live-action pilot titled "My Fair Munster" was filmed in color by [[MCA Television]] for [[CBS]].<ref name=first/> [[Fred Gwynne]] and [[Al Lewis (actor)|Al Lewis]] were the first to be cast early in February 1964. They had recently completed the series ''[[Car 54, Where Are You?]]'' and had good chemistry together. [[Beverly Owen]] was signed to play Marilyn, [[Joan Marshall]] was cast as Herman's wife Phoebe and "Happy" Nate Derman was cast as Eddie. A second pilot was ordered in April 1964 with [[Yvonne De Carlo]] replacing Marshall, and the character renamed Lily. For a third pilot, Derman was replaced by [[Butch Patrick]]. CBS liked both De Carlo and Patrick, but ordered a fourth pilot in which Eddie was less spoiled.{{Citation needed |date=March 2023}}

The show was produced by [[Joe Connelly (producer)|Joe Connelly]] and [[Bob Mosher]], who were already known for creating the ''[[Leave It to Beaver]]'' television series. Prior to that, they had written many episodes of ''[[Amos 'n' Andy]]'', a popular network radio program, during its half-hour comedy era.

===Filming===
Over the course of Season 1, the makeup for Herman, Lily and Grandpa was adjusted. Lily's hair originally had a large white streak, which was reduced in later episodes. Her necklace featured a bat instead of a star, and her eyebrows were angled more. Grandpa's makeup was exaggerated, including heavier eyebrows, and Herman's face was widened for a dopier and less human appearance. Gwynne also added a stutter whenever Herman was angry or wanted to make a point, and he frequently left his mouth open, adding to the effect of a goofy, less frightening figure.

===Sets===
{{Main|Munster Mansion}}

[[File:WisteriaLanePurpleHouse.jpg|thumb|right|The mansion as seen at the [[Universal Studios Lot]]]]

The Munsters' home was a decaying [[Second Empire architecture|Second Empire]] [[Victorian Architecture#Styles conceived in the Victorian era|Victorian]] [[High Victorian Gothic|Gothic]]-style mansion. At one point the address was supposed to be 43 Mockingbird Lane, Camelot, New Jersey, but was changed to 1313 Mockingbird Lane in the city of Mockingbird Heights (state unknown) when filming began. In later incarnations of the series the location is described as a small town outside Los Angeles. 

[[File:Fred Gwynne Yvonne DeCarlo The Munsters 1964.JPG|thumb|upright|Herman and Lily in the kitchen]]
The Munster home was on the Universal Studios back lot. It was originally constructed with two other houses on Stage 12, the studio's largest [[soundstage]], for the 1946 film ''[[So Goes My Love]]''. After that film was completed, the sets were put in storage until 1950, when they (along with other house sets built from stock units) were reassembled on "River Road" along the north edge of the back lot. All three houses appeared in many television shows and films, including ''Leave It to Beaver.''<ref>{{cite book|last=Ingram|first=Billy |title=Tvparty!: Television's Untold Tales|year=2002|publisher=Bonus Books, Inc.|isbn=1-566-25184-2|page=228}}</ref>

In 1964, the house was redressed and distressed to portray the Munster home, and a stone wall was added around the property. After ''The Munsters'' ended its run, the house was restored. It was the home of the family in ''[[Shirley (TV series)|Shirley]]'' (NBC, 1979–80).

In 1981, all of the houses on River Road were moved from the north end of the lot to their present location. The former Munster house was used in ''[[Coach (TV series)|Coach]]'' and, after another remodel, ''[[Desperate Housewives]].''

The interiors of the Munsters' mansion were filmed on Stages 30 and 32 at Universal Studios. The interior was riddled with dust, smoke and cobwebs. (When Lily "dusted" the house, her [[Electrolux]] emitted clouds of dust, which she applied to surfaces that would normally be cleaned.) As a running gag, parts of the house would often be damaged, mostly by Herman's tantrums or clumsiness, but the damage would not last.

[[File:Munsterkoach.JPG|thumb|right|The Munster Koach]]

===Props===
In the fourth episode ("Rock-A-Bye Munster"), Lily buys a [[hot rod]] and a [[hearse]] from a used-car dealership and has them customized into one car (the [[Munster Koach]]) as Herman's birthday present. The Munster Koach and [[DRAG-U-LA]] (built by Grandpa in episode 36, "Hot Rod Herman") were designed by Tom Daniel and built by auto customizer [[George Barris (auto customizer)|George Barris]] for the show. The Munster Koach was a hot rod built on a lengthened 1926 [[Ford Model T]] chassis with a custom hearse body. It was 18 feet long and cost almost $20,000 to build. Barris also built the DRAG-U-LA, a dragster built from a coffin (according to Barris, a real coffin was purchased for the car), which Grandpa used to win back the Munster Koach after Herman lost it in a race.

===Theme song===
The instrumental theme song, titled "The Munsters' Theme", was composed by composer/arranger [[Jack Marshall (composer)|Jack Marshall]].<ref name="cox2">{{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Stephen |author-link1=Stephen Cox (writer) |last2=De Carlo |first2=Yvonne |author-link2=Yvonne De Carlo |first3=Butch |last3=Patrick |author-link3=Butch Patrick |title=The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane |year=2006 |publisher=Random House |location=New York |isbn=0-8230-7894-9 |oclc=68192546 |chapter=Munster Maestro: About Jack Marshall}}</ref> Described by writer [[Jon Burlingame]] as a "[[Bernard Herrmann|Bernard-Herrmann]]-meets-[[Duane Eddy|Duane-Eddy]] sound",<ref name="cox"/> the theme was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] in 1965. The song's lyrics, which were written by coproducer Bob Mosher, were never aired on CBS.

==Episodes==
===Pitch episode===
[[File:Munsters cast 1964.JPG|thumb|upright|The original cast in 1964]]
The first [[television pilot#Presentation|presentation]] was filmed in color and ran 16 minutes (later cut to just over 13 minutes). It was used to pitch the series to CBS and its affiliates. (The episode is available on the first season of ''The Munsters'' DVDs.) It never aired, but the script was reused as the basis for Episode 2, "My Fair Munster". The cast in the title sequence included [[Joan Marshall]] as Phoebe (instead of Lily), Beverley Owen as Marilyn, Nate "Happy" Derman as Eddie, Al Lewis as Grandpa and Fred Gwynne as Herman. Although the same house exterior was used, it was later changed to appear spookier for the series. This included adding the tower deck and Marilyn's deck, a new coat of paint and enlarging the living room. Although Grandpa had the same dungeon, Gwynne did not wear padding in the pitch episode, had a more protruding forehead, and was broad but thin. The most noticeable difference was his somber expression rather than his comic silliness during the series.<ref name="cox">{{cite book|last=Cox|first=Stephen |title=The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane|year=2006|publisher=Random House Digital, Inc.|isbn=0-823-07894-9|pages=35–36}}</ref> Except for Marilyn, the family had a blue-green [[tint]] to their skin. The biggest character difference was that Eddie was portrayed by Derman as a nasty brat.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cox|first=Stephen |title=The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane|year=2006|publisher=Random House Digital, Inc.|isbn=0-823-07894-9|pages=36, 38}}</ref> Eddie, as played by Patrick, was mostly respectful.

The pilot title sequence had light, happy music borrowed from the [[Doris Day]] movie ''[[The Thrill of It All (film)|The Thrill of It All]]''<ref name="Biography"/> instead of the instrumental rock theme. It was also decided that Marshall too closely resembled [[Morticia Addams]]<ref name="Biography"/> and that Derman was too nasty as Eddie, so both were replaced.<ref name="Biography">[[Biography (TV series)|Biography]], "The Munsters," 1998</ref> On the basis of the first presentation, the new series, still not completely cast, was announced by CBS on February 18, 1964. A second black-and-white presentation was filmed with DeCarlo and Patrick. In this version, Eddie appeared with a more normal look, although his [[hairstyle]] was later altered to include a pronounced [[widow's peak]].

===''Marineland Carnival'' (1965 Easter special)===
During the first season, the Munster family appeared in an Easter special when they visited [[Marineland of the Pacific]] in Palos Verdes, California, to get a new pet for Eddie. Shot on videotape, the episode aired just once on CBS on April 18, and was long thought [[lost television broadcast|lost]] until a copy was donated to the [[Paley Center for Media|Paley Center]] in New York in 1997.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marineland Carnival |website=Munsterland |url=http://www.munsterland.net/marineland.html |access-date=September 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Pop Colorture|url=http://pop-colorture.com/2016/10/30/trick-or-treat-the-munsters-scare-up-some-fun-in-this-newly-discovered-holiday-special/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302092422/http://pop-colorture.com/2016/10/30/trick-or-treat-the-munsters-scare-up-some-fun-in-this-newly-discovered-holiday-special/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 2, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2017}}</ref>

===Episode list===
{{Main|List of The Munsters episodes}}
{{:List of The Munsters episodes}}

==Syndication==
The series entered syndication on local stations after its original run. In the 1990s, it aired on [[Nick at Nite]] and on [[TV Land]] from 1995 to 1998. In October 2011, the series was picked up by [[Cartoon Network]]'s sister channel [[Boomerang (TV network)|Boomerang]] and ran through the entire month of October that year for [[Halloween]] along with ''[[The Addams Family (1964 TV series)|The Addams Family]]''.

On October 5, 2015, [[Cozi TV]] began airing the series on weeknights and in a two-hour block on Sunday evenings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cozitv.com/shows/weekday/The-Munsters-322960111.html|title=The Munsters|website=Cozi TV|language=en|access-date=2020-02-21}}</ref> The show made its debut on [[FETV]] on September 29, 2025, currently airing weekdays at 2pm ET and Saturdays at 7:40am ET.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Novak|first=Lauren|title=‘The Munsters’ Join FETV Daily Schedule This Fall|url=https://www.remindmagazine.com/article/35333/munsters-fetv-schedule-october-2025/|work=[[Remind Magazine]]|date=September 16, 2025|access-date=September 24, 2025}}</ref><ref>https://fetv.tv/shows/the-munsters/</ref>

==Reception==
===Ratings===
*1964–1965: #18 (24.7 rating) – Tied with ''[[Gilligan's Island]]''
*1965–1966: #61 (no rating given, 30.7 share)<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Spencer |first1=Walter |title=TV's Vast Grey Belt |journal=Television Magazine |date=August 1967 |volume=24 |issue=8 |page=55 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Television-Magazine/Television-1967-Aug.pdf |access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref>

==TV appearances in character==
Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis appeared in full makeup and costumes riding in the Munster Koach in the 1964 [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://brioux.tv/blog/2021/11/24/the-year-the-munsters-crashed-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/ | title=The year the Munsters crashed Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade – brioux.tv | date=May 31, 2023 }}</ref> Gwynne made solo appearances in character on ''[[The Red Skelton Show]]'' in April 1965, in the special ''[[Murray The K – It's What's Happening, Baby]]'' in June 1965<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/things-to-do-watch-its-happening-baby-on-pbs-11540294 | title=Long-Lost "Happening" 1965 Music Special Resurfaces on PBS }}</ref> and on and ''[[The Danny Kaye Show]]'' in April 1966.

==Franchise==
===Film===
{{Main|The Munsters (film series)}}
Several Munsters movies were released. Two featuring original cast members include ''[[Munster, Go Home!]]'' (1966), and ''[[The Munsters' Revenge]]'' (1981). A [[television film]] titled ''[[Here Come the Munsters]]'' aired in 1995, and ''[[The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas]]'' was released in 1996. A feature film titled ''[[The Munsters (2022 film)|The Munsters]]'' was released on September 22, 2022.

===TV===
====''The Mini-Munsters''====
{{Main|The Mini-Munsters}}
In 1973, ABC aired an animated one-hour special, ''[[The Mini-Munsters]]'', based on characters from the original series.

====''The Munsters Today''====
{{Main|The Munsters Today}}
A [[Broadcast syndication|first-run syndication]] television series titled ''[[The Munsters Today]]'' ran from 1988 to 1991 and lasted for 72 episodes. The unaired pilot episode, written by [[Lloyd J. Schwartz]], explained the 22-year gap with an accident in Grandpa's lab that put the family to sleep. They awake in the late 1980s and must adapt to their new surroundings. The show features [[John Schuck]] (Herman), [[Lee Meriwether]] (Lily), [[Howard Morton]] (Grandpa) and [[Jason Marsden]] (Eddie). Marilyn was portrayed by Mary-Ellen Dunbar in the unaired pilot and by [[Hilary Van Dyke]] thereafter.

====''Mockingbird Lane''====
{{Main|Mockingbird Lane}}
A reboot by ''[[Pushing Daisies]]'' creator [[Bryan Fuller]] was developed for NBC as a one-hour drama with "spectacular visuals."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Munsters-Remake-NBC-1023856.aspx|title=NBC, Bryan Fuller Remaking The Munsters|author=Joyce Eng|date=September 30, 2010|work=TVGuide.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Exclusive-Munsters-NBC-1036301.aspx|title=Exclusive: The Munsters Back in Development at NBC|author=Michael Schneider|date=August 11, 2011|work=TVGuide.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/NBC-Picks-Munsters-1039784.aspx|title=NBC Picks Up Munsters Reboot Pilot From Pushing Daisies Creator|author=Hanh Nguyen|date=November 17, 2011|work=TVGuide.com}}</ref> NBC ordered a pilot episode,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/blogs/the-set/nbc-orders-munsters-reboot-pilot-165508698.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104054637/http://tv.yahoo.com/blogs/the-set/nbc-orders-munsters-reboot-pilot-165508698.html |title=NBC Orders 'The Munsters' Reboot to Pilot|date=November 17, 2011|archive-date=January 4, 2014|work=Yahoo TV}}</ref> and announced in January 2012 that it would be called ''Mockingbird Lane'', a reference to the Munsters' address.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a363611/nbcs-the-munsters-becomes-mockingbird-lane.html|title=NBC's 'The Munsters' becomes 'Mockingbird Lane'|last=Jeffery|first=Morgan|work=Digital Spy|date=February 2, 2012|access-date=February 2, 2012}}</ref> NBC ultimately did not proceed with plans for ''Mockingbird Lane'' as a weekly series, but later announced that the pilot episode would air in late October 2012 as a Halloween special.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2012/10/nbcs-mockingbird-lane-pilot-to-air-on-october-26-as-halloween-special-351961/|title=NBC's 'Mockingbird Lane' Pilot To Air on October 26 As Halloween Special|work=Deadline|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=October 11, 2012|access-date=October 24, 2012}}</ref> NBC passed on the series over disagreements about the show's dark nature and inconsistent tone.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Andreevs|first1=Nellie|title=NBC May Take Another Stab At 'The Munsters' Reboot Series |url=https://deadline.com/2013/01/nbc-may-take-another-stab-at-the-munsters-reboot-series-tca-397751/ |website=Deadline|date=January 6, 2013|access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref>

===Unrealized projects===
*In August 2004, it was announced that [[Keenen Ivory Wayans|Keenen Ivory]], [[Shawn Wayans|Shawn]], and [[Marlon Wayans]] had signed a deal to write and produce a modern-day film featuring the Munsters, but that they would not appear in it.<ref>''Boston Globe.'' 29 Aug 2004: N11.</ref> 
*In August 2017, it was announced that [[Seth Meyers]] was developing a modern-day interpretation of the series for NBC. The show would place the Munsters in [[Brooklyn]], New York, where they try to adapt to life as an ordinary family.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/munsters-reboot-nbc-seth-meyers/ |title=Seth Meyers Rebooting The Munsters TV Show |publisher=ScreenRant |date=August 10, 2017 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref> However, the show was not produced.

===Music===
In 1998, [[Rob Zombie]] released the single "[[Dragula (song)|Dragula]]". Its title was taken from the name of [[Grandpa (The Munsters)|Grandpa's]] dragster ''[[DRAG-U-LA]]''.<ref>''[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]]'', November 21, 1998 - Vol. 110, No. 47, Page 81.</ref> The music video mimics, in parts, the Munsters taking a ride in the car.

In 2003 the American band Type O Negative released their sixth album, Life Is Killing Me. The first song is a short instrumental titled Thir13teen. The song is based on short pieces of music from the show that is played when one scene transitions to another. The band credits Jack Marshall as the songwriter. <ref> Type O Negative (2003). Thir13teen, Life is Killing Me, Roadrunner Records. </ref>

A sample of the show's theme-song guitar riff was used in the song "[[Uma Thurman (song)|Uma Thurman]]" by [[Fall Out Boy]].<ref name="Billboard Uma">[http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6436532/fall-out-boy-uma-thurman-american-beauty-american-psycho New Fall Out Boy Song 'Uma Thurman' Is Best Yet From New Album] ''Billboard''. Retrieved November 4, 2021.</ref>

==Home media==
Between 2004 and 2008, [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment|Universal Studios Home Entertainment]] released the entire series on DVD in Regions 1 & 2.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!DVD name
!Ep#
!Region 1
!Region 2
!Region 4
!Additional information
|-
| Season 1
| style="text-align:center;"|38
| August 24, 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Munsters-Complete-First-Season/dp/B0002CX1LG |title=The Munsters – The Complete First Season: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Beverley Owen, Pat Priest, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=August 24, 2004 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref><br/>February 5, 2013 <small>(re-released)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Munsters-Season-1-Fred-Gwynne/dp/B00A2L1CKO |title=The Munsters: Season 1: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Pat Priest, Beverley Owen, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref>
| October 17, 2005
| November 30, 2006
|
*Original unaired pilot
*Dual-sided discs (Region 1 only)
|-
| Season 2
| style="text-align:center;"|32
| October 25, 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Munsters-Complete-Second-Season/dp/B000ATQYX8 |title=The Munsters – Complete Second Season: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Pat Priest, Beverley Owen, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=October 25, 2005 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref><br/>February 5, 2013 <small>(re-released)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Munsters-Season-2-Fred-Gwynne/dp/B00A2L1CJK |title=The Munsters: Season 2: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Pat Priest, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref>
| May 1, 2006
| October 25, 2006
|
*''America's First Family of Fright''
*''Fred Gwynne: More Than a Munster''
*''Yvonne De Carlo: Gilded Lily''
*''Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa''
*Dual-sided discs (Region 1 only)
|-
| The Complete Series
| style="text-align:center;"|70
| October 7, 2008<ref>{{cite web|author=Walmart |url=https://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Munsters-The-Complete-Series-DVD/10335940?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222228000012700&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=40949627312&wl4=pla-54665279016&wl5=9016549&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117019096&wl11=online&wl12=10335940&wl13=&veh=sem |title=The Munsters: The Complete Series (DVD) |publisher=Walmart.com |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref><br/>September 13, 2016 <small>(re-released)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Munsters-Complete-Fred-Gwynne/dp/B01HDORSFK |title=The Munsters: The Complete Series: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Pat Priest, Beverley Owen, Bob Mosher: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=September 13, 2016 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|N/A
| style="text-align:center;"|N/A
|
*Original unaired pilot
*''America's First Family of Fright''
*''Fred Gwynne: More Than a Munster''
*''Yvonne De Carlo: Gilded Lily''
*''Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa''
*"Family Portrait" (colorized version)
*''[[Munster, Go Home]]''
*''[[The Munsters' Revenge]]''
*12 single-sided discs
|-
| The Complete Series (Closed Casket Collection)
| style="text-align:center;"|70
| style="text-align:center;"|N/A
| October 8, 2007
|
|
*Original unaired pilot
*''America's First Family of Fright''
*''Fred Gwynne: More Than a Munster''
*''Yvonne De Carlo: Gilded Lily''
*''Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa''
*12 single-sided discs
|-
|The Complete Series
|
|
|
|August 3, 2016
|
*''[[The Munsters' Revenge]]''
*''[[Here Come the Munsters]]''
*12 single-sided discs
|}
The "Family Portrait" episode in color, which was absent from the Season 1 and 2 standalone box sets, was released on a standalone Region 1 DVD on October 7, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Munsters-Family-Portrait-Fred-Gwynne/dp/B001DZOCZK |title=The Munsters: Family Portrait: Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis, Yvonne De Carlo: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=October 7, 2008 |access-date=October 13, 2018}}</ref>

==Merchandise==
[[Gold Key Comics]] produced a ''Munsters'' [[comic book]] that ran for 16 issues from 1965 to 1968 and featured photo covers from the TV series. When the series first appeared, the [[Comics Code Authority]] still forbade the appearance of [[vampire]]s in comic books. However, because Gold Key was not a member of the [[Comics Magazine Association of America]], it was not obligated to conform to the Comics Code, and Lily and Grandpa appeared in the comics without controversy.

Other merchandise included a set of rubber [[squeaky toy]]s, [[Colorforms]], and an [[Aurora Plastics Corporation|Aurora]] model kit of the living room and family. AMT produced model kits of the Munster Koach and DRAG-U-LA. The Aurora model of the living room featured Herman in his electric chair, Eddie squatting in front of the fire, Lily knitting and Grandpa hanging in a bat-like manner from the rafters. Marilyn was not included. ERTL later produced a very detailed 1:18 scale diecast of the Munster Koach. Mattel issued two Herman Munster dolls: one was a talking doll and the other was a hand puppet (both with rings that could be pulled to make them talk utilizing Gwynne's actual voice) that were issued from 1964 until around 1968.

A video game based on ''The Munsters'' was published by Again, Again (a division of [[Alternative Software]]) in 1989. It was available for the [[Amstrad CPC]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], [[MSX]], and [[MS-DOS]], but it was criticized by the gaming press because of its short length and lackluster gameplay.<ref>{{WoS game|id=0003329|name=The Munsters}}</ref>

In 1990, [[Atari Corporation]] released ''[[Midnight Mutants]]'' for the [[Atari 7800]], featuring Al Lewis' likeness in his Grampa Munster character on the box and label. However, as Atari had reached an agreement with Universal, they could not call him Grampa Munster, so he was simply called Grampa.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In 1966, a three-reel [[View-Master]] set featuring ''The Munsters'' episode "The Most Beautiful Ghoul in the World" was released, accompanied by a booklet containing drawings and additional text. The set is notable because the photographs provide rare color views of the characters and sets, including house interiors, Grandpa's dungeon laboratory and the characters' heavy greenish-white facial makeup.

==See also==
*[[Vampire films]]
*[[List of vampire television series]]

==Notes==
{{reflist |group="Notes"}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Works==
*[[Joe Connelly (producer)|Joe Connelly]] and [[Bob Mosher]]. (1964). ''The Munsters''. Hollywood: [[Columbia Broadcasting System]] (CBS).
* {{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Stephen |title=The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane |date=2006 |publisher=[[Watson-Guptill]] |isbn=978-0-8230-7894-3 |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Patrick |first1=Butch |author1-link=Butch Patrick |title=Munster Memories: A Mini Coffin Table Book |date=2015 |publisher=TV Classics Press |isbn=978-1-936517-92-3 |language=en}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q1086390|c=Category:The Munsters|display=''The Munsters''|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|wikt=no|s=no|m=no|mw=no}}
* {{Official website}}
*{{IMDb title|0057773|The Munsters}}
*[http://epguides.com/Munsters/ ''The Munsters'' Episode Guide]

{{The Munsters|state=expanded}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Munsters}}
[[Category:The Munsters| ]]
[[Category:1960s American satirical television series]]
[[Category:1960s American single-camera sitcoms]]
[[Category:1964 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1966 American television series endings]]
[[Category:American fantasy comedy television series]]
[[Category:Black-and-white American television shows]]
[[Category:Dracula television series]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Fictional undead]]
[[Category:Television shows adapted into films]]
[[Category:American television series about families]]
[[Category:Fictional families]]
[[Category:Gothic television shows]]
[[Category:Television series by Universal Television]]
[[Category:Vampires in television]]
[[Category:1960s American comedy horror television series]]
[[Category:CBS sitcoms]]
[[Category:Frankenstein television series]]
[[Category:Suburban gothic]]