# Addams Family or Munsters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 10, 1999, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743 "1999-09-10T19:01:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/61 "2018-03-05T09:43:20Z")
I tend to prefer the **Munsters** , probably for the reasons other prefer the **Addams Family**. The dynamic of normal people who looked weird appealed more to me than the genuine weirdness of the Addamses. And I liked how the things in the Munsters that were really weird integrated into the normality, like the stuff with Grandpa’s experiments, or relatives and such. They may look different and have different backgrounds and customs, but, ultimately, they’re all just like us. I also remember thinking that I could be Marilyn’s boyfriend and I wouldn’t freak out. While I could never really be even friends with Wednesday Addams. Too sadistic. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/62 "2018-03-05T11:58:58Z")
> [@MichaelMixologyOS](#): > > Check out Elvira’s TV pilot on you tube, that could have rivalled Munsters or Adams!! Coincidentally, a day or two ago I watched [an episode of The Fall Guy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3eV-8p8Xa0&t=145s) guest-starring Elvira. On topic, _The Addams Family_ all the way. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/63 "2018-03-05T13:07:40Z")
I like the Munsters better. To me, they were just plain funnier. And more likable. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/64 "2018-03-05T14:28:20Z")
The Addams Family over the munsters. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/65 "2018-03-05T14:32:44Z")
Addams Family. They looked normal, felt normal, and were quirky in their own lovable way. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/66 "2018-03-05T14:39:09Z")
Wow. Confusing ‘The New York Post’ with ‘The New Yorker’. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/67 "2018-03-05T15:32:29Z")
I dunno; sometimes when you watch the Addams Family, you get the impression that maybe they _are_ normal, and it’s just the rest of us who are weird. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/68 "2018-03-05T16:45:23Z")
And George Barris never designed the Monkeemobile; that was Dean Jeffries. Barris just shamelessly claimed credit. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/69 "2018-03-05T20:49:41Z")
As a kid I always liked the Munsters better. I mean they had a Dracula AND a Frankenstein. As I got older, I started to appreciate the Addamses more, particularly around the time of the theatrical movies. Today, i could easily enjoy either. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/70 "2018-03-05T21:25:18Z")
The Munsters were much funnier. Fred Gwynne had recently finished his brilliant comedic role in Car 54, Where Are You. The Munsters reunited Fred with Al Lewis from Car 54. Yvonne De Carlo did a wonderful job as Lilly. The casting for the kids could have been stronger. I liked the Adams Family. It just didn’t have as strong a comedic cast. Jackie Coogan was the best commedian in that show. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/71 "2018-03-05T21:35:12Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Those who haven’t seen the Addam’s Family movies, you are missing out on a stylistic, wicked treat! And the sequel is actually better than the first! > . But the third is weak. I’d have to say Addams family. Munsters had some interesting commentary on the family, however. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/72 "2018-03-05T21:45:28Z")
Zombie monsters! (Hey, someone was going to say it.) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/73 "2018-03-05T22:08:25Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And George Barris never designed the Monkeemobile; that was Dean Jeffries. Barris just shamelessly claimed credit. Barris did make some copies, though. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/74 "2018-03-05T22:33:15Z")
> [@jab1](#): > > It was [George Barris.](http://www.barris.com) He also designed the TV Batmobile, the Beverly Hillbillies truck, the Monkee-mobile, the Knight rider car, The Dukes’ General Lee and other movie and TV cars. Here is the Munster Koach’s [home page.](http://www.munsterkoach.com/default.asp) > > Does anyone else remember Grandpa’s “Drag-u-la”? That was Barris’s work, too. Along with not designing the Monkeemobile, Barris also did not design the Knightrider car (the work of Michael Scheffe) or The Dukes’ General Lee. The Barris shop did do some modifications on The Knightrider car for one of the later seasons. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And George Barris never designed the Monkeemobile; that was Dean Jeffries. Barris just shamelessly claimed credit. The first two Monkeemobiles were built by Mr. Jeffries and Dick Dean. Less than a year later, Mr. Dean built a third one for Barris. It would be easier to blame Barris for promoting such false claims if so many others who did not do adequate research hadn’t done so as well. The ease with which the internet spreads information - factual or otherwise - has only made matters worse in this regard. As far as The Munsters vs. The Addams, I never liked the former family and have long considered that show as unwatchable as any sitcom ever produced. The Koach was kinda cool, but not featured in very many episodes. This is my favorite picture of it: [![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wdD9qerQE9I/UOJLC5Be-4I/AAAAAAAAOCI/2Nu7VSoum-g/s1600/202462_3039396003891_1032094252_o.jpg) ](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wdD9qerQE9I/UOJLC5Be-4I/AAAAAAAAOCI/2Nu7VSoum-g/s1600/202462_3039396003891_1032094252_o.jpg) That’s Butch Patrick in make-up at the Hollywood Bowl for a performance by The Munsters singing group in 1965. Photo by John Derek. The Addams’ had some wit, plus Ted Cassidy as Lurch and the divine Carolyn Jones as Morticia. It was still a sitcom, but at least it was a little different. I did not care much for the movies - don’t think I was ever able to finish watching the second one - but Raul Julia and Christina Ricci were both upgrades from the TV cast. As far as weird (as opposed to monstrous) families go, I prefer _Spider Baby_ (1967). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/75 "2018-03-05T22:46:19Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > I prefer _Spider Baby_ (1967). I always have a Merrye time when I watch that DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/76 "2018-03-05T23:25:52Z")
Morticia. {SIGH} ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/77 "2018-03-06T00:24:13Z")
Addams Family, but I enjoyed them both. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/78 "2018-03-06T01:27:35Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > I did not care much for the movies - don’t think I was ever able to finish watching the second one - but Raul Julia and Christina Ricci were both upgrades from the TV cast. I respectfully disagree. No one could ever improve on John Astin as Gomez. But I do agree Christina Ricci was delightful as Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/79 "2018-03-06T01:56:29Z")
I believe that Lily and Herman were the first tv couple to sleep in the same bed. That has to count for something. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743/80 "2018-03-06T02:43:48Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > I believe that Lily and Herman were the first tv couple to sleep in the same bed. That has to count for something. Not even close. The first TV couple to sleep in the same bed was Johnny and Mary Kay Stearns on the 1947 show _Mary Kay and Johnny_ on the Dumont Network. > **[Who Was the First TV Couple to Sleep in the Same Bed?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/early-to-bed/)** > > Many answers have been offered to this classic trivia question, but the correct one is rather obscure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addams-family-or-munsters/16743.md?page=5)