# Mockingbird Lane **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 27, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995 "2012-10-27T01:38:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/1 "2012-10-27T01:38:20Z")
I caught the very end as I switched channels to Grimm. Did anyone watch? Do Portia DiRossi and Eddie Izzard cancel out the mountain of suck that is Jerry O’Connell? Is that even possible? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/2 "2012-10-27T02:02:51Z")
I liked it. Obviously, it was more serious than the original, but the essence of each character, and the dynamics between them, were still the same, somehow. The biggest change was that they weren’t under the delusion that they were all perfectly normal. O’Connell wasn’t bad; Herman was still the earnest and forthright one, but not with Fred Gwynn’s boisterousness. de Rossi and Izzard were both good. No one has done the old-school, aristocratic vampire in so long that it may have seemed fresher than it should have. Kind of a shame it didn’t get picked up. I’m curious how the writers would have made them monstrous enough to be serious, but not so bad that the neighbors stormed the house with torches and pitchforks. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/3 "2012-10-27T02:10:41Z")
Local NBC station didn’t air it here. Apparently they thought a rerun of Jeopardy would draw better ratings. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/4 "2012-10-27T02:25:01Z")
It was okay. I watched it primarily because I love Eddie Izzard, who was wonderful. Portia di Rossi was good, and Jerry O’Connell wasn’t intolerable. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/5 "2012-10-27T02:26:18Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Local NBC station didn’t air it here. Apparently they thought a rerun of Jeopardy would draw better ratings. How’d they stretch a rerun of “Jeopardy” to an hour? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/6 "2012-10-27T02:34:34Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Jerry O’Connell wasn’t intolerable. That might be the first time since _Stand By Me_. ---
**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:** [October 27, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/7 "2012-10-27T04:02:31Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Kind of a shame it didn’t get picked up. I’m curious how the writers would have made them monstrous enough to be serious, but not so bad that the neighbors stormed the house with torches and pitchforks. I thought they gave it the option of a series pickup, depending on how high the ratings are for tonight’s episode. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/8 "2012-10-27T10:06:27Z")
That was better than many programs that have lasted multiple seasons, and better than it had any right to be. Good cast all around. They’d have to find the right tone for the black humor/ghoulishness, but it had promise. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/9 "2012-10-27T11:09:41Z")
I watched it. It WAS a big mountain of suck. The whole vibe was along the lines of a project developed by Tim Burton’s addled half-brother. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/10 "2012-10-27T12:17:15Z")
I looked at it, briefly, didn’t have time to actually watch it. I liked the parts I saw, but I didn’t see that it had anything to do with the dopey old Munsters TV show. That was an interesting cast. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/11 "2012-10-27T12:37:37Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > That was better than many programs that have lasted multiple seasons, and better than it had any right to be. **Good cast all around.** They’d have to find the right tone for the black humor/ghoulishness, but it had promise. _Emphasis added_ That can’t be true. It starred Jerry O’Connell. The real question is did his level of suckitude dip enough that Izzard and di Rossi could overcome it. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/12 "2012-10-27T12:50:13Z")
I’m not getting the Jerry O’ hate. They went a lot darker than I thought they would. Not a whole lot of yucks but the characters were _very_ interesting. Izzard was f’n awesome. If the series gets picked up, I hope Eddie embraces his ‘Muunsterism’ and stops being such a whiney little sap. But of course, since I liked it; that’s a sure sign it wont get picked up. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/13 "2012-10-27T13:30:10Z")
O’Connell is a mountain of suck that makes nearly any show unwatchable. His co-stars have to overcome his awfulness. I firmly believe the man has dirt on all the top Hollywood execs - stuff that would be bad by even LaLaLand standards. It’s the only was he could continually find work. Teaming him with Belushi meant every other show on TV could be better, as the two worst were occupied. Obviously the show sucked, but that never stopped shows from being continuously renewed (see _Two and a Half Men_). And I’m jealous that he got to bang Mystique, but I despised his lack of acting before I knew about that. That was just the icing on the cake. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/14 "2012-10-27T15:10:07Z")
It was visually impressive (and Portia looked \*very \*good) but I was underwhelmed. Great to see Eddie Izzard again, but he needs a better show. I did like the spiders spinning Lily’s dress at the beginning and the heart transplant bit. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/15 "2012-10-27T16:58:50Z")
Realizing it is/was a Bryan Fuller creation (Dead like me, Pushing Daisies) made me like it all the more - really hoping it gets picked up for atleast a season. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/16 "2012-10-27T17:37:09Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > _Emphasis added_ > > That can’t be true. It starred Jerry O’Connell. The real question is did his level of suckitude dip enough that Izzard and di Rossi could overcome it. Ahhh, Jerry is Jerry. If Jerry fits a role, he’s fine. He’s not Fred Gwynn, but they weren’t trying to make THIS Herman like Gwynn’s. He was fine. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/17 "2012-10-27T17:40:17Z")
I’m a fan of the original show so I didn’t like this one much, but mainly because it’s something completely different. O’Connell doesn’t bother me, but I didn’t like his character. I don’t like Izzard, but he was actually better in this than other things. What bothered me most was what’s-her-face playing Lily. The character seems much the same but instead of being played by a voluptuous queen of drama it’s a rather undistinquished actress both in talent and looks. Ok, my opinions are definitely colored by the fond memories of the original show, but I didn’t see in this one the potential for anything similar. If this is a completely different show with a true horror plot then I don’t see the need to borrow anything at all from the original. Never-the-less, if it gets picked up I’d watch a few more episodes to see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/18 "2012-10-27T19:17:54Z")
With reboots being all the rage in Hollywood these days, it baffles me that people are surprized that Mockingbird Lane is nothing like the original. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/19 "2012-10-27T20:18:45Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > It was visually impressive (and Portia looked \*very \*good) but I was underwhelmed. Great to see Eddie Izzard again, but he needs a better show. I did like the spiders spinning Lily’s dress at the beginning and the heart transplant bit. I suspect the special effects budget is one factor working against picking up this show for a full season. > [@TriPolar](#): > > O’Connell doesn’t bother me, but I didn’t like his character. I don’t like Izzard, but he was actually better in this than other things. What bothered me most was what’s-her-face playing Lily. The character seems much the same but instead of being played by a voluptuous queen of drama it’s a rather undistinquished actress both in talent and looks. I must take issue with part of this, at least. She looked fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995/20 "2012-10-27T20:24:14Z")
I love Brian Fuller’s previous shows and have fond memories of the Munsters but this show didn’t work. It didn’t have the right energy. The characters were too normal and low key. As corny as the old Munsters were, each character seemed more full of life than any of these. Low key characters would be OK if the premise was more interesting. But standard monster characters living in the modern world is a story I have seen many times before. None of these characters is on a journey and nothing very funny happened. It should bother me that there wont be another episode, but, based on the pilot, I think the network made the right call. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mockingbird-lane/638995.md?page=2)