# The munsters vs the adams fsmily **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 6, 2018, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853 "2018-09-06T02:22:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/21 "2018-09-06T14:23:46Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Did the Addamses even own a car? I can’t remember. Yes. The most memorable feature about it was the [goofy horn](https://e3sparkplugs.com/media/post/Gomez-drives-the-addams-family.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/22 "2018-09-06T14:31:37Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Yes. The most memorable feature about it was the [goofy horn](https://e3sparkplugs.com/media/post/Gomez-drives-the-addams-family.jpg). Ooooo. I like the buzzard hood ornament, too. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/23 "2018-09-06T14:37:17Z")
I’ll agree that the Addams Family was probably a better show in some intellectual sense, but it always left me cold. In my experience, Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis inspired genuine affection that was lacking in the other show. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/24 "2018-09-06T14:49:44Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I’m sorry that Fred Gwynne is best remembered for the role; he deserved better. He received better. _My Cousin Vinnie._ [“Did you say yutes???”](https://youtu.be/K6qGwmXZtsE?t=113) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ecks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ecks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ecks)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/25 "2018-09-06T15:01:56Z")
Mockingbird Lane, the 2012 re imagining of the Munsters by Bryan Singer and Bryan Fuller was quite good. It was supposed to be a pilot, but unfortunately was never picked up. I liked the explanation of the family situation- Grandpa decided that no man was good enough for his daughter, so he custom-built one that was. Eddie being a werewolf was the result of not properly investigating the origin of all the parts. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/26 "2018-09-06T16:00:47Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I’ll agree that the Addams Family was probably a better show in some intellectual sense, but it always left me cold. In my experience, Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis inspired genuine affection that was lacking in the other show. Excellent point. Herman and Grandpa inspire affection from fans of the show. From what I see, Addams Family fans don’t like the characters quite so much as they want to be the characters. Well, just Gomez and Morticia, really. Maybe Wednesday. Never heard anybody express a fantasy of being Fester or Pugsley or Thing or other supporting characters. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/27 "2018-09-06T16:05:53Z")
To me, the best part of _The Munsters_ was Al “Grandpa” Lewis. But all _The Addams Family_ regulars were at least as good. Even Pugsley and Thing. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/28 "2018-09-06T16:35:14Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Never heard anybody express a fantasy of being Fester or Pugsley or Thing or other supporting characters. What fantasy? Ask any Doper who has met me - I am Fester! (Albeit a particularly _loud_ Fester, sartorially-speaking.) ---
**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:** [September 6, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/29 "2018-09-06T16:47:17Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The only place the Munsters edged out the Addamses was in coolness of automobiles. In every other way the Addams Family were superior. Well, they had Spot too. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/30 "2018-09-06T16:49:03Z")
I once knew a guy who was a dead ringer for Fester. He worked as a security guard and never went out unarmed. One Fourth of July, he ensconced himself in a lawn chair with a two-four and spent the evening setting off fireworks. It was eerie to watch. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/31 "2018-09-06T16:50:59Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > To me, the best part of _The Munsters_ was Al “Grandpa” Lewis. Al and Fred had of course already worked together on _ **Car 54, Where Are You?** _ I think a lot of the humor from that show carried over to _ **The Munsters** _. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/32 "2018-09-06T16:53:44Z")
I liked Wednesday (Christina Ricci) in the movies; the TV version not as much. On the TV show I though Thing was really innovative and fun. And Lurch! So for me it’s the Addams family. Our local theater recently did the Addams Family musical, which for my tastes focused too much on Wednesday. I can’t imagine a Broadway musical based on the Munsters. That too tilts my vote for Addams family (are we voting again?). ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/33 "2018-09-06T17:53:54Z")
I dressed up as Uncle Fester for Halloween one year. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/34 "2018-09-06T19:05:18Z")
Well, like **Silenus** , I bear more than a little resemblance to Fester, myself. I can’t say that I want to **be** Fester, though. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/35 "2018-09-06T19:11:36Z")
_The Munsters_ was more of a goofy kids show, kind of like _The Beverly Hillbillies_ with the Universal Monsters. _The Addams Family_ had its kid appeal, too, but it was more sophisticated. Its wit could be biting, it was surreal at times, and the Gomez/Morticia vibe was a nice sideways wink at the grownups whose relationships weren’t exactly like Ward and June Cleaver’s. They were getting away with some shenanigans, and they knew it. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/36 "2018-09-06T19:15:18Z")
Back in the day, _The Addams Family_. Now… probably neither show is watchable for an indefinite period of time. I never liked _The Munsters_, but with the passage of time, I will acknowledge the show had good make-up, theme music and vehicles (Munster Koach and The Drag-u-la). It also had Wolfie, who was totally cool: [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CvEJNUJVYAAEihc.jpg) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CvEJNUJVYAAEihc.jpg) The Munster bicycle was never seen in any episode, but Butch Patrick rode it around the lot. Like the cars, it was a product of Barris Kustoms. [![](https://urbansimplicty.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/eddiemunsterchainbikeea5.jpg) ](https://urbansimplicty.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/eddiemunsterchainbikeea5.jpg) My favorite Munster-related pic: Butch Patrick at a performance of The Munsters singing group (James Infield, Roger Yorke and William Wild) at the Hollywood Bowl in 1965. Photo by John Derek. [![](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) ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/37 "2018-09-06T19:17:03Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > _The Munsters_ was more of a goofy kids show, kind of like _The Beverly Hillbillies_ with the Universal Monsters. _The Addams Family_ had its kid appeal, too, but it was more sophisticated. Its wit could be biting, it was surreal at times, and the Gomez/Morticia vibe was a nice sideways wink at the grownups whose relationships weren’t exactly like Ward and June Cleaver’s. They were getting away with some shenanigans, and they knew it. I beg your pardon! The Beverly Hillbillies was biting social commentary. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/38 "2018-09-06T19:47:38Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > I liked Wednesday (Christina Ricci) in the movies; I only recently realized where Wednesday’s name came from; I had supposed it was some kind of reference to Tuesday Weld. > [@](#): > > Monday’s child is fair of face > Tuesday’s child is full of grace > **Wednesday’s child is full of woe** … ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/39 "2018-09-06T19:49:09Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > I beg your pardon! The Beverly Hillbillies was biting social commentary. They had their moments. Such as when one of Mrs. Drysdale’s genealogist friends believed that the Clampetts first came to America prior to the _Mayflower_. Pearl: “Well, Jed, the earlier your ancestors got here, the higher society you are. Them’s the rules.” Jed: “Well then the highest society would be the Indians, seein’ as they was here before any of us.” ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2018, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853/40 "2018-09-06T20:27:13Z")
I said this in a previous thread: _The Munsters_ was about people who looked like monsters, but who otherwise led normal middle-class lives. _The Addams Family_ was about people who were truly macabre. Both thought they were normal; the difference was that the Munsters really were normal except for their appearance. _The Munsters_ was like _The Flintstones_ and _The Jetsons_ in that all three shows transplanted middle-class American values unchanged into an odd scenario. _The Flintstones_ was about stone-aged people who were exactly like current-day middle-class Americans; _The Jetsons_ was about people living in the far-off future who were exactly like current-day middle-class Americans; and _The Munsters_ was about people who looked like monsters but were exactly like current-day middle-class Americans. The Addams Family was about bizarre, creepy people who lived like bizarre, creepy people in contrast to current-day middle-class Americans. I prefer _The Addams Family_ because the show really went with its premise, and didn’t go with the conformist idea that everyone is the same. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-munsters-vs-the-adams-fsmily/820853.md?page=3)