The Munsters Today

Plot

The series concerns the day-to-day life of a family of benign monsters, with married couple Herman Munster and vampire Lily Munster. Lily's Father Grandpa, who is also a vampire, lives with the family. Herman and Lily have a son named Eddie, who is a werewolf, and their niece, Marilyn, whom the family deems as strange, but is the only “normal” member of the family, also lives with them.

This sequel series starts with Grandpa creating "Sleeping Chambers," coffins which make the user fall asleep for a selected amount of time, and insisting the entire family try them out. After Grandpa sets the dial for 30 minutes and shuts the door, a flash of light and a falling beam change the dial to "Forever." 22 years later, a man named Mr. Prescott and his assistant explore the Munsters' house with plans to turn it into a parking lot when they unknowingly awaken the Munsters from their Sleeping Chambers. Finding themselves in the 1980s, the Munsters work to adjust themselves to the current time period.

Cast

Main cast

• John Schuck as Herman Munster
• Lee Meriwether as Lily Munster
• Jason Marsden as Edward "Eddie" Wolfgang Munster
• Hilary Van Dyke as Marilyn Munster
• Howard Morton as "Grandpa" Vladimir Dracula

Recurring cast

• Mary Cadorette as Dee Dee Nelson
• Richard Steven Horvitz as Howie Buchanan
• Greg Mullavey as Roger Nelson
• Scott Reeves as Dustin Nelson
• Tiffany Brissette as Shannon Millhouse
• Bijou Phillips as August Millhouse

Special guest stars

• Kaye Ballard as Mother Earth
• Billy Barty as Genie
• Shelley Berman as Sam Hawkins
• Jonathan Brandis as Matt Glover
• Dr. Joyce Brothers as Mrs. Cousins
• Ruth Buzzi as Dracula's Mother and, in another episode, Miss Finster
• Gordon Cooper as Himself
• Bill Daily as Count Strimpkin
• Dustin Diamond as Rob
• Moosie Drier as Andy Graves
• Nancy Dussault as Dr. Sandra Brown
• Nanette Fabray as Dottie
• Norman Fell as Mr. Maurice
• Christopher Fielder as Damien
• Lucy Lee Flippin as Natasha Jones
• Kathleen Freeman as Grandma
• George Furth as Dr. Carver
• Zsa Zsa Gabor as Herself
• Kip King as Burt Fearman
• Dave Madden as Mr. Preston
• Eddie Mekka as Mr. Sweetzer
• Richard Moll as Genghis Khan
• Pat Morita as Mr. Watanabe
• Don Most as Barney Morley
• Lois Nettleton as Jessica Brown
• Daniel Riordan as Headlock Henderson
• Marcia Wallace as Dr. Susan Evans
• Jo De Winter as Katja Dracula
• Yetta as Shirley

Production

Development

This color revival of The Munsters starred John Schuck (Herman), Lee Meriwether (Lily), Howard Morton (Grandpa), Hilary Van Dyke (Marilyn) and Jason Marsden (Eddie), and broadcast 72 episodes from October 8, 1988, to May 25, 1991, giving it more first-run episodes than the original series. The pilot explained the 22-year gap following the original series by showing the family as they were in 1966. They were testing out a machine that Grandpa had created. The machine allows someone to sleep for ages without aging. But then an accident took place; the family then proceeds to sleep for years, only to wake up in 1988.

It was created following a failed attempt to revive the show with most of the original cast (Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis and Yvonne De Carlo) in the 1981 NBC telefilm The Munsters' Revenge.

Episodes

Pilot

Season 1 (1988–89)

Season 2 (1989–90)

Season 3 (1990–91)

Note-Remake of an original episode from the 1960s series.

Reception

The series lasted three seasons in syndication, and proved popular with international audiences. The show premiered in the United Kingdom on Saturday, January 6, 1990, on selected regions of ITV, continuing on the channel until June 1996.

In the United States, reruns aired on digital subchannel Retro Television Network from August 2008 until their distribution agreement with NBCUniversal expired in June 2011.

Awards and nominations

Stations

References

References

1. Buck, Jerry. (1989-07-19). "Bonnie Franklin Directing 'Munsters Today'". The Los Angeles Times.
2. "BBC – Comedy Guide – The Munsters Today".
3. Dretzka, Gary. (1988-10-08). "Bright Mood Makes New 'Munsters' A Bore". Chicago Tribune.
4. Clark, Kenneth R. (1988-09-20). "Munsters Awaken From 22-year Nap". Chicago Tribune.
5. (February 15, 2006). "CONNECTICUT TV- Sunday December 3, 1989".
6. (March 13, 2012). "Retro: Charleston, SC, Sat. Nov 10, 1990, 7am-8pm".
7. Clark, Kenneth R.. (September 20, 1988). "MUNSTERS AWAKEN FROM 22-YEAR NAP". Chicago Tribune.
8. (May 26, 2019). "Retro: Chicago, Friday, May 31, 1991".
9. (January 12, 2011). "Retro Cleveland/Akron: Saturday, February 17, 1990".
10. (October 13, 2006). "Northern Indiana - Sunday, February 26, 1989".
11. (March 12, 2010). "Retro: Northern Wisconsin/Western U.P. Michigan Fri, Mar 15, 1991".
12. (August 25, 2005). "Retro: North Carolina, 9/14/91".
13. (February 26, 2006). "HARTFORD/NEW HAVEN RETRO - March 23-29, 1991 - Independents/Fox Affiliate".
14. (October 19, 2005). "Retro: Minnesota Thurs 6/24/93".
15. "KTVU 2 The Munsters Today Promo (1988)".
16. "80's Commercials Vol. 434".
17. (October 20, 2018). "Retro: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Week of August 11th, 1991".
18. (June 16, 2017). "Who aired what where: Lesser-known syndicated shows".
19. (February 10, 2018). "Retro: Louisville/Cincinnati, Wednesday, November 8, 1995".
20. (November 13, 2017). "Retro: Salt Lake City, Sunday, November 5, 1989".
21. ""The Munsters Today" US TV promo (1990)".
22. "KTZZ The Munsters Today promo, 1990".
23. "1989 - The Munsters Today".
24. ""Munsters Today" Promo".
25. (January 24, 2019). "Retro: Spokane, Washington — Sunday, February 19, 1989".
26. (August 2, 2015). "Retro: Yakima, WA; Sat. July 15th, 1989".
27. (May 2, 2016). "Who aired what where: Lesser-known syndicated shows".