Watch The Munsters

Name: The Munsters
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1964-09-24
Cast: Fred Gwynne

TV-PG
1964
2 Seasons
7.8 (16,019)

The Munsters is a classic American television sitcom that aired from 1964 to 1966 on CBS. Starring Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, and Al Lewis, the show is a lighthearted and comedic take on the horror genre, telling the story of a family of monsters who struggle to fit in with ordinary human society. The show is centered around the titular Munster family, consisting of patriarch Herman Munster (Gwynne), a Frankenstein's monster-like creature; his wife Lily (De Carlo), a vampire; their son Eddie (Butch Patrick), a werewolf; and Herman's father-in-law Grandpa (Lewis), a Transylvanian vampire who is approximately 370 years old. Living in a creepy mansion at 1313 Mockingbird Lane in Mockingbird Heights, the Munsters represent a suburban family with a twist. Despite their monstrous appearances, they are a loving and close-knit family who value their relationships with each other above all else. Herman is a kind and gentle giant who works at a funeral home, while Lily is a devoted homemaker who is always concerned about her family. Grandpa, a mad scientist and alchemist, spends his time concocting potions and spells to help the family out of various predicaments. Eddie attends a regular school, but his werewolf tendencies often get him into trouble. Throughout the show's run, the Munsters face various challenges as they try to navigate their way through human society. They often find themselves misunderstood and ostracized by their neighbors, who are unaware of their true natures. From dealing with nosy neighbors to trying to fit in at a country club, the Munsters' antics are full of humor and heart. One of the strengths of The Munsters is its cast of memorable characters. Gwynne delivers a standout performance as Herman, imbuing the character with a childlike innocence and charm. De Carlo shines as Lily, bringing an elegance and grace to the show. Lewis, a veteran character actor, brings a wry wit to the role of Grandpa. In addition to the main cast, the show features a wide array of guest stars including horror icons Boris Karloff and Vincent Price. The episode featuring Karloff, who plays a mad scientist trying to transplant Herman's brain into another body, is often cited as a standout episode of the series. Visually, The Munsters is a feast for the eyes, featuring elaborate and inventive costumes and set designs. The Munsters' mansion is a macabre masterpiece, complete with trapdoors and secret passages. The show's opening sequence, featuring the iconic theme song by composer Jack Marshall, is a classic piece of television history. Despite being canceled after only two seasons, The Munsters has remained a beloved and enduring classic of television history. Its legacy can be seen in countless references and homages to the show in popular culture, from The Simpsons' Halloween specials to the hit animated series The Addams Family. Overall, The Munsters is a charming and witty sitcom that combines classic gothic horror tropes with humor and heart. Its memorable characters, iconic visual aesthetics, and enduring popularity have secured it a place in television history.

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Seasons

2 1

32. A Visit From the Teacher

May 12, 1966

The Munsters get a visit from Eddie's teacher and principal after he writes a report describing his family life. The concern seems to be whether Eddie is being deprived at home.

31. Herman's Lawsuit

April 21, 1966

Herman is involved in an accident after a car is destroyed by running into him. The driver offers him $10,000 believing he has been seriously injured, but its Herman who is concerned over wrecking her car.

30. Herman's Sorority Caper

April 14, 1966

To cure Herman's case of hiccups, Grandpa puts him in a deep sleep. But he wakes up in a college fraternity when two pledges enter the Munster's mansion on a dare and bring him back to the dorm as a prank.

29. A House Divided

April 7, 1966

An argument ensues after Herman ruins the go-cart Grandpa has built for Eddie's birthday. Claiming half the house belongs to him, Grandpa draws a line dividing the mansion in two.

28. Herman, the Tire-Kicker

March 31, 1966

Marilyn's new car from "Fair Deal Dan'' turns out to be a real lemon, but things go from bad to worse when Herman is arrested for driving a stolen vehicle.

27. Eddie's Brother

March 24, 1966

When Eddie asks for a brother, Grandpa creates a robot for him to play with. But Eddie soon resents his 'perfect' brother.

26. A Visit From Johann

March 17, 1966

Dr. Victor Frankenstein IV has created a look-alike monster of Herman and asks if he would take him in and domesticate him. Lily, unaware that Johann has escaped from the lab, takes him off for a romantic getaway.

25. Prehistoric Munster

March 10, 1966

Marilyn's clay bust of Herman, created for art class brings intrigue to her professor after she reveals that the creation is a living human being. Believing him to be the 'missing link', the professors measure his statistics. Herman mistakes these measurements for a new suit he thinks he has won in the "Father of the Year" contest Eddie has entered him in.

24. The Musician

March 3, 1966

Eddie takes up playing the trumpet for the school band, but isn't very good. To give him a boost Grandpa conjures up a pill to make him a virtuoso. But when the schools band teacher comes to hear him try out, Grandpa must rush to make another pill. This time Eddie turns into a defiant hipster.

23. Cyrano de Munster

February 24, 1966

A co-worker is impressed by Herman's poetry that was published in a morticians magazine and asks him to write some to win over a girl. But Lily becomes suspicious after coming across the writings.

22. Zombo

February 17, 1966

Eddie is delighted to learn he has won the ''I Like Zombo Because..." contest sponsored by his idol Zombo, a ghoulish tv character. Herman is jealous over Eddie's fascination with Zombo and tries to emulate him. But meeting him in person shows Eddie who his real hero is.

21. The Fregosi Emerald

February 10, 1966

Its Marilyn's birthday and with the tradition comes the presents. Eddies gift is a ring he found in the attic, which Grandpa recalls as the Fregosi Emerald. With the ring comes a curse to the wearer. Herman wants to prove there is no such thing as a curse but bad things start to occur, including the ring being stuck on his finger. The only one who can remove the curse is a descendant of the Fregosi family.

20. Grandpa's Lost Wife

February 3, 1966

While perusing a Detective magazine in bed, Herman reads a wanted ad for Grandpa by a woman in Sioux City, Iowa, claiming to be his wife. Grandpa pleads his innocence, until he discovers that she is rich.

19. The Most Beautiful Ghoul in the World

January 27, 1966

An inheritance creates a rift in the family. Lily and Marilyn believe they should open a beauty parlor, but Herman and Grandpa want to use it to build his invention of sending electricity through the air.

18. Big Heap Herman

January 20, 1966

When the Munsters go on vacation to Buffalo Valley, Herman gets off at rest stop in Indian Flats, where he gets left behind. When he wanders into a Indian Village, an elder of the tribe thinks that Herman is an ancient spirit leader, back to revitalize his tribe's way of life.

17. Just Another Pretty Face

January 13, 1966

While messing around in Grandpa's laboratory, Herman is struck by a jolt of electricity. The result is Herman's face being deformed into a normal looking human being, to the families horror.

16. Herman Picks a Winner

January 6, 1966

To teach Eddie a lesson on the evils of gambling, Herman bets his money on a horse guaranteed to lose. But Grandpa feels this is a dumb idea and fixes the race.

15. Herman's Peace Offensive

December 30, 1965

It's a lesson of passive problem solving when Eddie is teased at school and Herman is picked on by a bully at work.

14. The Treasure of Mockingbird Heights

December 23, 1965

A pirates treasure map found in the dungeon leads to a search for the buried fortune and a battle over its rightful owner.

13. Underground Munster

December 9, 1965

When Spot runs away, Herman is spotted himself by sewer workers and is reported as a creature roaming underground.

12. Will Success Spoil Herman Munster?

December 2, 1965

Herman Munster, a singing sensation? That seems to be the story after Eddie's friend brings a tape recorder to the mansion and is left a song performed by Herman. When the boys father hears the tape, he mistakes it as a demo which becomes a hit song on the radio. But the family is not at all happy when our new star becomes a conceited celebrity.

11. Herman's Driving Test

November 25, 1965

Herman gets promoted to driver for the parlor, but first must renew his license with a little help from Grandpa.

10. A Man for Marilyn

November 18, 1965

Grandpa invents a potion to turn a frog into a prince for Marilyn, but as usual it didn't work. While alone one night, Marilyn discovers that she has been locked in her room. Shouting for help, a passerby climbs the trellis to lend her a hand. While describing the family and her situation to the rescuer, he gets the impression she is being held prisoner by monsters. Grandpa of course believes his potion has worked after meeting Marilyn's rescuer.

9. John Doe Munster

November 11, 1965

Herman has amnesia after a safe lands on his head. After claiming him, the Munsters find out that Herman believes he is a child.

8. Lily's Star Boarder

November 4, 1965

Herman convinces Grandpa that Lily's new border is a criminal after spying him carrying a gun, unaware that he is really a police Lieutenant.

7. Operation Herman

October 28, 1965

A visit to the doctor shows that Eddie needs his tonsils removed. Herman and Grandpa try to sneak into the hospital after visiting hours to bring Eddie his toy doll Wolf-wolf.

6. Happy 100th Anniversary

October 21, 1965

To earn money for their 100th wedding anniversary, both Lily and Herman unknowingly take a job in the same shipyard together, even working side-by-side.

5. Herman, Coach of the Year

October 14, 1965

Eddie gets track training from Herman, but its Grandpa's pills that is the cause of his new found speed.

4. Herman Munster, Shutter Bug

October 7, 1965

Herman's new hobby of photography causes danger for the family after he snaps a picture during a bank robbery.

3. Bronco-Bustin' Munster

September 30, 1965

Its time for the Mockingbird Heights Frontier Days and Herman is entered in the bronco busting contest. To ensure a win, Grandpa turns himself into a horse. But its Volcano, a horse who lives up to his name that is chosen as Hermans ride.

2. Herman, the Master Spy

September 23, 1965

The Munsters set out for a day at the beach, along with Eddie burying Grandpa in the sand and Herman setting off scuba diving. But when Herman disappears and ends up on a Russian boat, they believe to have caught the missing link while the commissar believes he is an American spy.

1. Herman's Child Psychology

September 16, 1965

Eddie's friend convinces him that they should run away and live in a cave. After doing so Herman allows him to go believing it is just a bluff. Finding out it is for real, Herman sets off to retrieve him but instead carries home a baby bear.

Description

The show is centered around the titular Munster family, consisting of patriarch Herman Munster (Gwynne), a Frankenstein's monster-like creature; his wife Lily (De Carlo), a vampire; their son Eddie (Butch Patrick), a werewolf; and Herman's father-in-law Grandpa (Lewis), a Transylvanian vampire who is approximately 370 years old.

Living in a creepy mansion at 1313 Mockingbird Lane in Mockingbird Heights, the Munsters represent a suburban family with a twist. Despite their monstrous appearances, they are a loving and close-knit family who value their relationships with each other above all else. Herman is a kind and gentle giant who works at a funeral home, while Lily is a devoted homemaker who is always concerned about her family. Grandpa, a mad scientist and alchemist, spends his time concocting potions and spells to help the family out of various predicaments. Eddie attends a regular school, but his werewolf tendencies often get him into trouble.

Throughout the show's run, the Munsters face various challenges as they try to navigate their way through human society. They often find themselves misunderstood and ostracized by their neighbors, who are unaware of their true natures. From dealing with nosy neighbors to trying to fit in at a country club, the Munsters' antics are full of humor and heart.

One of the strengths of The Munsters is its cast of memorable characters. Gwynne delivers a standout performance as Herman, imbuing the character with a childlike innocence and charm. De Carlo shines as Lily, bringing an elegance and grace to the show. Lewis, a veteran character actor, brings a wry wit to the role of Grandpa.

In addition to the main cast, the show features a wide array of guest stars including horror icons Boris Karloff and Vincent Price. The episode featuring Karloff, who plays a mad scientist trying to transplant Herman's brain into another body, is often cited as a standout episode of the series.

Visually, The Munsters is a feast for the eyes, featuring elaborate and inventive costumes and set designs. The Munsters' mansion is a macabre masterpiece, complete with trapdoors and secret passages. The show's opening sequence, featuring the iconic theme song by composer Jack Marshall, is a classic piece of television history.

Despite being canceled after only two seasons, The Munsters has remained a beloved and enduring classic of television history. Its legacy can be seen in countless references and homages to the show in popular culture, from The Simpsons' Halloween specials to the hit animated series The Addams Family.

Overall, The Munsters is a charming and witty sitcom that combines classic gothic horror tropes with humor and heart. Its memorable characters, iconic visual aesthetics, and enduring popularity have secured it a place in television history.

The Munsters is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (70 episodes). The series first aired on September 24, 1964.

Where to Watch The Munsters

The Munsters is available for streaming on the CBS website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch The Munsters on demand at Apple TV.