"Mockingbird Lane"...Ho-hum...

(New cast starting at top and going clockwise:  Eddie Izzard as "Grandpa (Sam Dracula)"; Portia de Rossi as "Lily"; Jerry O'Connell as "Herman"; Mason Cook as "Eddie"; and Charity Wakefield as "Marilyn"'

Inset- Old Cast starting at top right and moving clockwise: Al Lewis as "Grandpa"; Yvonne De Carlo as "Lily"; Fred Gwynne as "Herman"; Butch Patrick as "Eddie"; Pat Priest as "Marilyn")

For the past few months I have been waiting patiently for a premiere. The pilot episode of “Mockingbird Lane”.

I read the growing buzz about this latest reboot with a smidge of interest, born out of curiosity more than anything else. To say that I am tired of the reboot mill would be an understatement. Isn’t there anyone in Hollywood who can generate anything original? Yes, every once in a while there is a ‘reboot’ of a successful show or film that works for the most part (i.e. the Addams Family productions). On a number of levels these remakes, re-imaginings, reboots (whatever you wish to call them) feel like cheating. Especially when the original was great to begin with. The muckety-mucks who gravitate to these re-workings are probably thinking that enough time has passed for the younger people among us to not be familiar with the original productions, so they can get away with it. Whatever their reasoning, the least they could do is…and I have said this time and time again…the least they could do is rework something that bombed and make it better. There are plenty of failed projects that have had a great premise/story line, but lacked in execution. Producers need to go for those, and stay away from beloved shows with solid fan bases/cult followings like “The Munsters”.

Okay…now for ”Mockingbird Lane”. I will start my personal critique by saying that I didn’t have high hopes going in. The effort was made to retain an open mind, but I’m a fan of the original. Maybe I would be pleasantly surprised? That was the mind-set I tried to have. Don’t finalize my opinion before I even see the episode. Could be difficult, but…okay.

(1313 Mockingbird lane)

The show opens with a camp site filled with Scouts and their Scout masters. Its night and they are sitting around the camp fire. Terror enters the mix as a scout is plucked off the stump he is sitting on by a beast of some sort. The chaos continues until we learn that they are being attacked and terrorized by a werewolf. Cut to a car filled to the brim with scouts and a scout master. Where’s Eddie? A perplexed and naked Eddie Munster steps out of the bushes.

Next up: The house at 1313 Mockingbird Lane has a rather infamous history, once belonging to a serial killer who murdered hoboes. Marilyn finds the structure while house hunting with a realtor. He tells her the gruesome tale which of course attracts her to the place. Of course.

The Munsters of “Mockingbird Lane” look like you and I, for the most part. No green skin. No flat head and neck bolts (although there is a nod to the flat-headed Herman as the new Herman enters the house). No flowing black hair with white streak. No black cape, and…well, okay, grandpa does have pointy teeth. He is Sam Dracula, so he is appropriately ‘fangy’. Marilyn looks like a regular human, but then she always has…no shocker there. These Munsters want to fit in. They want to blend. To be like everyone else.

(Herman's heart gets a tune-up)

This element of wanting to look like everyone else and blend in misses the mark that the original made. One of the things that I dug about Herman, Lily, and the rest of the Munster clan was the fact that they looked different from everyone else (aside from Marilyn), but didn’t think anything of it. They were themselves. The 1960’s Munsters were filmed in black and white, but they were in fact green.  So when a door to door salesman screamed and jumped over the fence at seeing their green visages, the Munsters chalked it up to any mundane reason other than them having a shocking appearance. To them they were normal, they did fit in.

Back to the reboot. Eddie Izzard as Grandpa is really the main standout in the cast. The overall tone of this new version is quite darker than the old, and Grandpa is by far the darkest of the family members. He is ‘the’ Dracula, and father to Lily (Portia de Rossi), who is also a vamp. Herman (Jerry O’Connell) is the handsome man of the house who, aside from a collection of scars across his neck and chest and a zippered flap of skin over his heart, looks like everyone else in the “normal” world. Cousin Marilyn (Charity Wakefield) is the bleach blond misfit toy of the clan, just like in the original. However, this time Marilyn has a dark streak that shows through in some of the more entertaining parts of this pilot episode that pair her with Izzard. Last there’s son Eddie (Mason Cook), who is entering into puberty and starting to show his hairy and howly side. Only Herman and Lily are keeping these developments from their son who remembers nothing after he’s gone through one of his ‘changes’.

(Lily and Eddie)

Herman Munster is made of spare parts. We know this from the ‘60s. He even looked like Frankenstein back then. O’Connell’s handsome Herman is also pieced together, and his parts have a tendency to go bad, specifically his heart. The last replacement was procured from one of Eddie’s scout masters with his old troop (which is the reason they moved to their new home). Grandpa performs the necessary ‘parts maintenance’ for Herman. He has a mechanical heart that he keeps trying to get Herman to use, but Herman wants a real heart. A real heart that will help him feel his love for Lily.

So Herman’s heart is failing…it’s time for a replacement. Grandpa has also decided to start feeding again. Eddie’s new scout master is fingered as the intended victim. Herman gets his heart, and grandpa gets his bloody meal (which makes him look much younger). Herman and Lily also decide to tell Eddie that he’s a werewolf (they had lied to him before, telling him that a bear had attacked his old scout troop).

 “Mockingbird Lane” is more stylized than “The Munsters”, which is to be expected. Make-up and effects have progressed by leaps and bounds since the 1960’s. There are some cool effect moments like when Grandpa forms out of a growing pile of rats, or when a bunch of spiders spin a dress onto Lily’s body. Watching Grandpa jam hearts into Herman’s zippered chest cavity is kind of gross, but this is a much bloodier show.

A couple of other characters in the hood are their neighbors, the Grants. They might as well be named the Kravitz’s because I immediately thought of Mrs. Kravitz when Mrs. Grant opened her door. Marilyn and grandpa show up on their doorstep with cookies that grandpa made. He filled the centers with his blood, so when Mr. Grant eats one he falls in thrall with him. (We later see Mr. Grant painting the Munsters’ house.)

Did I expect “Mockingbird Lane” to be exactly like “The Munsters”? No. This one episode supposedly cost $10 million to make. Initially, the buzz was that the series would premiere in 2013, but it appears that the network decided to show the pilot as more of a Halloween special. During the interminable commercial breaks, they also were promoting other network shows (Grimm, Revolution) like it was sweeps week, the promos on top of the commercials really took what little steam “Mockingbird Lane” generated out of the picture. I felt that the episode got a little better as it went on, but overall I was not impressed. I do realize it is a darker show (I do dig the dark), but it would help if I as a viewer felt something for the characters. The original Munsters were so lovable. I’m not saying the “Mockingbird Lane” Munsters need to be lovable, but at the end I didn’t really care if there are any more episodes. If they were to shave off some family fluff and do something with just grandpa and Marilyn then maybe (big maybe) that would be a decent show. It would definitely be an improvement, but it’s not likely to happen. I don’t like this version of the Munsters where they are striving to “be a part of”…I liked the old version where the Munsters “WERE a part of”…

"Mockingbird Lane"...A Sneak Peek...

(Starting from the top, and moving clockwise:  Eddie Izzard as "Grandpa" (Sam Dracula); Portia de Rossi as "Lily Munster"; Jerry O'Connell as "Herman Munster"; Mason Cook as "Eddie Munster"; Charity Wakefield as "Marilyn Munster")

Well, it's finally out. A preview trailer for the soon to be released premiere episode of the new 'Munsters' based series, "Mockingbird Lane". I have posted about this "re-boot" before, and my jury has remained way out on the project. The original was great (yes, I realize it hit televisions in the early 1960's), so why fix something that really isn't broken to begin with?

The network released trailer gives us our first glimpses of several of the characters, and the new make-up designs. Hmm...I dunno...I'll just have to wait and see the first episode before forming any definite opinions. The producers have said that the new series is a "re-imagining" of the well known TV family. We'll see if it works.

"Mockingbird Lane" is scheduled to premiere on October 26th, which is only a couple of weeks away. Check out the trailer and see what you think...

(To properly hear the video(s), you can pause the page music by going to the player at the bottom of the page.)

While I was on YouTube looking at the new trailer, I saw the following video centered on the Munsters of the 1960's. It's of behind the scenes footage during the filming of the 1966 Munsters film, "Munster, Go Home!" A Universal Pictures starlet of the time, Debbie Watson, is standing in as "homely" niece, Marilyn.

Tim Burton + "The Addams Family" = .............

(Director Tim Burton & Charles Addams' "Family")

Well, it appears to be happening. Tim Burton, and producer Chris Meledandri, have snagged the rights to the late Charles Addams’ New Yorker cartoons for the purpose of making an Addams 'Family' feature film. As of yet, IMDB has nothing listed in the way of pre-production notes. I’m assuming that is an indication that the project is still in the developmental stages (i.e. writing the script).

Charles Addams' work was an influence on Burton, which isn’t really a surprise. Burton is a very artistic and creative soul, much of his work falling into the darkly whimsical.  A place Addams’ cartoons of his famous “family” reside. There is a part of me that is looking forward to the new project, for a couple of reasons.

(Charles Addams)

It’s not being treated as a “reboot” (a term that has found popularity as of late, when referring to a TV or film remake). Burton sought the rights to Addams’ library of cartoons, as that is where he is pulling his projects influence. The new film will be based on the original ‘family’, as opposed to the “Addams Family” of television. (Note: The ‘family’ in the drawings did not have names. Addams was asked to give the family members names when the very first television show was being created. ‘Cousin Itt’s’ name was the only holdover from the cartoons, where he was just referred to as “it”.)

The new film will be in stop motion animation, and there are indications that it will be shot in black and white. The works I have seen that have had Burton attached in one capacity or another, have all been great. He co-directed “Corpse Bride”, which was good, and he directed “Frankinweenie”, which has yet to be released (October, 2012). I can’t speak to his work on the latter, but “Corpse Bride” indicates that he might very well do a good job with the “Addams Family”. I will be extremely disappointed if he doesn’t.

There is also a part of me that has worries about the new project. They stem from the fact that more recent “reboots” of his have been less than…well, they haven’t been that great. “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” being the main project on that list. Burton was reported as being very vocal about wanting to make a much better film. Apparently, he thought the Gene Wilder version (the beloved Gene Wilder version) was terrible. He wanted to make a movie that did the work justice. Okay, Tim…well, you didn’t. Other than Johnny Depp’s creepily good portrayal of Wonka, the production design got in the way of the movie.  The Oompa-Loompa’s were terrible, and the music really sucked. Big goose egg…and not a golden one.  

You might be thinking that “Wonka” was more of a reboot…Burton said the “Addams” project will not be a reboot. Point made. Let’s take a look at a couple of his more recent films that are based on established work, but take place after said original work ends. Take Burton’s feature version of “Dark Shadows”, for example…*sigh*…another disappointment. Yes, “Dark Shadows” first aired more than forty years ago, but it has a massive fan base that grows even today. Try to venture into well-known and well-loved territory for many people, and you are dealing with a seriously sharp double-edged sword. “DS” is way too camp, and not in a good way. Amazingly enough, Burton’s forays into eccentricity and humor are falling flat as of late. It is disappointing that the man that gave us “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure”, and “Betelgeuse”, is kind of getting in his own way. His journey into the realm of Wonderland was a bit better, but I think the only thing that saved him on “Alice in Wonderland” is the fact that he didn’t make a reboot. He made a film based on the ‘what happened next’ formula. If I had to name one element that is working against him, I would have to say it’s his artistic vision. He is an incredibly intelligent and creative artist. I am a fan of his work. However, I think he has ended up whacking us over the head with the artistic side of these recent films. It gets in the way of the story. On an up note, “Sweeney Todd” was awesome, so he still has it in him to make a great film. Here’s hoping the Addams Family can be added to his list of ‘greats’.

There have been a number of Addams Family based shows and movies, both for TV and the big screen. I won’t go so far as to say that it has been done to death, but it has been produced a number of ways already, some successful, others not so much. The live action forms began in the 1960’s with “The Addams Family”, starring John Astin and Carolyn Jones as ‘Gomez’ and ‘Morticia’ respectively. It would be followed through the years by a string of productions: “Halloween With The New Addams Family” (1977), a TV movie featuring most of the original cast of the first series; “The New Addams Family” (1998-1999), an updated for the 90’s TV series, with a new cast; “The Addams Family” (1991), and “Addams Family Values” (1993), both features starring Raul Julia (R.I.P.) and Anjelica Huston as ‘Gomez’ and ‘Morticia’…great production values and casting…they had more of a vibe that harkened back to the original cartoons; “Addams Family Reunion” (1998), starring Tim Curry and Daryl Hannah as ‘Gomez’ and ‘Morticia’. There have also been a couple of animated attempts: “The Addams Family” (1973), a cartoon that only lasted five episodes; “The Addams Family” (1992-1993), this cartoon lasted 21 episodes. More recently, the Addams’ have been appearing on the stages of New York…they are still getting around.

(I have included a list of links to available trailers and such of the listed shows. You can find them at the end of this post.)

In what write ups I could find on any early specifics about the production, I learned that the “Ed Wood” screenwriting duo of Scott Alexander, and Larry Karaszewski, are doing the honors in writing the Addams script. Karaszewski was quoted as saying that they “want the movie to be as darkly funny and subversive as the drawings.” Good to know. I really hope they capture some as yet unseen essences of the cartoons for this version. We shall see.

Staying on the subject of “The Addams Family”, I am going to shift gears a bit, and focus on the original series. The beloved denizens of 001 Cemetery Lane (next to a grave yard), first appeared on television sets on September 18^th, 1964. ABC would air 64 Episodes in all, at 8:30 PM…sitcom slot time. The cast:

(Starting on the left: 'Thing', 'Ophelia Frump', 'Granny Frump', 'Cousin Itt')

A regular fixture of the series who isn’t pictured above is ‘Thing T. Thing’, the helpful hand-in-a-box. The credits always listed ‘Thing’ as being played by ‘itself’, but in reality Ted Cassidy (‘Lurch’) did the honors. If Lurch and Thing had a scene together, Assistant Director, Jack Voglin, would step in. ‘Granny Frump’ was played by famous actress, Margaret Hamilton,  who is instantly recognizable by most people as Dorothy Gale’s arch nemesis (the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’) in “The Wizard of Oz”.  The light haired, and daisy covered, Ophelia Frump (Morticia’s sister), was also played by Carolyn Jones. The short and hairy ‘Cousin Itt’ was played by 3’10” Italian, Felix Silla (he also played the robot Twiki on “Buck Rogers in the 25^th Century”).

Yep, as crazy as it may sound, an attempt was made to turn Lurch's dance from the episode "Lurch, The Teenage Idol", into a hit song. The video above is an appearance he made on 'Shindig!' (1965).

In less than two weeks, it will be the 48th Anniversary of “The Addams Family” television series. In celebration of the anniversary, I am posting a bunch of GIF's.

"The Addams Family" is one of my favorite television shows, and the Addams' are one of my favorite families. I think I can safely say that they are timeless, and their popularity will continue for years to come.

To watch the show intros and trailers without my page music, you can find the music player at the bottom of the blog page.  Just click the pause button.

"The Addams Family" Cartoon (1973) Intro

"Halloween With The New Addams Family" made for TV movie (1977) Preview

"The Addams Family" Cartoon Intro (1992-1993): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IokBKvFiCvM

"The New Addams Family" TV series (1992-1993) Intro

"The Addams Family" Feature Film (1991) Trailer

"Addams Family Values" Feature Film (1993) Trailer