The Munsters, America’s favorite frightfully funny family? – CliqueClack Flashback

1. The theme song – It’s so catchy and upbeat in a groovy kind of way that it always gets stuck in my head and has on several occasions been my ring tone. Apparently I’m not the only one, as it was nominated for a Grammy in 1965.
2. Their house – I freaking love their house! It had more crazy trap doors and secret passages than a game of Clue. The door opening up from the staircase that Herman makes his entrance through in the opening credits was especially cool. While it may have been a tad bit too cobwebby for my tastes, the mansion was a gorgeous piece of gothic real estate.
3. Their cars – Dragula was the ultimate car – a coffin turned into a dragster, but the “Munster Koach” hot rod with custom hearse body was equally cool. Some may fancy the original Batmobile, but I hold a certain reverence for Dragula.
4. I love the reactions the family gets from “normal” people, from the speeded-up running away bits to the “hair-raising” scenes where you know they literally used wires to get the actors’ hair to stand straight up.
5. Grandpa’s wacky potions – Whether he was concocting a love potion for poor, perpetually-single Marilyn or turning himself into a different creature, Al Lewis portrayed Grandpa as a meddlesome but lovable patriarch.

So, what do you think about the reboot NBC is planning? Titled Mockingbird Lane after the street the Munsters lived on, the new show is slated to begin production soon, and depending upon when they finish making their casting choices, may be on TV as early as mid-season. While Spy Kids 4D child actor Mason Cook was recently cast as Eddie, joining Charity Wakefield as Cousin Marilyn and famed British comedian Eddie Izzard as Grandpa, no casting decisions have yet been made on Lily or Herman.

Whoever is ultimately cast as Herman certainly has some big shoes to fill (pun intended). Fred Gwynne was born for that role, as I can’t think of anybody else – past or present – who could embody that character so convincingly. And what can be said about Yvonne De Carlo? She brought such elegance and beauty to Lily. I absolutely adore her wardrobe and accessories. I daresay she was more glamorous than Morticia Addams. She made being the Bride of Frankenstein look sophisticated and sexy.

Being produced by Bryan Singer of X-Men: First Class fame and written by Bryan Fuller of Pushing Daisies fame, not much else has been revealed about the reboot other than that it will feature an hour-long format and will likely be more melodramatic than funny. One report describes the pilot script as revolving around the challenges of being a werewolf’s parents and alleges that the family moved to Mockingbird Heights because Eddie was beginning the transition into a wolf-man and he accidentally attacked some of his friends in their old hometown.

I read another report that called the reboot a cross between Modern Family and True Blood. My reaction to that is simply “hmm … I hope this isn’t another needless remake done badly.” Will you tune in to see a “modern, visually-stunning” Munsters? I find my curiosity piquing with each new announcement made about the project, so I’m reserving judgment until I see the final product.

Clacked by Kim Tibbs
on May 31, 2012 @ 12:00 EST5EDT