the addams or the munsters

The Addams Family by a mile. It's better written, far more unique, and to me, also far more enjoyable (and re-watchable) overall. It has also aged far better in my view.

Outside of the best efforts of the late, great Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis, I don't have much time for The Munsters, to be honest. To me it was just another rote 60's sitcom with Universal Monsters set dressing.

But each have their fans, and plenty of folks enjoy them both. Which is entirely as it should be.

In response to darkness surroundz.

The first Munsters pilot with Joan Marshall was made in the fall of 1963. Charles Addams was approached to have his cartoons made into a TV series in early 1964.
From Steven Cox's book: "The Munsters was already in development by the fall of 1963 when David Levy of ABC decided to adapt Charles Addams's characters for a television sitcom. By February 1964, ABC had finalized a deal. ABC was originally interested in the Munsters, but for some reason was unable to acquire the property. Obviously, Addams became their answer to CBS's upcoming Munsters."

And catbookss, your assessment of the Munsters is how I see the Addams Family.

Full disclosure/disclaimer: I have yet to watch a single episode of The Munsters. However, since I grew up with the cartoons of Chas. Addams (I'm old enough to have seen quite a few of them in their original settings in The New Yorker), I would probably always choose The Addams Family.

Then again, I also used to watch Car 54, Where Are You?, and I loved both Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis in that show...so who knows?

I agree with the posters who have said that there is room for both series and their fans; I only wish The Addams Family could have lasted more than two seasons (and I'm sure fans of The Munsters feel the same about their favorite).


The world is a narrow bridge. The key to the crossing is not to be afraid.

I loved them both. Everything was monsters, funny and scarey, in those days for us kids. I don't remember comparing them. Probably because program content was so limited compared to today one couldn't be too choosey. Only three channels, too!

I loved them both. Everything was monsters, funny and scarey, in those days for us kids. I don't remember comparing them. Probably because program content was so limited compared to today one couldn't be too choosey. Only three channels, too!