MovieChat Forums > The Addams Family (1964) Discussion > Possible reason why it was canceled afte...

Possible reason why it was canceled after 2 seasons

posted 16 years ago by night_is_silent
48 replies | jump to latest

Volume 2 of the Addams Family DVD set has a special feature that details the history of the show. In it, it is mentioned that both the Addams Family and the Munsters had decent, although not spectacular, ratings in their second seasons. Despite that, they were both canceled with no explanation from their respective networks as to why.

The second and final season for both shows was the 1965-66 season. It was the next season, 1966-67, when all network shows that were still shot in black & white switched to color. Could these two shows have been canceled because of the expense involved in transitioning them to color? Sets, wardrobe and makeup would have had to be altered, which likely would have been very expensive. Maybe their ratings weren't high enough to justify the cost of the transition, so the networks just canceled them instead.

[–] kenburke0627 14 years ago

Boo boo time!

The Addams Family lasted only one season.

[–] joescuriosityshoppe 14 years ago

No, there were two seasons. The second season was 1965-1966 and included the following episodes:

My Fair Cousin Itt (09-17-65)
Morticia's Romance (part 1)(09-24-65)
Morticia's Romance (part 2)(10-01-65)
Morticia Meets Royalty (10-08-65)
Gomez the People's Choice (10-15-65)
Cousin Itt's Problem (10-22-65)
Halloween Addams Style (10-29-65)
Morticia the Writer (11-05-65)
Morticia the Sculptress (11-12-65)
Gomez the Reluctant Lover (11-19-65)
Feud in the Addams Family (11-26-65)
Gomez the Cat Burglar (12-03-65)
Portrait of Gomez (12-10-65)
Morticia's Dilemma (12-17-65)
Christmas with the Addams Family (12-24-65)
Uncle Fester Tycoon (12-31-65)
Morticia & Gomez vs Fester & Grandmama (01-07-66)
Fester Goes on a Diet (01-14-66)
The Great Treasure Hunt (01-21-66)
Ophelia Finds Romance (01-28-66)
Pugsley's Allowance (02-04-66)
Happy Birthday Grandma Frump (02-11-66)
Morticia the Decorator (02-18-66)
Ophelia Visits Morticia (02-25-66)
Addams Cum Laude (03-04-66)
Cat Addams (03-11-66)
Lurch's Little Helper (03-18-66)
The Addams Policy (03-25-66)
Lurch's Grand Romance (04-01-66)
Ophelia's Career (04-08-66)

You can see for yourself at:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057729/episodes

[–] Louisifer 14 years ago

I always thought this show went on forever due to always seeing it in re-runs as a kid not to mention the two films and the animated series.

Try not to take life too seriously, no one gets out alive.

[–] Grimm-Grimm 13 years ago

That list is missing a ton of episodes! Netflix lists 3 seasons but maybe they broke them up? Either way I know their are a ton more episodes because I just got the DVDs from netflix.

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Addams_Family/70140440?trkid=4213507

Vol 1 - 22 Episodes
Vol 2 - 21 Episodes
Vol 3 - 21 Episodes

[–] darkness_surroundz 10 years ago

Look in iMDB-TWO SEASONs....season one, 34 episodes, season two 30 episodes

back in those days seasons ran up to 40 episodes, most around 35
now we get 22-25 episodes per season

[–] VinnieRattolle 14 years ago

On one of the commentaries on the DVDs (I think on the pilot), it's mentioned that the cast members planned to return to shoot season 3 in color. They also mention that over the summer of '66, somebody broke into the set and stole everything that wasn't nailed down. Might be a huge factor in why the show ultimately didn't return. I mean, buying new bears and swordfish and chairs and Thing boxes to redress the set was probably cost-prohibitive.

[–] mulroon02 14 years ago

Someone mentioned that The Munsters in black and white on CBS was bested in the ratings by Batman In Color on abc. The Addams Family on abc in black and white was hurt by Hogan's Heroes in color on CBS, likewise. The quick switch from mostly black and white TV shows to all color, happened over a couple of years, likely led by Bonanza, which was number 1 in the Nielsen ratings 1964-67, and had been in color since it's premier in 1959. A 1965 test found that viewers with color TV sets picked a color show over a black and white one, regardless of program content. I had a friend who hated the show, Hazel, because her parents always watched it on their color TV set, as it was the only color show in it's time slot.

[–] CCRider01 13 years ago

The Adams Family is now an icon of American television, perhaps not at Star Trek level but way up there. Unfortunately you never know which show will live on long after it has ended and which will be long forgotten. One aspect of both shows that make them timeless is that they were not set in their present day and/or with typical characters of their time. It is often the dialogue, haircuts / outfits, locations. or cars that capture an era that can also quickly date a TV show.

I do find it odd though, that the 60's produced so many short lived TV series that were so unique by todays standards, and they are now iconic.

[–] toking65000 13 years ago

The Addams's Family seems to be more popular, as far as movies and such, BUT it seems like they used to broadcast the Munsters a lot more, I remember a time when everytime you turned the TV on the Munsters was on, and it was RARE to ever see an episode of the Addams' Family.

Just because we lose today's battle doesn't mean we've lost tommorow's war.

[–] jimmybob3 13 years ago

The transition to color was painfull for most shows. Carl Reiner wouldn't do it with the "Dick Van Dike Show" and we all saw the excruciating effects it had on "The Andy Griffith Show". I think the networks wanted to just start a whole new slate of "color" shows and leave the old guard behind.

[–] seashellz 13 years ago

ive always like TAF much more than THE MUNSTERS-which to me seemed a network exec saying "Hey ABC has TAF coming out-weve gotta get our own ghoul comedy program on the air"-
Just a knockoff;

Glad it was NOT in color-and Astin was just halarious-and as a couple they showed true love and committment to each other-Morticia was maybe along with Barbara Steele the first true Goth Girls

he was also on a show about 2 carpenters-I'M DICKENS-HE'S FENSTER

[–] everymedia 13 years ago

In reply to seashellz: (I've always like TAF much more than THE MUNSTERS-which to me seemed a network exec saying "Hey ABC has TAF coming out-weve gotta get our own ghoul comedy program on the air"-
Just a knockoff;)

The first Munsters pilot was filmed in the Fall of 1963. The Addams Family was planned and screentested in early 1964.

[–] wolfgirv-1 13 years ago

For me the Musters always seemed like straight out comedy whereas the Addams Family was more of a black satire.

And it is strange the debate about the colour transition during this time, especially when we now see I Dream of Jeannie's first Black and white season on DVD in colour. And someone said that the Cisco Kid was shot in colour for all its seasons. But cost wise it should also be noted that it was shot on super 8 so colour processing was probably not even an issue.

[–] ed-pilling 12 years ago

I actually think it was bone headed network executives. Kids watched it and they didn’t appear on their radar. They looked at the time slot and figured no one important is watching it so lets put a hokey western on. Everyone loves westerns. That is pretty much the reason Gilligan’s island was canceled.

Also to me the Addams family was more believable.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DearJohnny 10 years ago

I've heard Ted Cassidy had grown tired of the role but hadn't heard anything of his expecting to be featured more or complaining to the producers or such.

I thought I'd read someplace both this show and THE MUNSTERS were cancelled because the networks felt the 'fantasy sitcom' concept had run its course.

[–] darkness_surroundz 10 years ago

source? could have been planned earlier then put into development hell....i dunno

[–] CineramaMama 10 years ago

The Munsters were produced first, but aired a week after Addams Family.