The Munsters: Season 1

I am overjoyed at the prospect of owning The Munsters - The Complete First Season. This series has been and probably always will be one of my all-time favorite television shows. I can still remember growing up watching the afternoon reruns on WPIX from New York.The Munsters was created by Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, the same team that brought Leave It To Beaver to television. Beaver was the quintessential American family sitcom of the late 50's - early 60's. Connelly and Mosher helped to establish all those nostalgic family sitcom cliches we've all come to love (or hate) in Leave It To Beaver then they went on to totally parody them in The Munsters. The first season opening credit sequence of The Munsters is a great example of the way they parodied the typical family sitcoms of the time. You see Lily Munster, housewife and mother, sending her brood off for the day in the same manner June Cleaver and Donna Reed did. Lily hands each of her loved ones their packed lunches or school books as she pinches their cheeks or gives them a little motherly kiss.Although The Munsters was considered much less sophisticated than its 60s creepy TV rival, The Addams Family, it is overall a much more entertaining series to me. Although the subversive quality of The Addams Family continues to make it an entertaining series to watch as an adult, I have to admit I didn't enjoy it as a child. The Munsters with its broad comedy and more obvious monster characters was much more fun to watch as a kid. It's worth pointing out that even though Morticia and Gomez Addams had a fiery sexual relationship on screen, Lily and Herman Munster may have been one of the only 60s TV couples to have been seen sharing the same bed (rather than the customary twin beds).The Munsters - The Complete First Season contains all 38 first season episodes (yes 38 shows in one season!) as well as the original unaired pilot (in color I think). It doesn't appear that there are too many more extras in this set which is a bit disappointing. I would have loved to have seen episode commentaries by surviving cast members, documentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, etc. Hey, maybe we will get some of those extras on the Second Season set?

I am glad this is available in this format. "The Munsters" was a genuinely funny, endearing, enduring show.In Season One, the show was still finding its way, but quickly became an American icon. Fred Gwynne, as Frankenstein's monster, still acted lifeless, as did Boris Karloff in the original 1931(?) movie; deadpan, towering, intimidating, but very kind-hearted and upstanding. The extreme silliness would come later. Yvonne DeCarlo, as Lily, stands out as one of the most striking presences in TV history, the image of her standing at the bottom of the stairs when the opening credits roll, is absolutely enthralling. But for some reason, the prominent white streaks in her hair gradually went away, as did what sounded like a New England accent. Al Lewis, as Grampa, aka Dracula had his nose change in size and shape, but is everyone's favorite curmudgeon. It's too bad Beverly Owen didn't want to stay in California, she was so good in the Marilyn character, but Pat Priest filled her shoes nicely. Butch Patrick was about all that didn't change by the time the show found its stride. He was just Eddie.The humor is often subtle, and very sophisticated, and the show made a point about Middle-Class White America. The Neighbors didn't want "those people" in their neighborhood, even though "those people" were of a better calibre than the people who surrounded them. I would have loved to have been their neighbors. But I guess I am weird that way.This package gives one several hours of quality entertainment, and a nostalgic view of classic TV. Thank you for it.

I think that most people are buying this classic already knowing all about it and they love it. If not, there are many reviews on the show itself. The Munsters season 1 contains all 38 episodes, including the 13-minute un-aired pilot episode. The un-aired pilot episode is in COLOR, and features different actors in the role of Lily and Eddie Munster. I feel that the pilot episode is merely an interesting piece of video, knowing that this was the first Munsters act to be filmed. It is really not enjoyable since it is not a complete episode and does not have Yvonne De' Carlo and Butch Patrick. (The main actors of Lily and Eddie). The episode, 'Family Portrait', is also in COLOR, but is still available to watch in black and white. The rest of the episodes are in original black and white format. The video quality is not outstanding, but not bad either. Typical DVD transfer. As far as I can tell, none of the episodes appear to be edited or cut in any way. Unlike SOME of the other classic TV shows that were released on DVD. The case itself is a standard DVD case style, (although just slightly thicker than a DVD case, because of 6 discs obviously.) Overall, this is a fine set to own, and I would recommend it to any Munsters fan.

I don't know what all the hubbub is about with The Addams Family. I mean no dissing those that like the Adams.... but really The Munsters are where it's at... I work at a golf course so watching Herman tear one up in this episode was hilariously awesome lololol