Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

There have been many great TV controversies: Mary Ann vs. Ginger, Jeannie vs. Samantha, Old Darrin vs. New Darrin, Kirk vs. Picard. But none of them have aroused as much passion as The Munsters vs. The Addams Family. Don't get me wrong: I love both shows. But I find the Munsters a little easier to identify with. While the Addamses were rich eccentrics, the Munsters were more blue-collar. Herman worked in a funeral parlor, and the family coped with difficulties most families have experienced: they worried about having enough money to pay taxes, bills, and their niece Marilyn's college tuition. While "The Munsters" may have lacked "The Addams Family"'s wit and sophistication, it benefited from the unique chemistry of an exceptionally talented cast: Fred Gwynne brought just the right goofy charm to the gentle giant Herman; irresistible ham Al Lewis chewed the scenery as elder statesman Grampa (a Transylvanian count with a Brooklyn accent?; Yvonne de Carlo was appropriately deadpan as long-suffering wife Lily (no matter how much Herman ranted about being "head of the household," it was clear who wore the cape in that family); and Butch Patrick hit all the right notes as son Eddie. The replacement of Beverly Owens by Pat Priest in the role of Marilyn was barely noticed by fans; both ladies were more than adequate as the family "misfit," who helped anchor the show in reality. The series enjoyed star turns by a number of talented guest stars: Paul Lynde, Dom Deluise, Harvey Korman, Joyce Jameson, Barton McLane, Don Rickles, Barbara Babcock, and best of all the great John Carradine in two appearances as Mr. Gateman, Herman's boss at the funeral parlor. Like the Addams, underneath the ghoulish exterior the Munsters were a warm, loving family with strong values who always did the right thing. The show's visual style was almost as old-fashioned as its values, harkening back not only to the Universal horror franchises of the 1930s and 1940s but to the Mack Sennett farces of the early silent era. This boxed set consists of all 70 episodes of the series' all too brief run, as well as the rarely seen pilot (in color) and one color episode. Spread out over 12 discs, the set also includes four documentaries originally seen on A&E's "Biography" series and two movies, "Munster Go Home!" and "The Munsters' Revenge," the latter especially noticeable for a star turn by Sid Caesar and a comedic style that owed much to Mel Brooks movies. This is a set that will delight classic TV fans, lovers of slapstick humor, and devotees of the occult.