Mockingbird Lane ~ Really?

As a member of what is known as television generation, I cringe at the thought of classic television shows being toyed with or remade. Friday night saw the return of The Munsters to primetime network television. Nearly 45 years after they were cancelled.  Only this time it's called Mockingbird Lane and our dear lovable family of ghouls aren't so lovable.  Nor laughable.







                                                                                     

 This show is being labeled as a drama. Heading up the family this time seems to be focused on Grandpa and not Herman. Grandpa is played by actor Eddie Izzard. While this could be a good thing as I am a fan of Eddie Izzard. He's brilliantly funny and a fine actor. I just can't get past the fact that he's, well—Eddie Izzard. I never see Grandpa, I see Eddie Izzard doing an impression of Grandpa and sounding like James Mason.

Of course If this were 1974, I think audiences would be thinking Grandpa was being played by Paul Williams.

I think part of the success of the original Munsters was that it had charm and was genuinely funny. Fred Gwynn always did a remarkable job of making Herman so silly and at times the biggest doofus on the block. He was like a big kid. So far the true actors I believe in their roles are little Eddie and Marilyn.














One thing I could't believe they did in the opening sequence where a werewolf attacks a troupe of boy scouts, a moment is completely stolen from a b-rated horror film in the late 70's called. "Prophecy" starring Robert Foxworth and Talia Shire.  The kid hopping around in his yellow sleeping bag and the monster hits him and of course the bag hit the tree and feathers everywhere. The moment I saw the kid in the yellow sleeping bag...I turned to my wife and said..the kid in the bag....about to be smacked into the tree. Bingo! Thank you...major steal. Shame you guys!

As for the rest of the cast, I'm not too keen on Jerry O'Connell, Portia De Rossi as Lily I saw at times she actually looked like Yvonne De Carlo. I was pleased to hear the original theme played in the underscore throughout the show. I will cross my fingers for something interesting to happen, since I love the set and Eddie Izzard. However I fear, it will be back to the coffin by end of season one.