Power Rankings: The Munsters!

This might be the most ludicrous attempt yet in our exclusive series of power rankings. Because there are so many incredible characters? Er, not quite. On the contrary, the series relies on a small core of individuals, and it's hard to fill out a credible list of 10, not to mention the obvious separation at the very top.  The lack of recurring characters on The Munsters (Sorry to Herman's boss Mr. Gateman, who just missed the list) means we had to break our rule and include several people with a mere one appearance. 

With all that in mind, we're doing it! The Munsters episode of the podcast this season was our first official look back at the pre-BOTNS era, so we want to pay tribute to the series with an arbitrary ranking of the characters! We will incorporate The Munsters Mini-Movie but not other movies, Munsters Today (still waiting for you to let that one out again, NBCComcastUniversal), etc. So, no, Roger from Munster, Go Home, played by Original Genius Robert Pine, is not eligible.

And remember how this works: This given week, if these characters were to face off against each other on a neutral court in Transylvania, who would win? Let's get after it because this might be a road after the top several entries!

1) Herman Munster: The top spot is a battle between two individuals, and while I won't argue with anyone who wants to put Grandpa at #1--I mean, it's Al freakin' Lewis--this is Fred Gwynne's show without a doubt. Even Grandpa is funnier in his scenes with Herman due in part to Gwynne's reactions.  Yet Herman itself is a hilarious and memorable character in his own right, which is a great achievement considering he is based on an even bigger icon--and I don't mean Francis Muldoon.

2) Grandpa: And give Lewis credit because he is also amazing in his own right while serving as the perfect foil for son in law Herman. He's one of the great supporting characters in sitcom history and a solid runner-up to the star of the show.

3) Lily Munster: No disrespect to Yvonne De Carlo nor to the rest of the cast, but there is a huge dropoff after the top two. It's through no fault of the supporting castmembers; the creative team just figured out what the heart of the series was and ran with the dynamic duo (Hey, maybe someday we should do Batman...). De Carlo did have some spotlight episodes, and Lily had her share of good lines, but many times she was more of a point guard, distributing assists to the heavy hitters.

4) Eddie Munster: I'm on record as having been irritated by many child characters when I was watching reruns as a child, so I give Butch Patrick his props because Eddie was one of the better ones out there. Many of the show's best episodes revolve around Eddie, so he earns his number 4 slot.

5) Marilyn Munster: Beverly Owen...Pat Priest...Talk about "thankless role." Marilyn was fine, but she barely got more than the one-joke premise of her being the outcast of the family--a good joke, but Marilyn is this high due to her status as regular and the overall lack of depth.

6) Spot: The faithful family pet got his chance to shine in 1973's The Mini-Munsters, the only core character to get a boost from that Saturday morning movie (I wasn't a big fan of the teenage rockin' Eddie).

7) Uncle Gilbert: If there's one character whose underuse is abominable, it's Uncle Gilbert, whose reveal in the one episode in which he appears is one of the great moments in the show's history.

8) Dr. Dudley: The Paul Lynde version of the Munster family doc is the one that gets him the eight spot, but Dom DeLuise did take on the role in the second season.  Lynde's 3 appearances helped establish the role "civilians" would play in the series.

9) The Raven: He's just like one of the family! In this family, the ability to land a wisecrack or 3 comes in handy. Mel Blanc's voice helps make it a memorable part of the household.

10) Uncle Charlie: That handsome devil may look like Herman, and he may kinda sound like him, but he ain't no Herman. However, he's kind of a likable rogue, right? Twin brother Uncle Charlie's spot makes "Knock Wood, Here Comes Charlie," one of the standout installments of the classic sitcom.

What We'd Like to See: Aloha Paradise

 I'll take, oh, let me see...every episode of this, please:

The great Gilmore Box YT channel posted this opening this week. I like that he describes it, with some diplomacy, perhaps, as "similar to Love Boat." Yes...similar, all right. Even the Steve Lawrence theme song sounds derivative...and I love it!

Believe it or not, this ABC anthology/comedy/drama lasted a mere 8 (of 13 produced) episodes. If you're concerned about the show ripping off Love Boat, maybe this will make you feel better: It's from Love Boat producers Aaron Spelling and Douglas Cramer! There's no index in Spelling's memoir A Prime Time Life, so the only reference to the show I can see is in his annotated filmography in the back, where he just says it was their attempt to do Love Boat at a Hawaiian resort.

Harry and Wally's Favorite Shows gives the series a measly half-star rating, calling it a "sappy effort" and noting Debbie Reynolds is "annoyingly chipper as manager of the resort." Well, Reynolds was no fan, either; according to Wikipedia, she said "it had the worst scripts ever," in a 1986 newspaper story talking about her guest appearance on a then-current episode of Hotel. 

ABC put this one at 9:00 Wednesdays in early 1981 against movies on CBS and the Diff'rent Strokes/Facts of Life combo on NBC, but it soon yanked it for socially relevant (and even shorter-lived) drama The American Dream.  By Summer, ABC had  added a Wednesday Night Movie to its lineup, and in September it debuted a new-look evening schedule featuring Greatest American Hero, which also debuted in Winter 1981; new Fall show The Fall Guy; and yet another Winter 1981 debut, Dynasty. 

As for Aloha Paradise, guest stars include Gene Rayburn, Batty winner Jessica Walter, Red Buttons, Joan Fontaine, and Bert Convy. CBS owns the show, so maybe someday if Paramount Plus has a Crackle-like revelation and starts emptying the vaults, we'll see it on there.

Retro Fan #17 is here!

Time for another unsolicited, uncompensated, but not unearned plug for TwoMorrows' RetroFan magazine, which for the first time in memory hit my mailbox before the digital copy subscribers get early.  So it was a big surprise this time, and I didn't know much about the contents, either.

This Halloween-themed issue doesn't have a ton of BOTNS-era TV material, but it does feature an interview with Dark Shadows star Lara Parker.  Members of our Facebook group will not be surprised to learn that I just saw her in a two-parter of Galactica 1980 as well (not covered in the interview, much to my chagrin, though her appearance on Kolchak is).

In addition to plenty of other Halloween-themed material, like a piece on Aurora model kits, a history of mad Monster Party, and an extensive look at The Haunting, there's a story on the original George of the Jungle and an appreciation of Jan Smithers (not that we need prompting to appreciate Jan Smithers).

It's all in the usual attractive, colorful package, and each issue comes highly recommended by this here podcast. Check it out, and tell 'em BOTNS sent ya!

This Day in TV History: All-Star Circus and Swingin' Singles

What a night of TV it was 50 years ago tonight! Truly something for all of us.

On Tuesday, October 19, 1971, CBS offered a Hawaii-themed (and recorded) edition of The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour with guest Jack Lord, an episode of Lord's Hawaii Five-0, and an all-new Cannon with a young(er) Vic Tayback!

ABC began at 7:30 with guests Billy Dee Williams and Robert Foxworth on The Mod Squad, then a made-for-TV movie called Suddenly Single. IMDB says, "A newly divorced man finds it difficult to get used to the single world." Check out the cast behind star Hal Holbrook:  Margot Kidder, Michael Constantine, Agnes Moorhead, Barbara Rush, Cloris Leachman, Harvey Korman, David Huddleston, and more! Marcus Welby closes the evening on ABC with part 1 of a crossover with Owen Marshall.

Perhaps my personal favorite single program is over on NBC, not the new Ironside at 7:30, nor an episode of The Funny Side with Gene Kelly at 9:30. The draw for me is All-Star Circus at 8:30.

From Ultimate70s.com: 

Ed McMahon hosts an hour of circus highlights filmed at Circus Benneweis in Copenhagen, Denmark. In addition to his hosting duties, McMahon, a former Philadelphia TV clown, dons his costume and makeup to perform (with three other clowns) classic pantomime routines between such international acts as Eric Brenn and Taras Bulva and His Seven Tigers.

Happy birthday, Pam Dawber!

The actress is 70 years young today. We praised her work in an often-thankless spot on Mork and Mindy in one of our earlier pod episodes.

Top Ten #137

1) SCTV: We did another round of power rankings this week, and this one may have been the toughest yet with the depth on this series. What do you think about the list?

2) Fantasy Island: This season we discussed Roarke's first (that we see) confrontation with Satan, but 40 years ago tonight, the follow-up, The Devil and Mr. Roarke, premiered on ABC, with Roddy McDowall returning and using Julie to force another showdown. 

3) Working Stiffs: Just this week I listened to Michael Keaton's appearance on Bill Simmons' podcast, and it was worth another bizarre reference to Cheers being "super dated" to hear a minute of discussion on this forgotten Keaton/Belushi sitcom.

4) William Shatner: Became the oldest man in space. Are we 100% sure he's human? Next up, let's pay tribute to his iconic TJ Hooker role by letting him be the oldest human to go on a ride-along.

5) Wonder Woman: Decades has a marathon of the series this weekend.

6) Bing Crosby: The legend's estate signed a deal that will b-b-b-bring in beaucop bu-bu-bu-bucks--oh, yeah, and help keep his name out there and preserve his legacy.

7) Elvis and the Beauty Queen: NBC debuted this TV movie 40 years ago tonight. Don Johnson played the King with support from Stephanie Zimbalist:

8) Return of the Rebels: Also premiering tonight 40 years ago, this TV BIKER movie features Barbara Eden reassembling Jamie Farr, Robert Mandan, Don Murray, and Christopher Connelly to counter a gang led by Patrick Swayze! OK, I gotta see this one!

9) National Pasta Day: Carb up, everyone!

10) R.I.P. David DePatie: He helped bring a lot of animation to TV over the years.

Happy National Department Store Day!

October 16 is a day to celebrate retail shopping--like we don't do that enough the rest of the year. Still, it's nice to take a minute to remember my favorite stores of old, like Hills. It was where the toys where, you know.