The Munsters and Batman

[Dr. Shimel]

Watched a documentary on "The Munsters" where they specifically pinpoint the beginning of the show's demise to the arrival of The Caped Crusader. During the 1964-65 inaugural season, The Munsters was ranked #18 in the Nielsens, yet was cancelled after the following year.

That's because the latter half of their second season went up against the conclusion of that week's Batman episode--then in the cherished first season--and got predictably crushed. They also noted the liberal use of color by Batman, as opposed to the still-B&W surroundings of 1313 Mockingbird Lane, as a kid-oriented reason for the switch.

Finally, I noted it before in a long-ago thread, but Frank Gorshin actually was competing against himself on March 31, 1966: On The Munsters, he played a sleazy used car dealer, while on Batman, he was being brought to justice in the conclusion of the "Ring of Wax" episodes.

[High C]

Interesting stuff. It's fun to look at the show in the context of the time and what it was up against on other networks.

[chrisbcritter]

It's a double-edged sword - we didn't get a third season of The Munsters, but they didn't jump the shark either (unless you count the movie). To me it was the last show of the Sixties where black-and-white photography really worked, since they were going for the old Universal horror movie look and feel.

[SnakeBabe]

I read once they stuck with BW for financial reasons. it would have cost $10,000 more per episode to go color. Not sure how valid that was.

[I act the riddler]

Frank gorshin was great in that munsters episode.

[Dr. Shimel]

I read once they stuck with BW for financial reasons. it would have cost $10,000 more per episode to go color. Not sure how valid that was.

That was also supposedly the reason The Patty Duke Show was cancelled that same year.

[epaddon]

The 1965-66 season was the last year where some shows could still be in B/W. The next year they all had to be in color by network edict.

[chrisbcritter]

Frank Gorshin was great in that Munsters episode.

"Those things over there... that aren't there... tell 'em to go away!"
And don't forget the Bat-reference in the movie (at 1:57):
[BBvideo 425,350]http://youtu.be/Vf2v5uvt-Hk?t=1m57s[/BBvideo]

[celestialhost]

Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon) also appeared in The Munsters, playing a swindler.

The Munsters is one of my favorite shows, alongside Batman.

[Dr. Shimel]

Joan Staley (Okie Annie in the first Shame appearances) also did a guest shot on The Munsters, as well as Roger C. Carmel (Col. Gumm).

Henchmen that appeared on both shows were:

*Vito Scotti (Matey in the Penguin restaurant eps)
Al Checco (Dove in the Penguin goes straight eps)
*John Mitchum (Rip Snorting in the first Shame eps)
*Don Barry (Grand Vizier in the first King Tut AND Tarantula in the Black Widows)
*Walter Burke (Sparrow in the first Penguin appearance)
*Norman Grabowski (Treble in The Minstrel eps)
*Nicky Blair (Shivers in the Otto Preminger Mr. Freezes)
*Mike Mazurki (Allegro in the Siren episode)

In addition, Bill Phipps was one of the hoods shooting at the Duo in the Zelda conclusion.