History Series / TheAddamsFamily

A {{sitcom}} based on Creator/CharlesAddams's ghoulish [[ComicStrip/TheAddamsFamily single-panel cartoons]] for ''Magazine/TheNewYorker'' magazine, ''The Addams Family'' was produced by Creator/{{Filmways}} and aired for two seasons (1964–66) on Creator/{{ABC}}. One of the last American network series to be filmed entirely in black and white -- which may well have been a [[DeliberatelyMonochrome stylistic decision]], given the subject matter -- the show was not very successful in its original run, but it became a [[CultClassic cult favorite]] once it entered syndication, and [[Franchise/TheAddamsFamily inspired spin-offs in many media]].

A {{sitcom}} based on Creator/CharlesAddams's ghoulish [[ComicStrip/TheAddamsFamily single-panel cartoons]] for ''Magazine/TheNewYorker'' magazine, ''The Addams Family'' was produced by Creator/{{Filmways}} and aired for two seasons (1964–66) on Creator/{{ABC}}. One of the last American network series to be filmed entirely in black and white -- which may well have been a [[DeliberatelyMonochrome stylistic decision]], given the subject matter -- the show was not very successful in its original network run, but became a [[CultClassic cult favorite]] once it entered syndication, and [[Franchise/TheAddamsFamily inspired spin-offs in many media]].

A {{sitcom}} based on Creator/CharlesAddams's ghoulish [[ComicStrip/TheAddamsFamily single-panel cartoons]] for ''Magazine/TheNewYorker'' magazine, ''The Addams Family'' was produced by Creator/{{Filmways}} and aired for two seasons (1964–66) on Creator/{{ABC}}. One of the last U.S. network series to be filmed entirely in black and white -- which may well have been a [[DeliberatelyMonochrome stylistic decision]], given the subject matter -- the show was not very successful in its original network run, but became a [[CultClassic cult favorite]] once it entered syndication, and [[Franchise/TheAddamsFamily inspired spin-offs in many media]].

''The Ad-dams Fam-i-ly!''[[labelnote:4]](*snap snap*)[[/labelnote]]

''The Ad-dams Fam-i-ly!''[[labelnote:*]](*snap snap*)[[/labelnote]]

A deliberate inversion of the ideal American NuclearFamily, the Addamses are an obscenely wealthy clan of borderline supernatural beings with a taste for the grotesque and macabre, possessing opinions and preferences that are mirror images or inversions of more conventional attitudes. Although very visibly different from virtually everyone they meet, they still perceive themselves as a "perfectly normal family"; in fact, [[ButForMeItWasTuesday they seem somewhat incapable of even noticing that their lifestyle varies widely from that of their neighbours]]. They also invert various horror-movie tropes about evil families: despite their tastes and the apparent trappings of pain and horror amidst which they live, the Addamses are clearly [[DarkIsNotEvil NOT evil]] -- they are compassionate and loving, friendly to all they meet, eager to help strangers in times of need, and tolerant to a fault. In fact, they are probably more so than most families! The end result is more delightfully eccentric and endearing than disturbing.

A television {{sitcom}} based on the ghoulish [[ComicStrip/TheAddamsFamily cartoons]] published by Creator/CharlesAddams in ''Magazine/TheNewYorker'' magazine, produced by Creator/{{Filmways}} and broadcast for two seasons (1964–66) on Creator/{{ABC}}. One of the last U.S. network series to be filmed entirely in black and white -- which may well have been a [[DeliberatelyMonochrome stylistic decision]], given the subject matter -- the show was not very successful in its original network run, but became a [[CultClassic cult favorite]] once it entered syndication, and [[Franchise/TheAddamsFamily inspired spin-offs in many media]].

A television {{sitcom}} based on the ghoulish [[ComicStrip/TheAdamsFamily cartoons]] published by Creator/CharlesAddams in ''Magazine/TheNewYorker'' magazine, produced by Creator/{{Filmways}} and broadcast for two seasons (1964–66) on Creator/{{ABC}}. One of the last U.S. network series to be filmed entirely in black and white -- which may well have been a [[DeliberatelyMonochrome stylistic decision]], given the subject matter -- the show was not very successful in its original network run, but became a [[CultClassic cult favorite]] once it entered syndication, and [[Franchise/TheAddamsFamily inspired spin-offs in many media]].

A television {{sitcom}} based on the ghoulish cartoons published by Creator/CharlesAddams in ''Magazine/TheNewYorker'' magazine, produced by Creator/{{Filmways}} and broadcast for two seasons (1964–66) on Creator/{{ABC}}. One of the last U.S. network series to be filmed entirely in black and white -- which may well have been a [[DeliberatelyMonochrome stylistic decision]], given the subject matter -- the show was not very successful in its original network run, but became a [[CultClassic cult favorite]] once it entered syndication, and [[Franchise/TheAddamsFamily inspired spin-offs in many media]].

A television {{sitcom}} based on the ghoulish cartoons published by Creator/CharlesAddams in ''Magazine/TheNewYorker'' magazine, produced by Creator/{{Filmways}} and broadcast for two seasons (1964–66) on Creator/{{ABC}}. It was one of the last network series to be filmed entirely in black and white, which may have been a stylistic decision given the subject matter. While not very successful in the two years of its original network run, the series became a [[CultClassic cult favorite]] once it entered syndication, and [[Franchise/TheAddamsFamily inspired spin-offs in many media]].

[[quoteright:290:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_addams_family_1960s_cast.jpeg]]

[[quoteright:280:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/addams_family.jpg]]

-->- The iconic theme song, written and arranged by Vic Mizzy.

Television series based on the ghoulish cartoons published by Creator/CharlesAddams in ''Magazine/TheNewYorker'' magazine starting in the 1930s, produced by Creator/{{Filmways}} and broadcast on Creator/{{ABC}} from 1964 to 1966. It was one of the last network series filmed entirely in black and white, which may have been a stylistic decision given the subject matter. While not very successful in the two years of its original run, it became a [[CultClassic cult favorite]] once it entered syndication, and [[Franchise/TheAddamsFamily inspired spin-offs in many media]].

* ''Gomez Alonzo Addams'', the clan patriarch (Creator/JohnAstin). The series' [[IdiotHero naive]] [[BumblingDad patriarch] and stensibly a lawyer, though the family's ''vast'' independent wealth eliminates any need for him to actually work; when he does, though, he takes great pride in the cases he's ''lost''. He also smokes cigars, has a moustache, and likes to do crazy things like blow up toy trains.

A ReunionShow, ''Halloween With The New Addams Family'', aired on CBS in October 1977 featuring most of the original cast.

* ''Gomez Alonzo Addams'', the clan patriarch (Creator/JohnAstin). Ostensibly a lawyer, though the family's ''vast'' independent wealth eliminates any need for him to actually work; when he does, though, he takes great pride in the cases he's ''lost''. He also smokes cigars, has a moustache, and likes to do crazy things like blow up toy trains.
* ''Morticia Frump Addams'', his wife (Creator/CarolynJones). Tall (but still shorter than Lurch), elegant, [[EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette ivory-skinned and black-tressed]], and always clad in a tight [[LittleBlackDress black dress]]. Morticia is calm reason to Gomez's maniacal exuberance and likes knitting, painting, and cutting the blooms off roses. As she never shows her teeth when smiling, she may possibly be a Vampire. We're not sure, even to this day...

* ''Grandmama'', Gomez's mother (Blossom Rock). More than just an old lady but not ''quite'' a witch, Grandmama takes a delight in doing a lot of the family's cooking and gladly acts as a secondary parental figure to the children.

* MySignificanceSenseIsTingling: In the episode The Addams Family Meet the VIP's ,two Russian diplomats pinpoint the random location from a phonebook using their pin then the scene cuts to Morticia who felt as if she was struck by a pin.

-->- The iconic theme song

[[quoteright:280:''They're creepy and they're kooky''\\

''The Ad-dams Fam-i-ly!''[[labelnote:*]](*snap snap*)[[/labelnote]]]]

Though the Addams themselves are often compared to the eponymous [[Series/TheMunsters Munster family]], there are considerable differences. The Addamses are in essence landed gentry (their history in the US goes back to the Pilgrim era), very refined and elegant, and independently wealthy; the Munsters are working-class recent immigrants (Grandpa having immigrated from Transylvania), and Herman has a quite coarse sense of humour. The Addamses are borderline supernatural in some undefined way; the Munsters are explicit monsters based on well-known horror archetypes.

A deliberate inversion of the ideal American NuclearFamily, the Addamses are an obscenely wealthy clan of borderline supernatural beings with a taste for the grotesque and macabre, possessing opinions and preferences that are mirror images or inversions of more conventional attitudes. Although very visibly different from virtually everyone they meet, they still perceive themselves as a "perfectly normal family"; in fact, [[ButForMeItWasTuesday they seem somewhat incapable of even noticing that their lifestyle varies widely from that of their neighbours]].

They also invert various horror-movie tropes about evil families: despite their tastes and the apparent trappings of pain and horror amidst which they live, the Addamses are clearly [[DarkIsNotEvil NOT evil]] -- they are compassionate and loving, friendly to all they meet, eager to help strangers in times of need, and tolerant to a fault. In fact, they are probably more so than most families! The end result is more delightfully eccentric and endearing than disturbing.

* MySignificanceSenseIsTingling: In the episode The Addams Family Meet the VIP's ,two Russian diplomats pinpoint the random location from a phonebook using their pinthen the scene cuts to Morticia who felt as if she was struck by a pin.

* VoteEarlyVoteOften: Done accidentally (out of laziness rathe than simple greed or ambition) in "Gomez, The People's Choice." Fester is assigned to get names for a petition to let Gomez run for mayor and though he could save time by just recording those names off of headstones in the cemetery. [[RealityEnsues Gomez is forced to withdraw from the race when this is discovered]].

** "Halloween with the Addams Family": From Season 1 of the original series, a pair of burglars are on the run from the cops. Gomez and Morticia think them trick-or-treaters and insist they join in on their Halloween festivities.

* {{Leitmotif}}: Several characters (namely Fester, Gomez, Lurch, Morticia and Thing) have their own themes.

* AmnesiaEpisode: The aptly named episode "Amnesia in the Addams Family" focuses on Gomez hitting his head and acquiring amnesia.