The Addams Family: A Spooky and Kooky Guide
If you are looking for a family that is creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky, and altogether ooky, look no further than the Addams Family. This eccentric clan of oddballs has been entertaining audiences for decades with their dark humor, macabre antics, and unconventional lifestyle. Whether you are a fan of the original cartoons, the classic TV series, the movies, or the musical, there is something for everyone in the Addams Family universe. In this article, we will give you a brief introduction to who the Addams Family are, how to watch their movies and TV shows, and some fun facts and trivia about them.
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Who are the Addams Family?
The Addams Family are a fictional family created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. They originally appeared in a series of 150 unrelated single-panel comics, about half of which were originally published in The New Yorker between 1938 and their creator's death in 1988. They have since been adapted to other media, such as television, film, video games, comic books, a musical, and merchandise.
The Addamses are a satirical inversion of the ideal postwar American middle-class nuclear family: an odd old money clan who delight in the macabre and are seemingly unaware or unconcerned that other people find them bizarre or frightening. They live in a gloomy Gothic mansion filled with strange objects, exotic pets, and supernatural phenomena. They have a close-knit bond with each other and their extended relatives, who are equally eccentric and quirky.
The origin of the Addams Family
Charles Addams was born in 1912 in Westfield, New Jersey. He had a fascination with the macabre since childhood, exploring graveyards, trespassing in an abandoned Victorian mansion, and drawing gruesome scenes of death and violence. He studied art at the Grand Central School of Art in New York City and sold his first cartoon to The New Yorker in 1932.
Addams began drawing his signature family in 1938 as a series of standalone gags featuring various members of a weird household. He did not give them names or personalities until 1964, when he was asked to do so by the producers of the live-action TV series based on his cartoons. He suggested Gomez or Repelli for the father, Morticia for the mother, Wednesday for the daughter (for being "full of woe"), Pubert for the son (later changed to Pugsley), Fester for the uncle, Grandmama for the grandmother, Lurch for the butler, Thing for the disembodied hand, Cousin Itt for the hairy cousin, Kitty Kat for the pet lion, and Cleopatra for the pet snake. He also came up with the name Addams Family, which was a pun on his own surname and a reference to the Adams House at Harvard University, where he had once stayed as a guest. The main characters of the Addams Family
The Addams Family consists of several members, each with their own distinctive traits and quirks. Here is a brief overview of the main characters:
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Gomez and Morticia Addams
Gomez and Morticia are the head of the family and the parents of Wednesday and Pugsley. They are madly in love with each other and often express their affection with passionate kisses and pet names. Gomez is a wealthy lawyer who enjoys smoking cigars, playing with his toy trains, and practicing swordsmanship. He is of Spanish descent and speaks with a Castilian accent. Morticia is a beautiful and elegant woman who wears a tight black dress and has long black hair. She loves gardening, especially her roses, which she cuts off the heads of. She also enjoys knitting, painting, and playing the harpsichord.
Wednesday and Pugsley Addams
Wednesday and Pugsley are the children of Gomez and Morticia. They are both mischievous and morbid, often playing with dangerous weapons, explosives, or torture devices. They also like to experiment on each other or their pet octopus Aristotle. Wednesday is a pale and solemn girl who wears a black dress with a white collar and cuffs. She has a fondness for spiders, especially her pet tarantula Homer. She also likes to collect headless dolls and read books about death and horror. Pugsley is a chubby and cheerful boy who wears a striped T-shirt and shorts. He has a knack for mechanics and inventing gadgets, such as a disintegrator ray or a lie detector.
Uncle Fester and Grandmama
Uncle Fester and Grandmama are the siblings of Gomez and Morticia, respectively. They both live with the family in their mansion. Uncle Fester is a bald and rotund man who wears a long black coat. He has the ability to generate electricity from his body, which he uses to power light bulbs or shock himself for fun. He also likes to blow things up, dig holes, or explore the secret passages in the house. Grandmama is an old and haggard woman who wears a shawl and a pointed hat. She is an expert in witchcraft, potions, spells, and fortune-telling. She often cooks bizarre dishes for the family, such as eye of newt soup or bat wing pie.
Lurch and Thing
Lurch and Thing are the servants of the Addams Family. Lurch is a tall and imposing man who resembles Frankenstein's monster. He wears a dark suit and has a deep voice that usually says "You rang?" when summoned by a bell pull. He is loyal and obedient to the family, but sometimes shows signs of frustration or boredom with his duties. He also plays the organ in his spare time. Thing is a disembodied hand that lives in a wooden box. He can move around by crawling or jumping, and communicates by snapping his fingers or gesturing. He is helpful and friendly to the family, often assisting them with various tasks or delivering messages.
Cousin Itt and other relatives
Cousin Itt is a distant cousin of the Addams Family who visits them occasionally. He is completely covered by long brown hair that reaches the floor, except for his glasses, bowler hat, and gloves. He speaks in a high-pitched gibberish that only the family can understand. He is very intelligent and cultured, having degrees from various universities and being fluent in several languages. He also has a romantic interest in Margaret Alford, the mother of Pugsley's friend Joel. The Addams Family also has many other relatives who appear in different media adaptations, such as Cousin Melancholia, Uncle Knick-Knack, Aunt Vendetta, Cousin Crimp, Great-Aunt Calpurnia, Cousin Vlad, Uncle Zambesi, Cousin Cackle, Cousin Farouk, Cousin Blobby, and Cousin Curly, to name a few. How to watch the Addams Family movies and TV shows
The Addams Family has been adapted to various movies and TV shows over the years, each with their own style and interpretation of the characters and stories. Here is a list of the most notable ones and how you can watch them:
The Addams Family (1964-1966)
This is the first and most iconic live-action adaptation of the Addams Family, starring John Astin as Gomez, Carolyn Jones as Morticia, Lisa Loring as Wednesday, Ken Weatherwax as Pugsley, Jackie Coogan as Uncle Fester, Blossom Rock as Grandmama, Ted Cassidy as Lurch and Thing, and Felix Silla as Cousin Itt. The show ran for two seasons and 64 episodes on ABC, and was praised for its witty humor, catchy theme song, and faithful portrayal of the characters. You can watch it on DVD, Blu-ray, or streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video or Hulu.
The Addams Family (1973)
This is the first animated adaptation of the Addams Family, produced by Hanna-Barbera. It featured the voices of Lennie Weinrib as Gomez, Janet Waldo as Morticia, Cindy Henderson as Wednesday, Jodie Foster as Pugsley, Jackie Coogan reprising his role as Uncle Fester, Pat Harrington Jr. as Lurch, Ted Cassidy reprising his role as Thing, and Felix Silla reprising his role as Cousin Itt. The show ran for one season and 16 episodes on NBC, and followed the family's adventures in their new RV. You can watch it on DVD or YouTube.
Halloween with the New Addams Family (1977)
This is a made-for-TV movie that served as a reunion of the original cast of the 1964 series, except for Blossom Rock who was replaced by Jane Rose as Grandmama due to illness. The plot involves the family celebrating Halloween at their mansion while being targeted by a gang of crooks who want to steal their fortune. You can watch it on DVD or YouTube.
The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values (1993)
These are the most popular and successful movie adaptations of the Addams Family, directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and starring Anjelica Huston as Morticia, Raul Julia as Gomez, Christina Ricci as Wednesday, Jimmy Workman as Pugsley, Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester, Judith Malina as Grandmama, Carel Struycken as Lurch, Christopher Hart as Thing, and John Franklin as Cousin Itt. The first movie follows the family's reunion with Fester after 25 years of being lost, while the second movie introduces a new baby brother named Pubert and a sinister nanny named Debbie who tries to marry and kill Fester. Both movies were praised for their dark comedy, visual style, and performances. You can watch them on DVD, Blu-ray, or streaming services such as Netflix or HBO Max. The Addams Family (1992-1993)
This is the second animated adaptation of the Addams Family, produced by Hanna-Barbera and based on the 1991 movie. It featured the voices of John Astin reprising his role as Gomez, Nancy Linari as Morticia, Debi Derryberry as Wednesday, Jeannie Elias as Pugsley, Rip Taylor as Uncle Fester, Carol Channing as Grandmama, Jim Cummings as Lurch, Pat Fraley as Thing, and Rob Paulsen as Cousin Itt. The show ran for two seasons and 21 episodes on ABC, and followed the family's daily life and encounters with their neighbors and enemies. You can watch it on DVD or YouTube.
Addams Family Reunion (1998) and The New Addams Family (1998-1999)
This is a direct-to-video movie that served as a pilot for a new live-action TV series. It starred Tim Curry as Gomez, Daryl Hannah as Morticia, Nicole Fugere as Wednesday, Jerry Messing as Pugsley, Patrick Thomas as Uncle Fester, Alice Ghostley as Grandmama, Carel Struycken reprising his role as Lurch, Christopher Hart reprising his role as Thing, and Phil Fondacaro as Cousin Itt. The plot involves the family attending a reunion of their relatives who suffer from a genetic disease that makes them normal, while also being pursued by a greedy lawyer who wants to steal their inheritance. The movie was poorly received by critics and fans alike. The TV series that followed starred most of the same cast, except for Curry and Hannah who were replaced by Glenn Taranto and Ellie Harvie. The show ran for one season and 65 episodes on Fox Family Channel, and was a remake of the 1964 series with some elements from the movies. You can watch it on DVD or YouTube.
The Addams Family (2019) and The Addams Family 2 (2021)
These are the latest movie adaptations of the Addams Family, directed by Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan. They are computer-animated films that feature the voices of Oscar Isaac as Gomez, Charlize Theron as Morticia, Chloë Grace Moretz as Wednesday, Finn Wolfhard as Pugsley, Nick Kroll as Uncle Fester, Bette Midler as Grandmama, Conrad Vernon as Lurch, Alex Brightman as Thing, Snoop Dogg as Cousin Itt, Allison Janney as Margaux Needler, Elsie Fisher as Parker Needler, Martin Short as Grandpa Frump, Catherine O'Hara as Grandma Frump, Bill Hader as Cyrus Gravely, Javon Walton as Pugsley Jr., Wallace Shawn as Father George, Tituss Burgess as Glenn LeFaye, and Jennifer Coolidge as Ms. Gravely. The first movie follows the family's move to New Jersey and their clash with a reality TV show host who wants to renovate their mansion. The second movie follows the family's road trip across America and their encounter with a mysterious man who claims to be Fester's son. Both movies were moderately successful at the box office and received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. You can watch them on DVD, Blu-ray, or streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video or Hulu.
Wednesday (2022-present)
This is an upcoming live-action TV series that will focus on the character of Wednesday Addams. It will be created by Tim Burton and Al Gough and Miles Millar for Netflix. It will star Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams, Thora Birch as Tamara Novak, Riki Lindhome as Dr. Valerie Kinbott, Jamie McShane as Sheriff Donovan Galpin, Hunter Doohan as Tyler Galpin, Georgie Farmer as Ajax Petropolus, Moosa Mostafa as Eugene Otinger, Emma Myers as Enid Sinclair, Naomi J. Ogawa as Yoko Tanaka, Joy Sunday as Bianca Barclay, Percy Hynes White as Xavier Thorpe, and Victor Dorobantu as Thing. The plot will follow Wednesday's years at Nevermore Academy, a boarding school for peculiar children, where she will solve supernatural mysteries and deal with her emerging psychic abilities. The show is expected to premiere in 2022.
Some fun facts and trivia about the Addams Family
The Addams Family has a rich history and legacy that spans over 80 years. Here are some fun facts and trivia about them that you may not know:
The names of the characters were not given until the 1960 s TV series
As mentioned earlier, Charles Addams did not name his characters when he drew them as cartoons. He only gave them names when he was approached by the producers of the 1960s TV series, who wanted to make them more relatable and identifiable to the viewers. Addams came up with the names based on his own preferences, humor, or references. For example, he named Morticia after the word "mortician", which means a person who prepares dead bodies for burial or cremation. He also named Lurch after the sound of a heavy door opening or closing.
The theme song was composed by Vic Mizzy and features finger snaps
The theme song of the Addams Family is one of the most recognizable and catchy tunes in TV history. It was composed by Vic Mizzy, who also wrote the theme song for another spooky sitcom, The Munsters. Mizzy used a harpsichord to create the distinctive sound of the melody, and added finger snaps as a percussion element. He also wrote the lyrics, which describe the family's traits and invite the audience to join them. The theme song was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1965, but lost to The Andy Griffith Show.
Wednesday's name is based on a nursery rhyme line
Wednesday Addams is named after a line from an old English nursery rhyme called "Monday's Child". The rhyme assigns a different attribute to each day of the week, based on the child's birth date. The line for Wednesday is "Wednesday's child is full of woe", which fits Wednesday's gloomy and morbid personality. Charles Addams chose this name because he thought it was funny and ironic.
Raul Julia loved playing Gomez Addams and making children happy
Raul Julia, who played Gomez Addams in the 1991 and 1993 movies, was very passionate and enthusiastic about his role. He said that he loved playing Gomez because he was "a man who loves his wife, loves his children, loves his relatives, loves his house. And he has a good time. What could be better?" He also said that he enjoyed making children happy with his performance, and that he would often visit sick children in hospitals dressed as Gomez and cheer them up.
Christina Ricci came up with Wednesday's sleeping position by herself
Christina Ricci, who played Wednesday Addams in the 1991 and 1993 movies, was only 10 years old when she auditioned for the role. She impressed the director Barry Sonnenfeld with her natural talent and deadpan delivery of the lines. She also came up with some of her own ideas for her character, such as how she would sleep in her bed. She decided that Wednesday would sleep with her arms crossed over her chest, like a corpse in a coffin. Sonnenfeld liked this idea and used it in the movies.
Conclusion
The Addams Family is a beloved and iconic franchise that has entertained generations of fans with its quirky and spooky charm. The family's adventures and antics have been adapted to various media formats, each with their own style and flavor. Whether you prefer the original cartoons, the classic TV series, the movies, or the musical, there is something for everyone in the Addams Family universe. If you are looking for a family that is creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky, and altogether ooky, look no further than the Addams Family.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Addams Family:
Q: Are the Addams Family related to the Munsters?
A: No, they are not related. The Munsters are another fictional family that appeared in a TV sitcom around the same time as the Addams Family. They are also a parody of classic horror movie characters, such as Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, and the Wolfman. However, they have no connection to the Addams Family.
Q: What is the name of the Addams Family mansion?
A: The name of the Addams Family mansion is never revealed in any of the media adaptations. It is simply referred to as "the house" or "the mansion". However, some fans have speculated that it might be called "Addams Manor" or "Addams Hall".
Q: What is the address of the Addams Family mansion?
A: The address of the Addams Family mansion varies depending on the media adaptation. In the original cartoons, it was located in Westfield, New Jersey, where Charles Addams grew up. In the 1960s TV series, it was located at 0001 Cemetery Lane in an unnamed town. In the 1991 and 1993 movies, it was located at 001 Cemetery Ridge in an unnamed suburb. In the 2019 movie, it was located at 000 Cemetery Lane in Assimilation, New Jersey.
Q: What is the name of the Addams Family pet lion?
A: The name of the Addams Family pet lion is Kitty Kat. He is a large and ferocious lion who lives in the basement of the mansion. He is loyal and affectionate to the family, but hostile and aggressive to strangers. He often roars loudly and scares away visitors or intruders.
Q: What is the name of the Addams Family musical?
A: The name of the Addams Family musical is The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy. It is a Broadway musical that premiered in 2010, based on the characters created by Charles Addams. It features music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. It stars Nathan Lane as Gomez, Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia, Krysta Rodriguez as Wednesday, Adam Riegler as Pugsley, Kevin Chamberlin as Uncle Fester, Jackie Hoffman as Grandmama, Zachary James as Lurch, Wesley Taylor as Lucas Beineke, Terrence Mann as Mal Beineke, and Carolee Carmello as Alice Beineke. The plot involves Wednesday falling in love with a normal boy named Lucas and inviting his family to dinner at the mansion, where chaos and hilarity ensue. 44f88ac181
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