The Addams Family (1992 TV series)

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This article is about the 1992 TV series. For other uses, see The Addams Family.
The Addams Family
TAF 1992 title card.png
On-screen title card.
Network ABC
Production company Hanna-Barbera
Distributor Turner Entertainment
Original release September 12, 1992November 6, 1993
Run time 22 minutes
Starring John Astin
Nancy Linari
Debi Derryberry
Jeannie Elias
Rip Taylor
Carol Channing
Jim Cummings
Pat Fraley
Rob Paulsen
Edie McClurg
Dick Beals
Executive producer(s) David Kirshchner
Mark Young
Producer(s) Ron Myrick
Karenia Kamenski
Music composed by Guy Moon
Matt Muhoberac
John Zuker
Writer(s) Bill Matheny
Lane Raichert
Director(s) Robert Alvarez
Don Lusk
Carl Urbano
Ray Patterson
Gordon Hunt (voices)
Ginny McSwain (voices)
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The Addams Family is an American animated supernatural black comedy television series produced by Hanna-Barbera for ABC's Saturday morning line-up. It ran from 1992 to 1993, airing 21 episodes that spanned two seasons. It is based on Charles Addams's single-panel comic in The New Yorker, The Addams Family live-action TV series from the 1960s, and the then recent success of the first live-action film The Addams Family in 1991. This was the second animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera, after the 1973 version of the same name.

Unlike Hanna-Barbera's first attempt, which had the Addamses on a cross country road trip across America, this incarnation was a lot more faithful by having them situated in their mansion in a fixed setting, in the newly created and unlikely suburban community of Happydale Heights. This series was also darker in comparison, due to the highly well-received aforementioned live-action film.

Production

Development

Casting

John Astin, who played Gomez in the 1960s live-action Addams Family TV series, reprised his role for this cartoon adaptation; Astin had also previously provided the voice of Gomez in an episode of The New Scooby-Doo Movies in 1972, but replaced by Lennie Weinrib when Hanna-Barbera produced their first Addams Family series the next year.

Music

The theme song was adapted from Vic Mizzy's original composition that was used for the 1960s live-action Addams Family TV series. The rest of the episodes' music was composed by Guy Moon for the first season, who then provided additional music for the next season when Matt Muhoberac and John Zuker took the job as primary composers.

Episodes

Similarly to The Simpsons couch gag, where something different happens every time the Simpsons family would run to their couch in the opening theme song, the Addams family would do something different each time their photo is taken:

  1. Each member is in a different part of the house
  2. They all stand on each other with Lurch at the bottom
  3. Sitting on the couch or standing behind it
  4. Each in their own picture frame
Episode Original air date
1x01 September 12, 1992
1x02 September 19, 1992
1x03 September 26, 1992
1x04 October 3, 1992
1x05 October 10, 1992
1x06 October 17, 1992
1x07 October 24, 1992
1x08 October 31, 1992
1x09 November 7, 1992
1x10 November 14, 1992
1x11 November 21, 1992
1x12 November 28, 1992
1x13 December 5, 1992
2x01 September 13, 1993
2x02 September 25, 1993
2x03 October 2, 1993
2x04 October 9, 1993
2x05 October 16, 1993
2x06 October 23, 1993
2x07 October 30, 1993
2x08 November 6, 1993

Cast

Celebrity guests

Merchandise

Toys

Playmates released a line of action figures that included Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Granny, and Lurch. Wednesday, Thing, and Cousin Itt were planned, but the line was canceled before they could be released.

Reading material

Trumpet Club published an adaptation of the first and fifth episodes, called Fester's Unbelievable Underwear and Is Cousin Mumbles Here to Stay?, in 1992 and 1993, respectively. While in 1993, Golden Little Books published an electronic storybook called Sir Pugsley, which was the first segment of the seventh episode.

In 1993, Golden Little Books released other activity books including The Addams Family Sticker Fun and The Addams Family: A Big/Color Activity Book.

There are also two issues of The Addams Family: The Official Picture Book published by a company we don't have access to.

Board game

In 1993, Pressman released a board game based around the Addams residence called The Addams Family Creepy Mansion.

Video game

Ocean developed and published the video game The Addams Family: Pugsley's Scavenger Hunt for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992 in Europe, while North America got it in 1993. There was also a Nintendo Game Boy version ported by Enigma Variations for Europe and North America in 1992 and 1993, respectively.

References