June 5th, 2012
11:58 AM ET
Jerry O'Connell to play Herman Munster in rebootClassic 1960s sitcom “The Munsters” will be revived with “Sliders” actor Jerry O’Connell as its leading man. Deadline reports that O’Connell will play patriarch Herman Munster in “Mockingbird Lane,” a reboot of the vintage series about a lovable family of monsters. The revamped show - which will also reportedly co-star Eddie Izzard (Grandpa), Mason Cook (Eddie) and Charity Wakefield (the “plain” cousin) - will air on NBC. The pilot was written by Bryan Fuller (“Pushing Daisies”) and directed by Bryan Singer (“Superman Returns").
As of now, it looks like the storyline is centered around O’Connell’s character, who works in a funeral home and is in desperate need of a new heart. When he’s not fretting over son Eddie’s transformation into a werewolf, he spends his time looking for a living “donor.” “We want this show to be an American 'Harry Potter,'” writer/producer Fuller recently told Entertainment Weekly. “To have that sense of a magical world that you get to [visit] with your family, and [to have] stories told in a fantastical way that are instantly relatable. It’s an ‘American Horror Story’ that the whole family can watch.” Production on “Mockingbird Lane” is expected to start later this summer.
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I dunno... A Harry Potter reference... I'm smelling something not so funny already. Haven't seen Jerry Oconnel in a while so I really can't comment on him.
The problem is there are no more real comedic talent, no good humour, make me laugh already please. All Jokes in this new century is lame. Just look at the so-called comedy on today's networks, really.... Every now and then you can get a laugh on SNL and the nightly late talk shows besides that, they, (the writers) of this garbage suck as will the Munsters, once again.
If I made a list of 100 actors who'd be best to play Herman Munster, Jerry would be around #98. Or not on there at all. This will crash and burn.
This will bomb, all these rehashes bomb. They need to wait another 25years so that most all who remember the original are sufficiently dead and gone. Anyone who watched original will not be able to stand the new one with its hipster storyline, sorry just remember the movies they mad of these shows, ALL were horrible flops.
If it's like the typical update production, be prepared to hold your nose.
This should be good, but I would have rather have seen one on the Addams Family.
I, for one, love classic sitcoms and look forward to watching. I'll give it a shot. I think Jerry is cute, and I wonder who will play Lily.
Though I REALLY love to see The Addams Family in a new sitcom form- I have the box set and LOVE it!
No more original ideas in Hollywood.
Agreed
I couldn't agree more. I'm constanly stunned how much recycled crap people eat up. The Munsters were never good...and seriously if your big star is Jerry O'Connell how good could you expect it to do if you had to resort to C-list actors.
Why would Herman "stress" over his son Eddie becoming a werewolf. In the old tv show that would be something the whole family would have been proud of. It was tragically normal Marilyn that caused the family grief.
He probably only got the part because he already looks like Herman Munster.
Boo! Hugh Laurie should be Herman, Sofia Vergara should be Lily, and the weird kid from Moonrise Kingdom should play Eddie. Is there still time to recast?
And you're doing this WHY?....I agree with be Quiet as well, and Liz, and Steven....the list goes on....just a bad idea..it shows Hollywierd has run out of original ideas......so sad
I would have thought the guy who plays Raymond's brother on Everybody loves Raymond would have been Herman Munster.
Jerry I hope you can deal with the MAKEUP because you are too young to play Herman !!!
Fred Gwynn was 38 when the Munsters aired in 1964... Jerry O'Connell?... yeah 38.
He was the fat kid in Stand By Me
The names are intriguing, but I agree that Brad Garrett should be Herman. I am holding out hope for this one. Really. (I am still missing "Pushing Daisies".)
Can you imagine who they must've turned down just to settle with Jerry O'Connell?
John Kerry would make a great Herman (he's not worth much else)
Have Olivia Wilde play Lily!
And Joan Rivers to play Grandpa. -BTB
Herman like!!!
If it has any chance at all – PLEASE- do not just remake the old episodes of the original show. And although I love Jerry, Brad Garrett would have been a better choice.
Please don't bring back "Flipper" to the small screen! I shudder to think who might be cast as the dolphin...
He looks more like Eddie Munster...
Wow. What an utter fail.
Wow. That's scraping the bottom for an actor. No one could reprise the role Gwynne made famous. No one.
Amen!!!
It's been done already twice, and you're right.
They've already had a Munsters syndicated TV series that ran for 3 seasons in the 80's. It starred John Schuck as Herman and Lee Meriwether as Lily. Then in the nineties they had a Munsters Xmas special that starred Edward Hermann as Herman and Veronica Hamel as Lily. Saying Gwynne's the only one who can do it just doesn't fly.
I thiink they should update it a bit. maybe make it set in London with a new character that would be Hermans mom and call her mummy. just a thought
Who's going to play Lily? That's what I wanna know!
Kinda creepy looking actress Fairuza Balk would be a good Lily. But probably too smart to get trapped in this disastor.
Sarah Palin as Lilly?
I'll wait for the reboot of My Mother The Car, starting a Prius.
I had to google that one. LMAO! Too funny!
better catch one of the early episodes, because there won't be any other ones!
Brad Garrett would be the best choice. youtube him doing herman
I was stumpted until I saw your post. He has the height and is incredibly funny with a good script!
Are you kidding me ? NBC cancelled Harry's Law and is coming out with this tripe for the new season. Do they have a 10 year old deciding their programing? No wait, I think even a fifth grader is smarter than this...
Still mad about Harry's Law! Now, NBC has nothing worth watching. Guess it's another NetFlix night...
They should just bring back Pushing Daisies.
Romeny would be a better choice.
I'll bet ten to one that Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, and Al Lewis are rolling over in their graves.
Further evidence that Hollywood has gone belly-up. No original ideas, making movies about board games (Clue, Battleship), trying desperately to launch old shows (Dallas, 90210), and the infinite supply of sequals.
Hollywood, it official. You suck. Close up shop, because you're all fired.
Agreed.
It seems a significant cadre of "writers" come from aging Baby Boomers (disclaimer: I'm one, too) who collectively have probably three working non-fried-to-a-crisp synapses remaining, desperately running from their advancing years and trying to relive TV from their youth. Originality of thought and creativity are apparently rapidly dwindling commodities in Hollyweird.
Jerry you need a new agent!!
Such a bad idea, I mean really bad idea.
I always thought Elliot Gould would have been a perfect Herman Munster... at least if a film had been done 10-20 years ago since he's getting on the old side now.
LOL! He always did remind me of Herman Munster.
I'd check it out, but only for Eddie Izzard. And "an American Harry Potter"? Who are they kidding?
Another in what seems to be an endless parade of "remakes" of older television shows. I have doubts that this one will last even one season before being cancelled.
II'd be surprised if it makes it past a pilot.
why do people keep thinking the Munsters is worthy of yet another reboot?
Seems interesting but to pull off "an American 'Harry Potter?" We'll see about that.