The Addams Family (1992 animated series)

The Addams Family
Genre
Based on The Addams Family, by Charles Addams
Directed by
Voices of
Theme music composer Vic Mizzy
Opening theme "The Addams Family"
Ending theme "The Addams Family" (Instrumental)
Composer(s)
  • Guy Moon (Season 1; additional music, Season 2)
  • Matt Muhoberac (Season 2)
  • John Zucker (Season 2)
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 21 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Producer(s) Ron Myrick
Editor(s)
  • Gil Iverson
  • Tom Gleason
  • Tim Iverson
Running time 23 minutes approx.
Production company(s) Hanna-Barbera
Distributor Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original network ABC
Original release September 12, 1992 (1992-09-12) – November 6, 1993 (1993-11-06)
Chronology
Preceded by The Addams Family (1973–74)
Related shows The Addams Family (1964–66)
The Addams Family (1991)

The Addams Family is an American animated series based on the eponymous comic strip characters by Charles Addams and is the second cartoon show to feature the Addams (the first was the 1973 series). It ran from September 12, 1992 to November 6, 1993 on ABC and was produced by Hanna-Barbera. The series' development began in the wake of the 1991 Addams Family feature film. Two seasons were produced.

Format

Geared towards children, much of the family's macabre nature was toned down. Unlike in the live action series Uncle Fester loves explosives and blowing himself up. In order for the series to fit with other Saturday morning cartoons, plot lines were geared around the family living in the bright, cheerful town of Happydale Heights and facing some kind of threat from a series of recurring villains or individuals who either wanted to force the Addams' from their home or capture one of them (usually Uncle Fester) for nefarious purposes.

The first episode to air involved a plot against Uncle Fester by Norman Normanmeyer's "arch nemesis," a faceless gangster; the episode was aired out of production order, however, and relied on the viewer's having seen previous episodes for context, thus leaving the audience in the dark as to why Norman had a nemesis. Later episodes would introduce the series' most common recurring villains, an underwear obsessed family, the Normanmeyer's that lived next door to the Addams and despised them for their lifestyle being an affront to typical suburban living (with the exception of their son N.J.).

Episodes dealing with the Normanmeyers usually involved Norman and Normina, trying to rid Happydale Heights of the Addams Family or spying on the Addams; N.J. is friends with Wednesday and Pugsley, inevitably leading to intrafamilial conflict. At the end of several episodes, when the conflict was resolved, Gomez usually suggested a family dance. The first suggestion for the dance was usually thrown out because of some weird requirement. Uncle Fester is usually the one to point out the reason the first suggestion should not be accepted albeit sometimes Gomez and Uncle Fester found themselves in a role reversal (with Uncle Fester making the suggestion and Gomez pointing out the reason not to follow it).

The second suggestion was accepted and there was usually a requirement for that dance too. New artistic models of the characters were used for this series, though still having a passing resemblance to the original comics. Lurch, for instance, has blue skin in the animated series. The Addams Family Theme, re-recorded with a basso profondo lead vocal, was reused as the theme for the series.

Characters

Addams Family

The Addams Family

Addams Family relatives

Although some of the relatives of the Addams Family are only mentioned, just like in the classic TV series, some of them made appearances in the show:

Normanmeyers

Other characters

Action figures and other merchandise

Playmates produced a series of nine action figures based on the Addams Family animated series. This includes Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley, and Granny among others. Each figure includes multiple points of articulation, accessories, and a biography card on their cardback. No commercial was ever made for this. Halloween costumes were also produced.

Episodes

Season 1 (1992)

No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Written by Original air date
11"Happyester Fester"Bill Matheny and Lane RaichertSeptember 12, 1992 (1992-09-12)
Uncle Fester creates a new fabric called Happyester, so he and Gomez decide to present it to Norman Normanmeyer, who runs Normanwear. Normanmeyer is enthusiastic to buy the formula and offers Uncle Fester to be his partner, but Uncle Fester makes unusual demands before he signs the contract. Meanwhile, a rival underwear company RumpCo has sent a spy, Underwear Hitman "Fingers", to steal the formula. After Wednesday and Pugsley save the day, Uncle Fester is happy to sign the contract. To Uncle Fester, Wednesday, Pugsley, and Thing's surprise, they are thrown out of Normanwear. Nevertheless, Uncle Fester misinterprets the action as a friendly deed. Later, it turns out Happyester has itchy side effects, something that delights the Addams, but causes bad publicity for Normanwear causing Uncle Fester to support Normanmeyer.
22"Dead and Breakfast"Bill Matheny and Lane RaichertSeptember 19, 1992 (1992-09-19)
Wednesday and Pugsley's bad mood over the sunny weather is worsened when they are assigned for a school project called 'creative problem solving through junior career exploration'. Through the enthusiasm of Gomez, it is decided that they turn the Addams home into a "dead and breakfast." Wednesday and Pugsley are reluctant to start the project, but do not want to let down their parents. After the hotel's opening, the trouble starts. Not only are the Normanmeyers determined to ruin their business and do the Addams receive a visit from a health inspector, who is courted by Granny, they also have a guest, Mrs. Quaint, that sets her eyes on the family fortune. Wednesday and Pugsley eventually use booby traps to capture Mrs. Quaint thereby solving a problem creatively.
33"The Day Gomez Failed"David Schwartz (teleplay)
David Schwartz, Bill Matheny, and Lane Raichert (story)
September 26, 1992 (1992-09-26)
Feeling that he has done everything once, Gomez goes through his days uninspired. Morticia reminds him that everything in his life has been a success, and encourages him to fail at something. The plan backfires, though, because everything Gomez does results in a profit, earning a fortune in only six hours. Mr. Normanmeyer offers Gomez his ticket to failure, announcing his plans on using his land to complete a new freeway. Some time after signing the contract, the family is surprised to find out that part of the contract was demolishing the mansion with bulldozers. Although Gomez sees it as a friendly deed of Normanmeyer, he stops him, revealing that the house is built on a swamp and could therefore not be used for a freeway. Instead, the freeway is built on the Normanmeyer's land, much to their frustration. Meanwhile, Morticia reminds Gomez that he has failed in failing, and therefore succeeded in his plans.
4a4a"Girlfriendstein"Earl Kress (teleplay)
Earl Kress, Bill Matheny, and Lane Raichert (story)
October 3, 1992 (1992-10-03)
The family notices that Lurch has been somewhere else with his attention lately. Wednesday, Pugsley and Thing dig through his room and find out he has recently been dumped by his girlfriend. Fester building him a new girlfriend seems the perfect resolution. Lurch shows no interest in the robot, though, so Wednesday calls his ex-girlfriend to reunite with him. Meanwhile, Cousin Itt has fallen in love with the robot and they run off.
4b4b"Pugsley by the Numbers"David Schwartz (teleplay), and David Schwartz with Bill Matheny (story)October 3, 1992 (1992-10-03)
Wednesday is fed up with her brother continuously ruining her paintings. She decides to create an improved Pugsley with her mother's living paint, but every creation she makes ranging from an intelligent Pugsley, a stronger Pugsley, and a female Pugsley prove to be too annoying. With the help of the real Pugsley, she exterminates the alternative Pugsleys and admits that her brother is perfect.
4c4c"Beware of Thing"Bill MathenyOctober 3, 1992 (1992-10-03)
The Spy Twins take a break from spying and try to break into the Addams safe which is guarded by Thing. They dress up as a giant hand to seduce and distract Thing, and thereby catch him. Thing is able to escape and eventually scares away The Spy Twins.
55"N.J. Addams"David Schwartz (teleplay)
David Schwartz, Bill Matheny, and Lane Raichert (story)
October 10, 1992 (1992-10-10)
N.J. feels embarrassed by his parents' weekly speeches at school about underwear. He is too afraid to admit that he does not want to take over his father's business one day, and instead of confronting his parents, he runs away from home. After explaining the Addams residence is the one place where he can be himself, Wednesday and Pugsley allow him to stay in a spare room. They make him look unrecognizable and introduce him as Mumbles Addams, a long lost cousin, at a family reunion organized by Gomez and Morticia. N.J. is initially delighted with the attention he is receiving, but soon finds out the relatives are too odd for his taste when they fight over whose side of the family Mumbles is from. During a burst out, he upsets Uncle Frankus, an intimidating relative who soon starts chasing them. After he is saved by Wednesday and Pugsley, N.J. is informed that it is all right to be different or not live up to people's expectations. N.J. has the courage to return home and his parents, who were worried because of his disappearance, announce that they will be less hard on him in the future.
6a6a"A Thing Is Born"David Schwartz (teleplay)
David Schwartz, Bill Matheny, and Lane Raichert (story)
October 17, 1992 (1992-10-17)
We see a sad and unhappy Thing who is bored and wants to become a star. He doesn't play with the children nor help Uncle Fester in the absence of Gomez and Morticia as they had left for yet another honeymoon, Wednesday tries to help Thing and Granny predicts fame and fortune and accompanies Thing to Hollywood where his talents bring a lot of fame, Granny misses family and leaves to home after this his newfound fame also attracts a jealous maniac named Harry Palmer who lost his chance and fame thanks to Thing and tries to capture him. But Thing manages to capture Harry Palmer. Afterwards, he tells the reporters that he won't do any more films and returns home.
6b6b"Choke and Dagger"David Schwartz (teleplay), and David Schwartz with Bill Matheny (story)October 17, 1992 (1992-10-17)
Wednesday and Pugsley plan to go with Cousin Itt on his latest missions. The Spy Twins make various attempts to capture Cousin Itt which always tend to go wrong with the other Addams Family members thwarting their plans.
6c6c"Fester's Diary"Bill MathenyOctober 17, 1992 (1992-10-17)
Uncle Fester writes in his diary about his day.
7a7a"Sir Pugsley"David Schwartz (teleplay)
David Schwartz, Ron Myrick, and Bill Matheny (story)
October 24, 1992 (1992-10-24)
The Addams Family's Annual Family Joust has arrived and every year, Wednesday always beats Pugsley in the joust. Gomez and Uncle Fester give Pugsley some pointers in order to beat Wednesday in the joust.
7b7b"Festerman"David Schwartz (teleplay), and David Schwartz with Bill Matheny (story)October 24, 1992 (1992-10-24)
Uncle Fester reads his comic book called "Festerman" to Wednesday. The plot of the comic details Festerman's experiment to get more power resulted in his former partner Underman (Norman Normanmeyer's comic counterpart) emerging from another dimension and wanting revenge on Festerman after Fester Anvil fell on him.
7c7c"Art to Art"Lane Raichert (teleplay), and Lane Raichert with Bill Matheny (story)October 24, 1992 (1992-10-24)
Morticia has lost her artistic touch. So Lurch and Thing help Morticia get her artistic touch back through whatever way possible.
88"Puttergeist"David Schwartz and Bill MathenyOctober 31, 1992 (1992-10-31)
Gomez and Morticia are delighted by Granny's Halloween tale, which events took place forty years ago. Grandmama talks about a man who went golfing on Halloween night, and was struck by lightning, which lost him his head. He then re-appeared as the Puttergeist: a mean man with a huge golf ball for a head who scares the town at night. Wednesday and Pugsley don't believe in the Puttergeist and go trick and treating with Thing and N.J. When Wednesday uncovers Uncle Fester as a Puttergeist impostor, her remaining doubts are confirmed: Puttergeist does not exist. So when the real Puttergeist shows up, attempting to scare and capture her, she is not feeling scared. While escaping with a golf car, it is revealed that Mr. Normanmeyer is the Puttergeist. He explains that the myth was started by his grandfather. N.J. is initially upset that the Puttergeist is not real, but he appreciates that his father continued the act for so long, just to please him. Moments later, the real Puttergeist drives along, confirming his existence.
99"F.T.V."Lane Raichert (teleplay), and Bill Matheny with Lane Raichert (story)November 7, 1992 (1992-11-07)
The Addams Family start their own television channel which the Normanmeyers plan to ruin.
1010"Itt's Over"Earl Kress (teleplay), and Earl Kress with Bill Matheny (story)November 14, 1992 (1992-11-14)
Uncle Fester suddenly grows hair on his head and no barber-based tools can remove it since the hair is hard. The other family members work to find a way to remove the hair from Uncle Fester's head. When a latest attempt to remove hair from Uncle Fester with a hair removal formula seemingly causes the demise of Cousin Itt, Norman Normanmeyer sees this on his FesterCam and has Uncle Fester arrested for the murder of Cousin Itt. While Uncle Fester deals with his tough inmates, Wednesday and Pugsley end up figuring out what actually happened to Cousin Itt when the supposed hair-removal formula doesn't work on Pugsley. Wednesday, Pugsley, and Thing find the trail to Cousin Itt leading them to a hideaway beneath a local donut shop. Gomez, Morticia, Norman, and Normina visit Uncle Fester in jail who has become friends with his inmates after blowing himself up. Norman is upset to find out that Uncle Fester loves being in jail. Just then, Wednesday, Pugsley, and Thing arrive with Cousin Itt (who actually had to leave for an important mission at the last minute). Uncle Fester is released from prison and thanks Cousin Itt. Norman is stopped by a police officer who asks Norman if he actually witnessed the crime. Norman is thrown in jail for lying to the police and ends up at the mercy of the inmates. Back at the Addams House, Uncle Fester loses his hair from the worrying and the Addams Family celebrates this.
11a11a"Hide and Go Lurch"Lane Raichert (teleplay), and Lane Raichert with Bill Matheny (story)November 21, 1992 (1992-11-21)
Gomez and Uncle Fester find the Hiding Horn in the attic and play Hide and Seek with Lurch where Lurch would have to find them before midnight. Yet Lurch keeps finding Gomez and Uncle Fester.
11b11b"Hook, Line and Stinkers"Lane Raichert (teleplay), and Lane Raichert with Bill Matheny (story)November 21, 1992 (1992-11-21)
The Spy Twins kidnap Wednesday and Pugsley in order to use them as bait for Cousin Itt at their swamp hideout at the Addams Family's summer cottage. Yet Wednesday and Pugsley end up outwitting the Spy Twins where they keep getting attacked by Snappy.
11c11c"A Sword Fightin' Thing"David Schwartz (teleplay), and David Schwartz with Bill Matheny (story)November 21, 1992 (1992-11-21)
When Gomez is relaxing, Thing wants him to sword fight. So Gomez tries to find other ways to relax with Thing still wanting to have a sword fight with Gomez.
1212"Addams Family PTA"David Schwartz (teleplay), and David Schwartz with Bill Matheny (story)November 28, 1992 (1992-11-28)
Morticia is sad that Wednesday and Pugsley prefer to spend their time with friends or other relatives, rather than with her. Morticia does her teaching abilities until it creeps out the teachers enough for Principal Macnamara to let her go. Upon being rehired by Principal Macnamara, Morticia decides to become more active with their school activities when the teacher in charge of it gets sick. Morticia organizes a scavenger hunt at the Addams residence. Normina Normanmeyer tries to prevent the children from going to the Addams house. Out of concern for the children's safety Normina tries to sabotage the hunt to prove the Addams house isn't safe for children and ban Morticia from further school activities forever. Her plan of destruction turns out to backfire though upon trying to use Uncle Fester's Plant Growth Formula on a plant making Morticia only more beloved with Wednesday and Pugsley's classmates.
13a13a"Little Big Thing"Earl Kress (teleplay), and Earl Kress with Bill Matheny (story)December 5, 1992 (1992-12-05)
Granny's sight has been blurry and Morticia insists that she get some glasses. Granny stubbornly refuses to wear glasses. Soon, Granny accidentally uses Uncle Fester's Growth Spray that causes Thing to grow to 20 ft. After Cousin Itt saves the day, Granny eventually realizes that wearing glasses isn't bad after all.
13b13b"Little Bad Riding Hood"Lane Raichert (teleplay), and Lane Raichert with Bill Matheny (story)December 5, 1992 (1992-12-05)
Before heading to sleep, Wednesday reads her version of Little Bad Riding Hood to Pugsley where Wednesday is Little Bad Riding Hood, Thing as Littler Red Riding Hand, and Pugsley is the Big Bad Wolf.
13c13c"Metamorphosister"Lane Raichert (teleplay), and Lane Raichert with Bill Matheny (story)December 5, 1992 (1992-12-05)
Pugsley and Thing plan to use a formula to turn Wednesday into a dog. Yet each attempt to transform Wednesday into a dog ends up turning her into different animals.

Season 2 (1993)

No. in
series
No. in
season
Title Written by Original air date
141"Color Me Addams"Earl Kress (teleplay), and Bill Matheny with Earl Kress (story)September 18, 1993 (1993-09-18)
Gomez persuades Morticia to hold a gallery showing of her best art works as part of a charity art show at Wednesday and Pugsley's school. While Norman Normanmeyer stays by his phone awaiting a call for an important client, Normina plans to find a way to sabotage Morticia's art show.
152"No Ifs, Ands or Butlers"David Schwartz (teleplay), and Bill Matheny with David Schwartz (story)September 25, 1993 (1993-09-25)
The Addams Family discovers that Lurch is troubled. Wednesday, Pugsley, and Thing learn that Lurch wants to be a cowboy. While Lurch is taking some time off to be a cowboy, Uncle Fester ends up covering for Lurch. Wednesday, Pugsley, and Thing go with Lurch to a local range where the local foreman named Buck plans to see to it that Lurch fails the cowboy training even to the point where Buck calls in Biggis the Barn Kid. Even though Lurch is offered to become the new foreman, Lurch eventually returns to The Addams Family house since he's homesick.
16a3a"Jack and Jill and the Beanstalk"David Schwartz (teleplay), and Bill Matheny with David Schwartz (story)October 2, 1993 (1993-10-02)
Wednesday and Pugsley tells Uncle Fester a story about Jack and Jill (portrayed by Wednesday and Pugsley) who end up getting magic beans from the Big Bad Wolf. The beans end up growing into a beanstalk where they end up encountering a giant (portrayed by Norman Normanmeyer).
16b3b"Festerman Returns"Lane Raichert (teleplay), and Lane Raichert with Bill Matheny (story)October 2, 1993 (1993-10-02)
Following a rejection slip from a comic company, Uncle Fester reads his latest comic called "Festerman Returns" to Wednesday and Thing. The plot of the comic details Festerman learning that his fellow comrades in the Fester League have gone missing. Festerman discovers that Mega Fingers is behind this upon infiltrating the Fester League disguised as Fester Gator.
16c3c"Hand Delivered"Bill MathenyOctober 2, 1993 (1993-10-02)
A female mail carrier who has gone against the mail carrier delivery challenges ends up having some problems when it comes to Thing who wants to help her deliver The Addams Family's mail.
174"Sweetheart of a Brother"Bill MathenyOctober 9, 1993 (1993-10-09)
Much to Wednesday's frustration, Pugsley is abandoning their constant terrorizing each other because he has fallen in love with Shella, the school's most popular girl. Although disgusted by his soft behavior, Wednesday decides to help him out to court the foreign girl. She motivates him in to talk to her at school, and is annoyed that Shella shows no interest in him. Pugsley thinks that he can attract her attention if he is like everyone else, and drinks a normalizing formula, much to the Addams Family's shock. Distancing himself from his unusual family, Pugsley takes an interest in Norman Normanmeyer who unlike the Addams is delighted with Pugsley's new behavior. In school, he becomes a geek and is tortured by the school bully Mortimer as a result. When Mortimer is about to fight with Shella for defending Pugsley, the formula has spent its force and the real Pugsley takes revenge on him. Shella is romanced by Pugsley, but announces she has to return to her homeland soon. He and Wednesday are nevertheless happy, because their lives are now back to 'normal' and Pugsley learns that it's better to be himself.
185"Double O Honeymoon"Bill MathenyOctober 16, 1993 (1993-10-16)
The Addams Family watch a video of Cousin Itt's mission against Ian Thundermane. Gomez and Morticia go on a spy-themed honeymoon to Spain when Ian Thundermane has escaped from prison. While Gomez and Morticia are out on their honeymoon, Ian Thundermane ends up capturing the other Addams Family members and the Normanmeyers as part of his revenge on Cousin Itt. Now it's up to Gomez and Morticia to rescue Cousin Itt and defeat Ian Thundermane.
19a6a"Then Came Granny"Bill MathenyOctober 23, 1993 (1993-10-23)
Granny has lost her psychic abilities and must return to Crystal Rock in order to get them back.
19b6b"Pet Show Thing"Lane Raichert (teleplay), and Lane Raichert with Bill Matheny (story)October 23, 1993 (1993-10-23)
Wednesday and Pugsley enter a disguised Thing into the Watch-Pets Competition where the pets are stolen by Harry Palmer in a plot to get revenge on Thing.
19c6c"Fester Sings the Fester Way"Lane RaichertOctober 23, 1993 (1993-10-23)
Uncle Fester sings about his life with the Addams Family.
20a7a"Camp Addams"Bill Matheny (teleplay), and Bill Matheny with Ron Myrick (story)October 30, 1993 (1993-10-30)
Wednesday and Pugsley attend a summer camp where they are placed in Camp Holler run by D.I. Holler instead of Camp Holly.
20b7b"Little Doll Lost"Bill MathenyOctober 30, 1993 (1993-10-30)
Wednesday's doll Marie is presumed to have burned in the fireplace and Lurch offers to serve as the doll in its place.
20c7c"King of the Polycotton Blues"Lane Raichert and Bill MathenyOctober 30, 1993 (1993-10-30)
Norman and Normina sing a blues song explaining to N.J. why they hate the Addams Family. Episode ends with a harmonica solo playing over the credits, in a sort of parody of Roseanne.
21a8a"A Girl and a Ghoul"Bill Matheny (teleplay), and Bill Matheny with Ron Myrick (story)November 6, 1993 (1993-11-06)
Wednesday is thrilled when she wins a competition to have horror-themed TV host Graveyard Gary visit her home. Gomez is supportive, but worries that Wednesday is more inspired by Gary than him.
21b8b"A Little Bit of Pugsley"Bill MathenyNovember 6, 1993 (1993-11-06)
Pugsley is the only one of the family who hasn't mastered his own dance and Thing decides to help him.
21c8c"Ask Granny"Bill MathenyNovember 6, 1993 (1993-11-06)
Granny hosts her own question show.

Principal voice actors

Additional voices

Crew

Home Media releases

There are no plans from Warner Archive to release the entire series on DVD yet.

See also

External links

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