UNAIRED PILOT

The 1988 pilot episode "Still The Munsters After All These Years" is the exact mid-way between the original series and  "The Munsters Today" series that was later produced. 

In its premise (later condensed into the opening of the show) its explained how the Munsters were sent into a twenty-two year nap bak in 1966 by Grandpa's experimental sleeping coffins, and how they later wake to find themselves in 1988. 

The pilot starred Mary Ellen Dunbar as Marilyn and was never aired.

The 22min episode begins in black and white (as we find the Munster's at home as they were in 1966) and later switches to colour.

NEW! Click here to watch the unaired pilot opening

THE STORY

Grandpa wishes the family to test out his experimental sleeping coffins. At first the family are sceptical, but Grandpa manages to convince them and they close the lids for a "thirty minute snooze". A loose beam from the ceiling falls and knocks the dial on the device to "forever". It seems the Munster's will never be seen again!

However, in 1988 the city council sends a property developer and his assistant  to inspect the Munster property - the two discuss the mysterious disappearance of the Munster family and how they wish to obtain the Munster property to knock it down to make way for a parking lot.

Above: some stills from the opening of The Munsters Today Unaired pilot.

City council worker Howie (who later in the series becomes Marilyn's friend) nervously and reluctantly creeps down into the basement, and fumbling around in the dark accidentally disturbs Grandpa's machine. The lids fly open on five coffins and the Munsters awake - the city council scram! Still thinking its 1966 the family go about their business. 

They soon however realise the accident that has happened, and that they owe a giant debt in tax to the government. The city council try and make a bid on the Munster's house, and the family must find a way to raise the cash and keep their home.

"Still The Munsters After All These Years" was written by Lloyd J Scwartz (son of Sherwood Schwartz) and starred John Schuck as Herman, Lee Meriwether as Lily, Jason Marsden as Eddie, Howard Morton as Grandpa and Mary Ellen Dunbar as Marilyn.  It also guest starred Dave Madden, Richard Horvitz and Jack Fletcher, and introduced us once again to America's first family of fright.  None of the original cast chose to reprise their roles in the series, after the flop of the 1981 "Munsters Revenge" movie (the film had been a tester for a proposed new series, the idea of which was abandoned until 1988 when the Arthur Company proposed recasting for the project).

Above: Mary Ellen Dunbar was the original choice for Marilyn (left), but Hilary Van Dyke later took her place (right) for the remainder of duration of the series 1988 - 1991.

Click here to read Cousin Frank's interview with costume designer Karen Swerling and learn more about the behind the scenes of the unaired pilot episode.

 The original pilot script featured a proposed full version of the Munster there that was never used. Lyrics coming soon!

NEW! Click here to watch the original network promo

NEW! Click here to watch clips from the unaired pilot

Click here to view the original pilot episode script and season two show notes.

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