When it comes to gothic and macabre families, The Addams Family can’t be beat. This family has a much longer history than most casual fans are aware of. Charles Addams created the Addams Family, and the family first appeared in The New Yorker cartoon section. They’ve come a long way since then, with their first live-action appearance happening far earlier than one might expect. The Addams Family got their first television series in 1964, airing for the first time on September 18th. Yes, that does mean they’ve been around in television for over 60 years, and Netflix’s biggest hit wouldn’t have been possible without their history.
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The Addams Family set the standard when it came to live-action takes of this beloved family. Like any adaptation, it wasn’t without changes. The producer wanted the family to appear “less evil,” if such a thing is possible, while still coming off as unorthodox. On the bright side, The Addams Family brought new fans into the fold, eventually resulting in the 1990s films. Ironically, those films have largely been ignored by Netflix’s latest hit series, Wednesday. Wednesday brought the Addams back to the forefront, working hard to return the iconic family to the more macabre roots we all know and love.
The Addams Family Series
The Addams Family (1964) ran for two seasons, totaling 64 episodes. It revolved around the iconic and close-knit family, though their definition of family bonding experiences varies quite drastically from the average person. Naturally, the series included obvious family favorites, such as Gomez, Morticia, Fester, Thing, Lurch, Wednesday, and Pugsley. Also along for the ride were more extended family members like Cousin Itt, Ophelia, and Grandma Frump.
While the series was filmed entirely in black and white, the set would shock most fans. Reportedly, to get that perfect balance of colors in black and white format, the creators had to use a whole lot of pink. In other words, the set for The Addams Family was pink; the carpet, wallpaper, couch, and more. That would certainly give modern-day Wednesday the hives.
Giving Rise to Modern Incarnations
To say that Netflix’s Wednesday wouldn’t have been possible without The Addams Family (1964) would be quite the understatement. The original series had a lot of influence on the modern take, albeit one that opted to focus on one family member in particular. Wednesday began airing in 2019, and it has since become Netflix’s biggest English-language series, and has the record for being #1 in most countries. The only show to compete in terms of numbers is Squid Game, which hit a higher view count.
The Addams Family is the foundation for many memorable additions revolving around this family. It may have been the first live-action take, but it’s far from the last. Wednesday’s success has already had an impact on the family unit, as Fester will soon be getting his own solo series.
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