| Mockingbird Lane | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Based on | |
| Written by | Bryan Fuller |
| Directed by | Bryan Singer |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Jim Dooley |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Jason Taylor |
| Cinematography | Guillermo Navarro |
| Editor | Stuart Bass |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 39 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | October 26, 2012 (2012-10-26) |
| Related | |
Mockingbird Lane is a 2012 Americanhorror comedytelevision special that served as a re-imagining of the 1964–66 television seriesThe Munsters. It was developed forNBC byBryan Fuller. Thepilot episode aired on October 26, 2012, as aHalloween special, and lead into a Halloween-themed episode of the television seriesGrimm, with the option for a series order.[1] The special was viewed by 5.47 million American viewers and gained a 1.5/5 ratings share for adults aged 18–49,[2] and the concept was not picked up by NBC as a series.[3]
The Munsters are a family of monster-like beings. Herman resemblesFrankenstein's Monster, with visible scars and a heart that is the only remaining part of his original body; his wife Lily is avampire, as is her father who is known as Grandpa; their son Eddie is unaware that he is a transitioningwerewolf; and finally there is Lily's niece Marilyn, the only normal member of the family, whose mother tried to eat her when she was a baby.
The Munsters move to 1313 Mockingbird Lane after Eddie attacks his "Wildlife Explorers" scout troop in werewolf form. Eddie thinks that the event was abear attack. Grandpa and Marilyn both want to tell him of his true nature, but Herman and Lily want to wait. Eddie thinks there is something wrong with himself and fears being a carnivorous monster like his grandfather and mother.
Meanwhile, Herman's heart is dying because he loves too hard and needs a replacement. Grandpa plans to kill someone to provide a heart for Herman and a feast of blood for Grandpa. He first plans to kill their new neighbor, but Herman talks him out of it. Then the perfect candidate shows up,Scoutmaster Steve, a widower and Eddie's new boy scout troop leader; Steve has fallen for Lily and loves her just as Herman does.
Grandpa invites Steve over to dinner to kill him. Despite the efforts of Herman, Lily, and Marilyn to prevent the killing, Steve dies when Grandpa causes him to fall down the stairs. Herman and Lily finally tell Eddie about his condition, which he nervously accepts. They acquire a petdragon, Spot, to watch over Eddie during his transformations.
NBC confirmed ordering the pilot episode in November 2011[4] and announced in January 2012 that it would be calledMockingbird Lane, a reference to the Munster family address at 1313 Mockingbird Lane.[5] The costumes and make-up for the characters were heavily toned down to have them more closely resemble humans.[6]
On March 20, 2012, formerThe Riches starEddie Izzard was announced by NBC as "Grandpa", the first of the prospective series' main roles to be cast.[7][8] British actressCharity Wakefield joined the cast, playing Marilyn Munster, Lily's niece, andSpy Kids: All the Time in the World actorMason Cook joined as Eddie Munster.[9] On June 4, 2012, it was announced thatJerry O'Connell had been cast as family patriarch Herman Munster who series writer-producerBryan Fuller describes as "essentially a zombie in a constant state of decay."[10] On June 5, it was announced thatMariana Klaveno had been cast to play his wife Lily, contingent on her being released from her contract onDevious Maids.[11] However, on June 12, 2012, it was announced thatPortia de Rossi would play the role.[12]
On October 11, 2012, it was announced that theMockingbird Lane pilot would air on October 26 as a special lead-in to a Halloween-themed episode ofGrimm, with the option of a series order should it do well in the ratings.[1][13] Two months after the premiere, NBC officially passed on the series.[3]
NBC chiefRobert Greenblatt said of their decision to pass on the series: "We just decided that it didn't hold together well enough to yield a series. It looked beautiful and original and creative, but it just all ultimately didn't come together... it just didn't ultimately creatively all work. We felt great about that cast, but we tried to make it not just a sitcom. We tried to make it an hour, which ultimately has more dramatic weight than a half-hour. It's hard to calibrate how much weirdness vs. supernatural vs. family story. I just think we didn’t get the mix right".[14]