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The Munsters - Herman the Great
episode 1.8
USA 1964
produced by Bob Mosher, Joe Connelly for Kayro-Vue Productions/CBS
directed by Earl Bellamy
starring Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Beverley Owen, Butch Patrick, John Hubbard, Joseph Mell, Johnny Silver, Billy Varga, Jimmy Lennon sr, Tiger Joe Marsh, Matt Murphy, The Great John L., Gene LeBell, Jay S. York, Ted Eccles
written by Joe Connelly, Bob Mosher, created by Allan Burns, Chris Hayward, developed by Norm Liebman, Ed Haas, music by Jack Marshall
TV series The Munsters, The Munsters (classic series)
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Herman (Fred Gwynne) is desperate to save up enough money for his son
Eddie's (Butch Patrick) college fund - but really has no idea how, so when
out of the blue wrestling promoter Duke Ramsey (John Hubbard) calls and
wants to hire him, he quickly says yes, but only under the condition that
he will only wrestle wearing a mask, as he doesn't want his family to find
out. Whatever his precautions are, Grandpa (Al Lewis) finds out anyhow and
helps him prepare since it's for a good cause. Now in his first fight
against Tarzan McGirk (Gene LeBell) has everything on his side, he's much
bigger, MUCH stronger, and pretty much impervious to Tarzan's blows. But
ultimately he loses anyhow, much to Grandpa's disappointment. But it's not
that McGirk was the better fighter, he just told Herman a sob story about
his big family and sick mother who all depend on him that Herman couldn't
bear to see him lose. The next few fights against various opponents Herman
loses as well, much due to the same reason. But Duke Ramsey isn't ready to
give up on him yet, so he has him be the pro-wrestler on amateur night,
offering whoever from the audience fights him 50 bucks per minute he can
remain standing in the ring against Herman. Of course, crook Hansen
(Joseph Mell) sees the opportunity of his lifetime, so instead of an
amateur he sends banned pro wrestler Strangler Murphy (Billy Varga) into
the ring and spikes Herman's water cooler with sleeping powder, so even
when he comes to the ring he's all groggy and thus totally unable to put
up a fight. Grandpa however is quick to smell a rat, so with a little
black magic he turns the tides in the fight and ultimately has Herman win,
unfair but square. Then though Herman is asked to clear the auditorium as
a fire has broken out in the locker room, and when he takes off his mask,
he achieves just that before uttering a single word - and suddenly is hero
of the day. A fun episode, but also one with a lot of heart as
it shows - like in some of the best episodes of the series and really some
of the best horror movies - the "monster" being much more humane
than the humans, with Herman being ill-fitted to be a fighter as his heart
is even bigger than his frame. And that the humour's really centered
around this basic theme is what makes the story work as a whole - well,
that and a great regular ensemble with some properly lively guest stars,
some of whom actual wrestlers from the era. So in all, great fun for sure.
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