The Addams Family

Sam Hilliard makes reference to Frankenstein but it is clear that hewas making reference to the monster even though Frankenstein is the name of the scientist who created the monster not the monster itself.

Thing's Things

Reaches out of the mailbox and plucks the mail from the mailman's hand.

Hands the mail to Wednesday.

As Mr. Hilliard is about to get out of his chair, it reaches up and pushes him back down in his chair.

As Hilliard is leaving, it hands him his hat.

When the phone rings, it picks up the receiver and hands it to Morticia.

Cast Trivia: This episode was created from the unaired pilot episode. John Astin was considered for the part of Lurch. Ted Cassidy's hand was used for most of the scenes involving Thing. For those scenes where Thing and Lurch were in the same scene, the director's hand was used.

Cast Trivia: The two primary stars - John Astin and Carolyn Jones - each made guest appearances as villains in Batman (1966). Astin as a substitute for Frank Gorshin as the Riddler, and Jones as Marsha Queen of Diamonds.

Family Tree


Cousin Eustace. Morticia is knitting a turtleneck sweater for her. She apparently has a long neck. She might be related to the giraffe-like gentleman in one of the wall photos or perhaps she is a turtle.

Thing's Things

While Lurch is playing the harpsichord, it reaches out and changes the page on the music.

As Morticia reaches for the table lamp, it reaches out and shuts it off for her.

After Gomez wonders aloud who's been stealing the paper, it knocks on its lid, opens it and gestures for him to come closer. When Gomez does, it closes the lid and taps out in Morse Code the name of the guilty party (Uncle Fester).

As Uncle Fester dictates, it pens his lonely hearts letter

As Wednesday and Morticia are discussing gifts for Uncle Fester, it knocks on the lid. When Morticia opens the lid, it hands her a gift-wrapped box. When she asks what it is, it beckons her closer and then taps out the answer in Morse Code (a shrunken head).

Hands Uncle Fester the mail.

As Miss Carver gets ready to flee, it closes her cosmetic bag for her.

Goofs.

Hints in the dialog indicate that Pugsley is only ten years old. However, he is shown in a Boy Scout uniform. Boy Scouts are normally reserved for kids 11-17. Cub scouts are for boys 7-10. Of course, Pugsley is big for his age so perhaps that is why he has been "promoted."

Thing's Things


After Morticia complains about the loud volume on the TV, it reaches out and turns it down.

As Hilliard is about to get up and leave, it reaches out, grabs his hand and points him back to his chair.

Answers the phone and gives the receiver to Gomez as Hilliard is talking to Morticia. Gomez tells Hilliard it's for him and puts the phone on the table. Hilliard approaches the table and it picks up the receiver and hands it to Hilliard
Phone rings again and it picks it up and hands it to Morticia who tells it "Darling, you look a little tired. Why don't you just relax." Meanwhile, Hilliard continues to stare at the box the whole time.

Answers the phone and hands it to Morticia (it's Hilliard)

When Gomez is in the basement hanging up campaign posters, every candidate that the family has supported has been the loser in their respective presidential race: Thomas E. Dewey (1944 to FDR and 1948 to Harry Truman), Alf Landon (1936 to to FDR), Al Smith (1928 to Herbert Hoover), Wendell Wilkie (1940 to FDR), Adlai Stevenson (1952 and 1956 to Dwight Eisenhower) and Stephen Douglas (1860 to Abraham Lincoln).

When Thing takes the mail from the mailman, there are two letters. When it later hands the mail to Wednesday there is only one letter. Perhaps it was screening the junk mail. Did they have junk mail in 1965?

Thing's Things

When Morticia is attempting to tie a bow on Puggsley's birthday present, it lends its finger.
Hands Mr. Pomeroy his hat as he is leaving with his son.
Comes out of the mailbox and grabs the mail from the mailman.
Hands the mail to Wednesday.
When Professor Simms takes off his glasses to clean them, it hands him a tissue.

Notice at the circus area when Pugsley and Mr. Addams say goodbye and leave Gorgo in his cage. Gorgo watches them go and then decides to pry the bars apart with his hands. Look closely as he first goes to grab them; he accidently bumps the bar on your left and it moves as if made of rubber. That's EXACTLY what it was and it destroys the illusion of Gorgo's strength.

The scene where Gomez carves a jack-o-lantern like Fester was reused in the second season Halloween episode. The difference is that in this one Gomez got the knife in the mail, and in the other it was sharpened.

When Morticia and Gomez read the Halloween poem, Gomez says "Drawn by 8 beautiful bats", but the names, and I quote, are;
Morticia: Come Flitter, come Flatter, come Flapper and Flier.
Uncle Fester: Come Chitter, come Chatter, come Vicious Vampire!

That's only 7 bats!

As Rickles looks back at Uncle Fester during the poetry reading, Fester's lightblub flicks off for a second. It was obviously unintentional since the background lighting didn't change. (as it is when he takes the bulb out of his mouth).

In this episode we are first introduced to Gomez' and Morticia's knife throwing skills.

When Gomez' trains are shown in fast motion, we get a brief glimpse of Morticia also moving super-fast.

Hazel Shermet, who plays Cousin Melancholia, is best known as the voice of Henrietta Hippo from the syndicated kids program, New Zoo Revue (1972).

As Lurch's mom is leaving, Thing waves goodbye to her from a hole in a tree. You can see the arm inside the tree.

Uncle Fester: "Morticia! You know I don't drink!"

Apparently not, in "My Son the Chimp," Morticia accuses Fester of being drunk!