This week we take a deep dive into the Addams Family franchise: the iconic TV theme and its composer, the tricky rights and studio handoffs that shaped the 1991 feature, Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston’s unforgettable performances, Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester, on-set troubles and Orion → Paramount drama, why Addams Family Values became the sequel fans remember, the lesser-known direct-to-video attempts, the Broadway musical, Illumination’s animated take, and the Netflix Wednesday phenomenon. We also share personal memories (Morticia costumes! Dragon Con celebrity encounters!), debate which adaptations worked best, and give recommendations for where to hunt these titles down. Perfect for longtime fans and curious newcomers alike.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Background and trivia about the TV theme and its composer (as discussed in the episode).
• How the 1991 film came together — casting, costume anecdotes, and production setbacks.
• The surprising studio/rights maze: Orion, Paramount, and lawsuits.
• Why Addams Family Values resonated even if box office dipped.
• The Broadway musical, Illumination’s animated films, and the modern Wednesday series.
• Personal anecdotes: meeting Christopher Lloyd, Morticia Halloween costumes, and which versions we’d rewatch.

Availability / where to look (from the episode):
We mention that the classic live-action films and various animated versions are widely available — check major streaming services and digital stores (a good place to start is the studio service that now holds the live-action catalog). (Episode hosts reference Paramount+ / Amazon / MGM+ in their conversation.)

Call to action:
Have a favorite Addams moment or casting pick? Email us at mysistermademewatchthispodcast@gmail.com
— we’d love to read your takes on the next episode.

This week, we take a haunted stroll through the cobwebbed halls of pop culture history to uncover the true roots of The Addams Family. Before the catchy theme song, finger snaps, and Wednesday’s deadpan glare, there was Charles Addams — the cartoonist who dreamed up America’s spookiest, strangest household in The New Yorker.

We explore:

• How Charles Addams’ single-panel gags in the 1930s evolved into the family we know today.
• The leap from cartoons to the 1960s TV sitcom (and why Morticia and Gomez became the gold standard for spooky romance).
• Memorable cameos in shows like Scooby-Doo.
• The Addams Family vs. The Munsters: two spooky sitcoms, one cultural moment.
• A tease of what’s to come in Part Two: the big-screen revivals of the 1990s and the lasting influence of everyone’s favorite gothic clan.

Whether you grew up snapping along to the theme song or just discovered Wednesday on Netflix, this is the perfect entry point into the world of all things creepy and kooky.

Get ready to hum along, because once these songs start… they never leave your head! This week, we take a nostalgia-packed trip back to Schoolhouse Rock, the beloved Saturday morning shorts that taught us multiplication, grammar, science, and American history—all with the help of some ridiculously catchy tunes.

From Three Is a Magic Number to I’m Just a Bill, we revisit the songs that shaped our childhoods, share the funny ways they stuck with us (yes, we all sang the Preamble in class), and test each other’s memory with a fill-in-the-blank quiz. Along the way, we talk about how the series came to be, the surprising musicians behind the music, and why Schoolhouse Rock still resonates today.

Warning: you may leave this episode singing about nouns, gravity, or mashed potatoes. You’ve been warned.

This week, we’re phoning home with one of the most beloved films of the 80s: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. We swap Halloween memories (fairy princess + ET = iconic sibling duo), dig into behind-the-scenes trivia (why Mars turned down the candy cameo, how Drew Barrymore punked her way into the role, and what happened to Harrison Ford’s deleted scene), and ride through the legacy of Spielberg’s blockbuster that made us all want a glowing fingertip. Plus, we revisit the worst childhood movie outing (sorry, Chariots of Fire), the best arcade disaster (hello Atari), and the most 80s crossover you’ve never heard of—Michael Jackson narrating ET’s story. Grab your Reese’s Pieces, hop on your BMX, and let’s talk about the film that defined an era of movie magic.

Saturday mornings in the 1970s weren’t complete without a bowl of cereal and Super Friends on TV. This week, Michelle and Cherie revisit the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon that introduced Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and… Aquaman (yeah, about that) to a generation of kids.

From Wonder Woman’s invisible jet (how does she park it?!) to the Wonder Twins and their surprisingly useless powers, the sisters look back on the show’s lighter, PSA-filled take on superheroes. They talk about Saturday morning rituals, the toned-down violence compared to the comics, and why Aquaman never stood a chance at being anyone’s favorite.

Along the way, Michelle shares a real-life discovery: Cincinnati’s Union Terminal was the inspiration for the Hall of Justice. Plus, there’s a detour into Schoolhouse Rock, Big Bang Theory, and even Adam West and Burt Ward.

Highlights include:

• Why Christopher Reeve will always be the true Superman
• Saturday morning cartoon traditions of the 70s
• Aquaman’s PR problem (and why even the Big Bang Theory roasted him)
• The Wonder Twins and their monkey sidekick, Gleek
• Those unforgettable PSA moments (“Don’t play with knives, kids!”)
• The Hall of Justice’s surprising real-world inspiration
• A Comic Con story involving Adam West, Burt Ward, and a Robin costume

If you grew up with Saturday morning cartoons, this one’s a nostalgia trip you won’t want to miss.

This week, Michelle and Cherie dust off the ping pong balls and open the Treasure House for a trip down memory lane with Captain Kangaroo! From Mr. Moose’s corny jokes to Bunny Rabbit’s mischievous silence, we relive the longest-running children’s show of its time. We talk Slim Goodbody’s questionable organ unitard, Bill Cosby’s “Picture Pages,” Simon’s magic chalk drawings, and even Captain Kangaroo’s surprising friendship with Mr. Rogers.

We also dig into behind-the-scenes trivia: how Bob Keeshan became the Captain, why there were never toy tie-ins (a missed fortune!), and how a ban on violent toy commercials changed children’s TV forever. Plus — the wild attempt to reboot Captain Kangaroo starring… Mark Wahlberg? (No, really!)

Whether you grew up with the Captain’s red jacket or are just discovering this piece of TV history, you’ll love this nostalgic deep-dive