79. The Addams Family

In this very spooky (and slightly belated) episode of Adapt or Perish we're celebrating Halloween with a look at the creepiest and kookiest family of them all—The Addams Family.

In this episode we discuss:

• Charles Addams' original New Yorker cartoon.
• The Addams Family (ABC, 1964–1966), created by David Levy, starring John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, and Ted Cassidy.
• The Addams Family (Paramount, 1991), directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, written by Caroline Thompson and Larry Wilson, and starring Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, and Christina Ricci.
• Addams Family Values (Paramount, 1993), directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, written by Paul Rudnick, and starring Julia, Huston, Lloyd, Ricci, Joan Cusack, David Krumholtz, Peter MacNicol, and Christine Baranski.
• Addams Family Reunion (Saban, 1998), directed by Dave Payne, written by Rob Kerchner and Scott Sandin, and starring Tim Curry, Daryl Hannah, Kevin McCarthy, Estelle Harris, and Ed Begley, Jr.
• The New Addams Family (Saban, 1998–1999), starring Glenn Taranto and Ellie Harvie.
• The Addams Family (2010), music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, original Broadway cast including Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth.
• The Addams Family (MGM, 2019), directed by Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan, written by Matt Lieberman, and starring Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Nick Kroll, and Allison Janney.

Footnotes:

• The 1973 and 1992–1993 Hanna-Barbera cartoons
• The Addams Family pinball machine (1992)
• A short taste of Rip Taylor
• The Craft (Columbia, 1996)
• Return to Oz (Disney, 1985)
• Roger Rees singing "Happy/Sad" from The Addams Family on Broadway
• Dark Shadows the show vs. Dark Shadows the movie
• Nick Kroll: Coach Steve vs. Fester

78. Our Three Year Spectacular!

In this episode, we look back on the last year of Adapt or Perish in our Three Year Spectacular!

For this episode, we read, watched, and discussed:

• Everything ever. Yes, really.

Footnotes:

• "Robin (The Hooded Man)" by Clannad from Robin of Sherwood (1984–1986)
• "Getta Bloomin' Move On! (The Self Preservation Society)" by Quincy Jones from The Italian Job (1969)
• "The Theme From The Poseidon Adventure (The Morning After)" performed by Maureen McGovern from The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
• The opening and closing theme song from The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955–1959)
• Akage no Anne / Anne of Green Gables (1979) Opening Theme - Kikoeru Kashira (Oowada Ritsuko)
• "Whistle-Stop" and "Oo-De-Lally" from Disney's Robin Hood (1973)

77. Matilda

In this episode of Adapt or Perish, we're looking at the most miraculous little girl in the history of English literature, Roald Dahl's Matilda!

In this episode we discuss:

• The original 1988 novel.
• The 1996 movie, directed by Danny DeVito, written by Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord, and starring Mara Wilson, DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, and Pam Ferris.
• The 2010 musical, book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.

Footnotes:

• Matilda at 30
• Mara Wilson and More Reveal 13 Things You Never Knew About Matilda from Thrillist
• Mara Wilson's 2016 book Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame
• Afternoon Tea: A Matilda Reunion
• Groundhog Day: The Musical
• The "pantomime dame"