Marilyn's Significance - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Bayoublue33 · 10-20-2021, 11:47 PM

I feel that the part was much more significant to the show when Beverly Owen was in the role..it seemed when Pat took over Marilyn's screen time was reduced quite a bit. I do prefer Beverly in the role.

Babalu · 12-21-2021, 07:47 PM

Most fans prefer Pat Priest but the character was pretty insignificant to the show in general. The fact that so many casual watchers never even realized there was a cast change proves it.

PracTz · 01-19-2022, 08:04 PM

I disagree that Marilyn was 'insignificant'. IMO, she played a vital role being the show's straight woman pitied by her family for her 'unfortunate' looks but ultimately someone who adored and was adored by her family that everyone else around feared! IOW, she was the audience's link to the family via her non-monstrous appearance AND the fact that she identified WITH her family instead of rejecting them for others who looked more like her. Moreover, she was needed eye candy- especially since longtime femme fatale Yvonne De Carlo had obscured her own beauty via the green makeup, wig,etc.

BTW, it seems that despite the fact that Pat Priest had worn the EXACT wardrobe that had been tailored for Beverly Owen when she inherited the role, as recently as 2014, Pat Priest would claim to have NEVER met Beverly Owen though I'm not sure that the twain would never meet by the time Miss Owen's 2019 passing.

icecream · 01-20-2022, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babalu

Most fans prefer Pat Priest but the character was pretty insignificant to the show in general. The fact that so many casual watchers never even realized there was a cast change proves it.

Marilyn was not insignificant. But both actresses playing her were good and on the same level, there was neither a clear upgrade or downgrade with the replacement.

merlinjones · 01-27-2022, 07:18 PM

It would have been interesting to see what Goldie Hawn or Carol Wayne might have done with Marylin in a broader comedic interpretation. But maybe the character needed to be grounded as the "normal" contrast to the family.

GentlemanJim · 01-29-2022, 02:13 PM

I think that the Marylin character was a stereotype of a stereotype, a stealth "self hanging prophesy" against prejudice.

Sort of the same message in the Twilight Zone episode "Eye of the Beholder"

TheLittleFaerie · 02-02-2022, 04:17 AM

It's amazing how many ppl say they didn't even notice the actress change lol But one thing I did not understand about Marylin was, she also seemed to think she was "ugly" compared to her family... But it seems she made an EFFORT to be different from the rest of them... in her bedroom, she has a vanity with normal make-up, so it's obvious she takes time to make herself look as she does, i.e. doing her hair, make-up, etc.... like a "normal" person does... You'd think she'd try to make herself look more like her family if she was displeased with looking "normal"... I mean she could have dyed her hair black and wore "witchy" type clothing to fit in

Alan Brady's Hair · 02-02-2022, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

You'd think she'd try to make herself look more like her family if she was displeased with looking "normal"... I mean she could have dyed her hair black and wore "witchy" type clothing to fit in

I think that you would find a tumultuous time in Marilyn's adolescence where she attempted exactly that. Lacking Lily's natural advantages, though, her efforts would be doomed to failure and she would eventually retreat into the drab persona we see in her college years.

TheLittleFaerie · 02-02-2022, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

I think that you would find a tumultuous time in Marilyn's adolescence where she attempted exactly that. Lacking Lily's natural advantages, though, her efforts would be doomed to failure and she would eventually retreat into the drab persona we see in her college years.

It was just always funny to me she seemed to go above and BEYOND to look "pretty" in the "normal" sense....

Almost like with Elly Mae Clampett, She was supposed to be the SUPER TOMBOY who hated anything girly! In the early episodes she would even get mad if anyone referred to her as a girl.... YET it was obvious she took time to style her hair perfectly, do her make-up to perfection, etc...

Herbert T. Gillis · 02-08-2022, 08:02 AM

A pretty blonde (portrayed first by a brunette in a short blonde wig) named Marilyn, in a family of classic movie monsters. I'd say she was significant, and a reference to a recently deceased and much admired actress.

I agree with PracTz. She's the link to both the viewer and to the outer world for her family, attracting regular people into their lives.

Beverly is easily my preferred Marilyn. It's a shame she wanted off the show.

TMC · 02-08-2022, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

It's amazing how many ppl say they didn't even notice the actress change lol But one thing I did not understand about Marylin was, she also seemed to think she was "ugly" compared to her family... But it seems she made an EFFORT to be different from the rest of them... in her bedroom, she has a vanity with normal make-up, so it's obvious she takes time to make herself look as she does, i.e. doing her hair, make-up, etc.... like a "normal" person does... You'd think she'd try to make herself look more like her family if she was displeased with looking "normal"... I mean she could have dyed her hair black and wore "witchy" type clothing to fit in

The Munsters: Why Marilyn Munster Was Recast After 13 Episodes

The Munsters' human character Marilyn Munster was originated by Beverley Owen, who was recast after 13 episodes with Pat Priest - here's why.

biffbronson · 05-31-2022, 07:30 PM

Beverley was certainly a good-looking woman; beautiful is the word. But I have to give the nod to Pat Priest.

Here are some looks at Pat Priest:

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A woman of remarkable beauty, a real dream.

tcr1701 · 06-08-2022, 01:44 PM

I think Pat Priest was much more important to "Munster, Go Home" than whoever made the decision to recast knew. Debbie Watson was rather bland and looked far too young to be romancing Roger. Pat Priest was more age appropriate for actor Robert Pine. She also played Marilyn with that slight edge of angst that Watson did not have.

nightcrawler · 06-08-2023, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

It's amazing how many ppl say they didn't even notice the actress change lol But one thing I did not understand about Marylin was, she also seemed to think she was "ugly" compared to her family... But it seems she made an EFFORT to be different from the rest of them... in her bedroom, she has a vanity with normal make-up, so it's obvious she takes time to make herself look as she does, i.e. doing her hair, make-up, etc.... like a "normal" person does... You'd think she'd try to make herself look more like her family if she was displeased with looking "normal"... I mean she could have dyed her hair black and wore "witchy" type clothing to fit in

Yes, I also had thought the same thing. Her bedroom was spotless, everything was in place like how we would live, but yet in the rest of the house she seemed to think it was normal, yet why didn't her room have cracked walls, and cracked ceilings, and dust everywhere. Her bedroom looked like a regular bedroom. I always found that confusing and wondered why, I'm glad someone else had noticed that also

10-20-2021, 11:47 PM	#1
Bayoublue33 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 20, 2021 Posts: 8	Marilyn's Significance I feel that the part was much more significant to the show when Beverly Owen was in the role..it seemed when Pat took over Marilyn's screen time was reduced quite a bit. I do prefer Beverly in the role.

12-21-2021, 07:47 PM	#2
Babalu Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 22, 2014 Posts: 4,779	Most fans prefer Pat Priest but the character was pretty insignificant to the show in general. The fact that so many casual watchers never even realized there was a cast change proves it.
	__________________ . I just nailed Mrs. Trumbull

01-29-2022, 02:13 PM	#6
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	I think that the Marylin character was a stereotype of a stereotype, a stealth "self hanging prophesy" against prejudice. Sort of the same message in the Twilight Zone episode "Eye of the Beholder"
	__________________ On my word as a gentleman!

05-31-2022, 07:30 PM	#12
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,266	Beverley was certainly a good-looking woman; beautiful is the word. But I have to give the nod to Pat Priest. Here are some looks at Pat Priest: A woman of remarkable beauty, a real dream.

01-19-2022, 08:04 PM	#3
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	I disagree that Marilyn was 'insignificant'. IMO, she played a vital role being the show's straight woman pitied by her family for her 'unfortunate' looks but ultimately someone who adored and was adored by her family that everyone else around feared! IOW, she was the audience's link to the family via her non-monstrous appearance AND the fact that she identified WITH her family instead of rejecting them for others who looked more like her. Moreover, she was needed eye candy- especially since longtime femme fatale Yvonne De Carlo had obscured her own beauty via the green makeup, wig,etc. BTW, it seems that despite the fact that Pat Priest had worn the EXACT wardrobe that had been tailored for Beverly Owen when she inherited the role, as recently as 2014, Pat Priest would claim to have NEVER met Beverly Owen though I'm not sure that the twain would never meet by the time Miss Owen's 2019 passing.

01-27-2022, 07:18 PM	#5
merlinjones Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2019 Location: los ángeles Posts: 931	It would have been interesting to see what Goldie Hawn or Carol Wayne might have done with Marylin in a broader comedic interpretation. But maybe the character needed to be grounded as the "normal" contrast to the family.

02-02-2022, 04:17 AM	#7
TheLittleFaerie Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2017 Posts: 1,937	It's amazing how many ppl say they didn't even notice the actress change lol But one thing I did not understand about Marylin was, she also seemed to think she was "ugly" compared to her family... But it seems she made an EFFORT to be different from the rest of them... in her bedroom, she has a vanity with normal make-up, so it's obvious she takes time to make herself look as she does, i.e. doing her hair, make-up, etc.... like a "normal" person does... You'd think she'd try to make herself look more like her family if she was displeased with looking "normal"... I mean she could have dyed her hair black and wore "witchy" type clothing to fit in

02-08-2022, 08:02 AM	#10
Herbert T. Gillis Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 30, 2021 Location: Texas Posts: 133	A pretty blonde (portrayed first by a brunette in a short blonde wig) named Marilyn, in a family of classic movie monsters. I'd say she was significant, and a reference to a recently deceased and much admired actress. I agree with PracTz. She's the link to both the viewer and to the outer world for her family, attracting regular people into their lives. Beverly is easily my preferred Marilyn. It's a shame she wanted off the show.

06-08-2022, 01:44 PM	#13
tcr1701 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2012 Posts: 461	I think Pat Priest was much more important to "Munster, Go Home" than whoever made the decision to recast knew. Debbie Watson was rather bland and looked far too young to be romancing Roger. Pat Priest was more age appropriate for actor Robert Pine. She also played Marilyn with that slight edge of angst that Watson did not have.