NBC’s Mockingbird Lane Recasts Matriarch
image via leenwallpapers.com
NBC has found a new Lily Munster to help fill out the cast of their upcoming The Munsters remake, Mockingbird Lane. Deadline recently announced the role will be going to Portia de Rossi after actress Mariana Klaveno was forced to drop out. Klaveno was originally cast in the role contingent on her being let go from a contract with ABC for the pilot Devious Maids. When ABC Studios declined to release the actress, the role was then sent back to be recast. Now enter Portia de Rossi, who I loved in both Arrested Development and Better off Ted. She will be joining the current cast which consists of Jerry O’Connell as Herman Munster (husband to Lily), Eddie Izzard as Grandpa Munster, and Mason Cook as 10-year-old Eddie Munster.
The Munsters. It was one of the most perfect TV shows, and to try to remake it is either sacrilege or inspired brilliance. Eddie Izzard might be the most interesting casting for this show and I’m going to predict he’ll steal every scene he’s in. Jerry O’Connell is a good guy, but I don’t know if he’s Herman Munster. I really think Mariana was better cast, visually, for Lilly. I don’t know much about Portia de Rossi, but she doesn’t seem like Lilly, again just visually. I’m keeping an open mind, and I really hope they’re able to do something entertaining. If it sucks, I’ll dive into my DVDs of the original series to wash the bad taste out of my brain.
I just watched Mockingbird Lane today and was totally impressed! I dreaded this reboot of one of my favorite tv shows of all time, but now having seen it I gotta say I want MORE! Maybe Lilly could’ve been better cast, but DeRossi didn’t disappoint. Funny, dark, and dmn near brilliant, so of course there are no plans to make more. But if I can only have one episode, then I’m glad it was this friggin’ good. Seeing as I’m the only one to comment about this in 6 months, maybe I’m the only one who gives a hoot; but if you get a chance, check it out!
I was also fairly pleased with the pilot/TV movie. Sadly, though, it does seem as if that’s all we’ll be seeing of it.
Bummer. I’ve seen a few fan efforts to get NBC to rethink picking this up as a series but I can’t really tell how big the movement is. The universal reaction to seeing the pilot seems to be pleasant surprise in the face of weary skepticism. I don’t know if that’s enthusiastic enough to turn the tide for a series.