Monsters (American TV series)
A horror anthology where every episode features a different monster.
Monsters is an American syndicated horror anthology television series that originally aired from October 22, 1988 to April 26, 1991, with reruns on the Sci-Fi Channel during the 1990s. The series was developed by producer Richard P. Rubinstein and his company Laurel Entertainment as a follow-up to Tales from the Darkside, but focused strictly on horror rather than science fiction or fantasy. Each episode typically centers on a different monster, ranging from animatronic puppets to mutated lab rats.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Horror
- Comedy drama
- Science fiction
- Fantasy
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 3
- Episodes
- 72
- Producer
- Erica Fox, Michael Gornick
- Creator
- Richard P. Rubinstein, Mitchell Galin
- Executive producers
- Richard P. Rubinstein
Facts from the source article.
Synopsis
The show's title sequence depicts a suburban family of monsters searching for something to watch on television before settling on Monsters, their favorite program. Each episode is a standalone tale featuring a variety of monsters, from vicious man-eating plants to friendly aliens. Producer Richard P. Rubinstein described the show as a mixture of fun and scare, with monsters drawn from fantasy and fairy tales rather than realistic threats like serial killers.
Production
Richard P. Rubinstein was annoyed that his company Laurel Productions' show Tales from the Darkside got good reviews for its stories and acting, but almost no one mentioned the makeup and special effects. So Laurel put together a demo reel of their effects work and took it to Tribune Entertainment Company, their partner on that earlier show. Together they decided to make Monsters. The 1988 Writers Guild of America strike pushed back production for several months. Filming finally began on August 8, 1988, the day after the strike ended, and the series first aired on October 22. Legendary makeup artist Dick Smith was brought on as a special effects consultant. Each episode cost about $200,000 to produce, far less than typical network TV shows. Directors included Bette Gordon, Ernest D. Farino, Gerald Cotts (credited as Jerry Smith), and Jeffrey Wolf. The writing team featured Edithe Swensen, Peg Haller, Bob Schneider, Michael Reaves, and Benjamin Carr (writing as Neal Marshall Stevens). Every episode's credits include a dedication to creative consultant Tom Allen, who passed away while the show was being made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created Monsters (American TV series)?
Monsters was created by Richard P. Rubinstein and Mitchell Galin.
How many episodes of Monsters (American TV series) are there?
Monsters has 72 episodes across 3 seasons.
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