Herman Munster goes deep!

[jalbright]

That is no big deal, I think that is just a euphemism for people who sneak in to the U.S. illegally from Mexico by swimming across the Rio Grande River (presumably getting their "back wet" in the process).

Just like many other words, the way they get used can make them offensive. Wetbacks never has been used as anything other than a pejorative. As such, please refrain from such language on this site. A repeat any time soon could well result in a vacation from the site.

[milladrive]

Having the entire Munsters series on DVD definitely has its benefits. Full and uncut.

[Cowtipper]

Does everything have to be a conspiracy?

Well, he is from Washington or thereabouts.

[ol' aches and pains]

That is no big deal, I think that is just a euphemism for people who sneak in to the U.S. illegally from Mexico by swimming across the Rio Grande River (presumably getting their "back wet" in the process).

The comment that really piqued my interest was toward the end where Durocher says "I don't know whether to sign Herman Munster to the Dodgers or send him to Vietnam," a statement about his physical prowess and therefore presumably abilities as a fighting man in the military. I looked up the episode, and it first aired April 8th, 1965, perfect timing for the ramping up of the war in Vietnam.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War#Lyndon_B._Johnson_escalates_the_war.2C_1963.E2.80.931969

"The National Security Council recommended a three-stage escalation of the bombing of North Vietnam. On 2 March 1965, following an attack on a U.S. Marine barracks at Pleiku, Operation Flaming Dart (initiated when Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin was at a state visit to North Vietnam), Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Arc Light commenced."

Interesting to see now, years later, an example of how the Military Industrial Complex gets placement of its war propaganda in the popular culture. Probably the Pentagon or CIA had people in Hollywood at the time lobbying movie and TV producers to include little pro-Vietnam War propaganda tidbits like that in their programming. Gotta brainwash the masses ya know!

Does everything have to be a conspiracy?

[Seattle1]

And they allowed the word "wetbacks" on network TV back then?!

That is no big deal, I think that is just a euphemism for people who sneak in to the U.S. illegally from Mexico by swimming across the Rio Grande River (presumably getting their "back wet" in the process).

The comment that really piqued my interest was toward the end where Durocher says "I don't know whether to sign Herman Munster to the Dodgers or send him to Vietnam," a statement about his physical prowess and therefore presumably abilities as a fighting man in the military. I looked up the episode, and it first aired April 8th, 1965, perfect timing for the ramping up of the war in Vietnam.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War#Lyndon_B._Johnson_escalates_the_war.2C_1963.E2.80.931969

"The National Security Council recommended a three-stage escalation of the bombing of North Vietnam. On 2 March 1965, following an attack on a U.S. Marine barracks at Pleiku, Operation Flaming Dart (initiated when Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin was at a state visit to North Vietnam), Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Arc Light commenced."

Interesting to see now, years later, an example of how the Military Industrial Complex gets placement of its war propaganda in the popular culture. Probably the Pentagon or CIA had people in Hollywood at the time lobbying movie and TV producers to include little pro-Vietnam War propaganda tidbits like that in their programming. Gotta brainwash the masses ya know!

[Dude Paskert]

Also it's black and white and featuring the Munsters.

And it features a guy who played ball with Babe Ruth.

[Joltin' Joe]

I loved watching the re-runs of the Munsters as a little kid. Munsters > Addams Family. I loved Gwynne as the judge in "My Cousin Vinnie"; one of my alltime fave movies.

RIP big guy.

[Cowtipper]

You can tell this is old, the pitcher is wearing #42.

Also it's black and white and featuring the Munsters.

[hudsonharden]

You can tell this is old, the pitcher is wearing #42.

[Dude Paskert]

I'll have to watch the video later, but I'm sure I'm going to love it.
The episode with Herman golfing in the outrageous plaids was one of the funniest things I ever saw on TV.
I remember they added a sound effect like a missile screaming by every time he hit the ball...just killed me.

Durocher was surely a natural for Hollywood, both due to his personality and to his marriage to Laraine Day.

[abolishthedh]

Thanks for the post! I have The Munsters series show on DVD and I'll look for this episode sometime soon. Leo D. appeared on the Beverly Hillbillies as well, give or take a baseball season or two from this one. He always played himself, and the plot on the Hillbillies episode is very similar as they allow Elly Mae and Jethro to try out during spring training.

This stuff was the best. I loved it when he tapped his shoe with the bat and snapped the bat in two.

[Joltin' Joe]

Haha I forgot about this episode. I never noticed it before but it actually looks like he popped up to the catcher in reality.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

This scene is hilarious! Leo Durocher is so calm. And they allowed the word "wetbacks" on network TV back then?! Wow!