General Information

Director: Norman Abbott

Writers: Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher

Cast: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Pat Priest, Butch Patrick, Don Keefer, Marge Redmond, Justin Smith, Bill Quinn, and Dayton Allen

Composer: Jack Marshall

Air Date: 10/28/1965

Overview

Upon returning from school one afternoon, Eddie explains that his tonsils will need to be removed. Following the operation, Herman and Grandpa sneak out of the house to pay Eddie a visit.

By emphasizing hospital hijinks in conjunction with positive family values, “Operation Herman” makes effective use of an otherwise one-note premise. This episode does, however, occasionally proceed at a slow pace (Herman and Grandpa don’t even arrive at the hospital until around the halfway mark).

Pros

Herman fails to clearly communicate his reason for visiting the hospital, prompting a doctor and his attendant to mistake the Munster patriarch for a hideously deformed accident victim. In order to sedate Herman long enough to examine him, the aforementioned doctor and nurse administer liberal amounts of laughing gas to their “patient,” who later returns to Lily—already suspicious of Herman’s unexplained absence—in a bumbling, incoherent stupor resembling intoxication. Though a tad overplayed, the above antics will no doubt appeal to fans of the misunderstanding humor frequently employed in The Munsters.

Cons

A poor substitute for the Dr. Dudley character played by Paul Lynde, Dr. Willoughby (Dayton Allen) performs a cringe-worthy inspection of Eddie’s tonsils.

Analysis

Despite going to the hospital behind Lily’s back, Herman should be commended for attempting to visit Eddie after his operation—a decision that, though executed for comic effect, serves as a testament to Herman’s fatherly devotion.

Concluding Comments

“Operation Herman” is an amusing episode of The Munsters. Especially worth praising are any scenes featuring hospital staff members, who (understandably) struggle to maintain bedside manner while examining Herman.

Overall Quality: 8/10

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