As Wednesday brought the Addams Family into a new era with a unique spin on its focus, the Netflix series made some key changes while doing away with some of the most iconic aspects of the original sitcom. Not only do the Addams family members have supernatural powers in Wednesday, but the vast majority of the show is set at a supernatural academy, far away from the core Addams Family Mansion setting in the sitcom.
Yet, for as many changes as Wednesday has made from the 1960s Addams Family show, the sitcom itself had some noted departures from the original cartoons – some of which the creator wasn’t enthused about. For instance, Charles Addams criticized the sitcom’s Addams family for being “half as evil” as the characters he created – an alteration that Wednesday then repeated.
That said, there were some key aspects of The Addams Family sitcom created just for the TV show that Charles Addams did admire. However, one of the most iconic details that falls into that category was later dropped by Wednesday’s adaptation, despite previously being integrated into other Addams Family movies and TV shows.
Charles Addams Was “Up And Down” On The Addams Family Sitcom, But Loved The Theme Song
According to Charles Addams biographer Linda H. Davis (via Smithsonian Magazine), the cartoonist was “up-and-down on the television show.” While he reportedly didn’t often watch the show, he enjoyed what The Addams Family sitcom “did for his earning power.” Additionally, the article reveals Charles Addams “adored” Vic Mizzy’s theme song for The Addams Family sitcom.
The theme song is one of the few original details crafted for The Addams Family that Charles Addams was specifically reported to have strongly liked. However, considering how catchy, gothic, and reflective of his original cartoon themes it is, Addams’ enjoyment of the song isn’t too surprising.
Outside the series itself, that theme song further elevated The Addams Family’s legacy and notoriety in pop culture. Still, 60 years later, hearing those main cords and double-snaps is instantly recognizable for anyone even peripherally aware of The Addams Family franchise, not requiring any prior viewership of the sitcom.
The popularity of the theme song has persisted long after The Addams Family sitcom’s conclusion in 1966, and has had numerous resurgences since Charles Addams’ death in 1988. The song was twice repurposed with new riffs for The Addams Family’s 1991 and 1993 hit movies, was incorporated into The Addams Family Broadway musical, and was covered by Christina Aguilera for the 2022 animated film adaptation.
As such, it initially came as a shock back in 2022 when Netflix’s Wednesday premiered without a proper inclusion of The Addams Family theme.
Wednesday Got Rid Of The OG Theme Song, But Still Pays Homage To It
Rather than reuse the iconic Addams Family theme for its opening or closing titles, Wednesday debuted a brand-new theme scored by frequent Tim Burton collaborator Danny Elfman. Though wordless, unlike the original song, Wednesday’s main title theme maintains the gothic aesthetic and harpsichord sound of the sitcom’s tune.
Even though Wednesday doesn’t include The Addams Family theme, the hit Tim Burton-produced and directed spinoff show still includes some callbacks to the classic song. Most notably, Wednesday discovers in season 1 that the secret code to enter the Nightshades Library is a double-snap, which she performs to the same beat of the sitcom theme song.
Additionally, Wednesday season 1’s Addams Family Easter eggs include a nod to the theme song’s lyrics describing the titular clan. At Jericho’s fair in the series premiere, Tyler tells Wednesday, “You’re not scary. You’re just kinda… kooky.” To which Wednesday responds, “I prefer spooky.” That dialogue is a direct reference to the original theme song’s lyrics “They’re creepy and they’re kooky/Mysterious and spooky.”
We may not hear the full song, but Wednesday has done a fantastic job paying tribute to the original sitcom and the iconic tune that skyrocketed the franchise’s popularity. There were far fewer nods to the theme in season 2, but the return to Nevermore in Wednesday season 3 will hopefully come with more “kooky” references.
Why Wednesday Not Using The Addams Family Theme Song Is Still The Right Choice
It may have been disappointing to not hear the iconic theme song in a new Addams Family adaptation, but it makes more sense for Wednesday to avoid it than to shoehorn it in. For one, Wednesday is not The Addams Family.
The previous Addams Family movies and TV shows have been about the family at large, putting the titular main characters in relatively equal focus. As such, it would feel misleading to introduce Wednesday with The Addams Family theme song just for the series to be centered on one member. That was especially true for season 1, in which the other Addams family members were far less present than season 2.
Wednesday is also very tonally different from The Addams Family sitcom and previous movies, which tended to be much more family-friendly macabre and goofy/satirical than Netflix’s darker teen-oriented drama. The Addams Family theme is very reflective of the light-hearted tone of the original series, whereas Wednesday’s new theme is fitting to its more mature, horror fantasy approach.
Source: Smithsonian Magazine