Are You Afraid of "Monsters"?

In 1988, the television airwaves were taken over by creatures from our most frightening nightmares. Monsters debuted on October 1, 1988 and ran for three seasons ending on April 1, 1991. During that time creators Richard P. Rubinstein and Mitchell Galin scared and humored audiences with seventy-two half hour episodes that featured the special creature effects supervised by FX master Dick Smith. Keeping up with the horror traditions of Tales from the Darkside and Tales from the Crypt, the show focused its attention on big surprise here, a particular monster. Alien space rats, giant blood sucking worms, fever monsters, dragons, killer spores, a killer bed, and a tap-dancing disembodied leg joined traditional monsters like vampires, trolls, werewolves, and zombies. Even the devil makes an appearance. The show featured campy stories that would have stood out on the horror (or comedy) shelf in your local video store.

Despite being on television, the campy show pushed the limits of blood, eroticism, and frightening images. Of course, it typically filled the late night time slots generally between 11pm and 3am. Monsters featured a nice list of actors including some of the loveliest ladies to grace the small screen. Actresses like Teri Copley who is pictured to the left. But the true stars of the show were the monsters themselves.

The show lived up to its name and brought some of the most memorable (and laughable) special make up FX to their audience.

Below I have made a list of some of my favorite episodes from the show. Be sure to leave a comment and share some of your favorites as well. And if by chance you have not seen the show yet, do yourself a favor and go to Amazon and get your copy today, you will not be disappointed!

Favorite episodes in the airdate order:

Holly's House: directed by Theodore Gershuny starring: Marilyn Jones, Perry Lang, Pamela Dean Kelly

Maniacal mechanical doll with a huge head and a selfish attitude. This was one of the creepier episodes because it features dolls and a children's show gone awry.

Sleeping Dragon: directed by Mark Rezyka starring: Beth Toussaint, Russell Johnson, Kin Shriner

Who doesn't love dragons? Well this one is kind of mean. It likes to eat people. We don't get a real good glimpse of it until the end, but it was a nicely designed creature. Plus, the Professor from Gilligan's Island was in it and how can you go wrong with a resident castaway?

Beth Toussaint was another highlight to this episode. She is very fetching and put on a good performance.

Pillow Talk: directed by David Odell starring: Mary Woronov, John Diehl, Ruth DeSosa

I will admit I am a little biased on this one because I am a huge Mary Woronov fan. Plus, an episode about a killer bed is just classic fantasy horror. This was one of the fun episodes that didn't feature an actual "monster".

The Match Game: directed by Michael Brandon starring: Ashley Laurence, Tori Spelling, Byron Thames

This may be the scariest episode of the show. Four teens gather to play a story telling game and all hell breaks loose. Of course in the middle of "hell" breaking loose you have the beautiful and talented Hellraiser queen, Ashley Laurence. A corpse returns from the dead seeking vengeance on trespassers and features one of the goriest death scenes in the series. What you are seeing to the left is the creature playing with all that remains of actress Tori Spelling. It was a real mess.

Rain Dance: directed by Richard Friedman starring: Teri Copley, Kent McCord

Creepy little Native American rain god comes alive and stalks the gorgeous Teri Copley and her annoying husband (whose death I was anxious for) I had a bit of a crush on Miss Copley. This is one of the episodes I could have watched as a feature film. It was far too short and moved way too fast, but it was most enjoyable. I must say that the rain god was a bit creepy too.

All in a Day's Work: directed by Allen Coulter starring: Adrienne Barbeau, James Morrison

Couldn't find an image of the creature for this episode, which is unfortunate because it was pretty silly. So, we have to settle for an image of the lovely Adrienne Barbeau. (whose gonna complain?) This was a tale of witchcraft, dopplegangers, and devils. They filled this one with some fun subjects. Not a scary episode, but has a good sense of humor and Adrienne was awesome as always. So it makes my list.

Mannikins of Horror: directed by Ernest Farino starring: William Prince, Glynis Barber

This episode made my list for three reasons. One, I love stop motion clay-animation. The effects in this episode were top notch. Second, I like the setting of a mental hospital because it is super creepy. And lastly, Glynis Barber is a knockout and was excellent as the heroine against corruption and mini monsters who have a thing for sharp objects. The story was a little predictable (we saw this same type of storyline in the original film version of Tales from the Crypt).

La Strega: directed by Lizzie Borden starring: Linda Blair, Rob Morrow

I will be honest, the only reason this one made the list is because I am a die hard Linda Blair fan. Not that it was a bad episode. It was good. Your basic witchcraft redemption "I will make you fall in love with me" type of story. (and who wouldn't fall in love with Linda B?) But it wasn't a blow me away episode, other than the presence of one of my all time favorite actresses. So, there you have it. I am weak. When it comes to Linda Blair, I admit my inability to be unbiased.

Perchance to Dream: directed by Paul Boyington starring: Sarah G. Buxton, Raphael Sbarge

This was a more psychological episode and did not feature an actual "monster". A person's dream world can be both exciting and terrifying at the same time. This episode played like a scene right out of A Nightmare on Elm Street, only missing the famed clawed killer. I liked this episode because it was different and it featured Sarah G. Buxton, the lovely lady pictured to the left. Her presence certainly helped carry the episode through a world of insane dreamscapes.

Far Below: directed by Debra Hill starring: Barry Nelson, John Scott Clough

This was another of the super scary episodes that also had a great story. Underground dwellers that have a taste for human flesh. Directed by the very talented Debra Hill, this episode really captured the essence of the show. The monsters were something straight of a nightmare and placed in a setting that would make you stop and think twice about entering. It is what makes for a good story.

Micro Minds: directed by Anthony Santa Croce starring: Belle Avery, Troy Donahue

Never trust a pesky spore, that is what I always say. Oh well, life on this planet being wiped out by something microscopic would make sense. People wouldn't notice the danger until it was too late. That is what this little gem was about. However, that is not why I chose it. While I love watching slime covered inflated garbage bags chasing people around, my attention was drawn to the show stealer, Belle Avery, whom you see caught in the cross hairs to the left. She gave an excellent performance and surely had the audience on her side, up until her untimely demise. She was both beautiful and tough, and she was a knockout in that white tank top, especially when it got wet. (Yes, I know I am pig)

Stressed Environment: directed by Jeffrey Wolf starring: Kathleen McCall, Carol Lynley

This is another episode that featured excellent clay-animation work and the rats were hilarious. They were meant to be scary, but I just couldn't do it. They were ridiculous. Fun, but ridiculous. No, this episode made my list because it was silly, and it was the first time that a network show had attempted to sneak a bare breast on the air. The gorgeous Kathleen McCall stripped down and gave us a glimpse of one of her girls and it got censored. Of course it did! But kudos to them for trying. The good thing is that with DVD release we got to see it the clip uncensored, and well, I don't know what all the fuss was about. It was quick and done tastefully I think. But it made for a memorable episode. That and those damn rats!

The Waiting Game: directed by Bruno Spandello starring: Doug McKeon, Carrington Garland

This was another one of those really creepy episodes that really summed up what Monsters was all about. Doomsday is upon us and life as we know it is gone. The remaining survivors have found an answer to their prayers to "live" on. A vampire.

Carrington Garland gives a great performance as a military Lieutenant who looks really good in her uniform and then becomes the most gorgeous undead survivor of them all. I mean just look at that face (to the left)

A Face for Radio: directed by Bruce Feirstein starring: Laura Brannigan, Morton Downy Jr.

The last to make my favorites list features the talents of Morton Downey Jr., Laura Brannigan, and that handsome devil she is holding above. Downey Jr. is his usual annoying self, Brannigan gives a great performance as the unlikely villainess. Plus, that thing she carries with her is just creepy.

There you have it! My favorite Monsters episodes. But the ones that didn't make this list were just as enjoyable. I can count on one hand how many episodes I didn't like out of the 72 that were made.