"Monster of the Week" genre

[zombiehorror]

I was just thinking about this tv horror genre the other day; where did it come from? How did it start?

My assumption is that it spawned from both the sitcom and dramas. In this genres case the "situation" in the sitcom and the problem of the week is replaced with the monster of the week. I suppose early examples actually involved criminal/villian of the week; I'm thinking shows like The Lone Ranger (1949), Dragnet (1951), Superman (1952), Dr. Who (1963), Batman (1966), Star Trek (1966). The superhero and sc-fi programs had their births in serials from the 30's-40's.

The gamechanger came in 1969 when a group of "meddling kids" and their talking dog became monster debunkers and mystery solvers. Obviously Scooby-Doo Where Are You! wasn't quite there with the full on "monster of the week" but it did combine spooky elements with comedy relief; nothing really new of course as horror-comedies had existed previously but I'm relatively sure this was the first weekly version.

That missing element, the monster, would be added a few years later (if I'm not mistaken) when Kolchack: The Night Stalker (1974) premiered....and the formula became a genre, almost. The genre really became established when the "Scooby" team formula was added which had its roots in great comedy teams, one or more "straight man" combined with "bumbling-comedic sidekick". I'd feel remiss if I didn't give a nod to the "Abbot and Costello meets..." films and their obvious influence on this genre but of course they weren't the only comedy teams to encounter spooks on the big screen.

Here's a list of the "monster of the week" shows I could think of:

The Funky Phantom (1971)*
Goober and the Ghost Chaser (1973)*
The Ghost Busters (1975)
Monster Squad (1976)
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo (1985)
Ghostbusters (1986)
The Real Ghostbusters (1986)

Friday the 13th: The Series (1987)~it removed the comedic elements in favor of a dramatic presentation; and several shows would follow suit

Freddy's Nightmares (1988)~this one flipped the script and "monster of the week" became "victim(s) of the week"

Forever Knight (1992)*
X-Files (1993)
Monster Force (1994)*
Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996)*
Psi Factor (1996)
Courage the Cowardly Dog (1996)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
Charmed (1998)
Angel (1999)
Archie's Wierd Mysteries (1999)*
G vs E (2000)*

Tru Calling (2003)~this one ushered in a twist of having a sole female lead with connection to the world of the supernatural, focusing more on a "whodunit"-villian of the week with horror elements

Supernatural (2005)
Medium (2005)
Ghost Whisperer (2005)

Dexter (2006)~serial killers count as monsters right? Another one that was a dramatic presentation and ushered in a few other series that were based on popular novels

Reaper (2007)*
Dresden Files (2007)*

True Blood (2008)~another one based off a series of popular novels...and one can't help but think of Dark Shadows as a precursor to all this soapy-horror-drama

Warehouse 13 (2009)

Misfits (2009)~more superhero than horror, although several episodes feature horror elements

Grimm (2011)
My Babysitter's a Vampire (2011)*
Sleepy Hollow (2013)
Penny Dreadful (2014)*

iZombie (2015)~horror elements but was "retro" with it's villian of the week

Ash vs Evil Dead (2015)
Stan Against Evil (2016)
Wynona Earp (2016)*
Van Helsing (2016)*
Superstition (2016)*
Midnight, Texas (2017)
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018)
Evil (2019)*
SurrealEstate (2021)*
Astrid and Lily Save the World (2022)*

Anybody have any I missed or a different take on the genre?

*added after suggestion

[geezer butler]

I'm  a big fan of Penny Dreadful (Showtime). Would you put that in same category?

[Mike Scott]

What about "The Outer Limits"?

[segeorge]

Poltergeist: the Legacy (1996-1999)

[marsattacks666]

....or GvsE( Good vs Evil-2000)
This show I feel in my opinion was the precursor or influence on other Horror related shows later in the 2000s. Dealing with Evil, Paranormal and Monsters, such as Morlocks.

[zombiehorror]

Penny Dreadful, Poltergeist: the Legacy and G vs E definitely qualify. One that I'm currently watching but forgot to add is Evil (2019).

Outer Limits doesn't use the core individual/team trope although horror anthology shows could definitely be a monster of the week subgenre.

[Mike Scott]

Outer Limits doesn't use the core individual/team trope

Oh, OK! I guess that part didn't register with me. 

[judd]

The Munsters was one of the first TV series with reoccurring monsters as characters.
Lost in Space deserves a mention along with other Irwin Allen shows.
I'm not certain when the first Ultraman series started.  The conflict was Ultraman vs monster.
There was a tv pilot involving the Frankenstein monster.  Not sure the year but it was a black and white production (I'm not referring to the tales of tomorrow episode but another show.)

[zombiehorror]

The Munsters weren't investigating/battling monsters ever week.

Lost in Space falls under the pseudo-monster of the week as there wasn't always an alien behind their troubles, much like Star Trek; but definately as a precursor.

Ultraman veers more toward superhero and Kaiju; although definitely another precursor

No idea what the Frankenstein one is? I just saw Fox was creating a pilot in 2019 for Alive, about a reanimated FBI agent tackling threats to big fir other agents. Sounds like this one might count...if it becomes a series

[judd]

The pilot was titled "Tales of Frankenstein" it was produced in 1958.

[Mike Scott]

The pilot was titled "Tales of Frankenstein" it was produced in 1958.

That's not the one he wanted.

[judd]

A few others I recall.  Animated: Monster Force, Goober and the Ghost Chasers, Funky Phantom, Archie's Weird Mysteries.
Live Action: Chucky, Z Nation, Wyonna Earp, Van Helsing.

Maybe the Tales From the Crypt shows and Monsters.

[segeorge]

Here are a couple more:

Superstition (2017) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7379872/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2)
Surreal Estate (2021) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11952974/)

[judd]

Astrid and Lilly Save the World.

Perhaps: Beetlejuice (animated), Mummy (animated). 

I'll get my coat now.

[zombiehorror]

Some definite "monster of the week" premises there; apparently SyFy was trying to lead the genre for awhile.