Right now you can watch The Addams Family in Australia on MGM Amazon Channel, and in the UK on MGM Plus Amazon Channel — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. Every one of its 2 seasons holds up. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Carolyn Jones sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Start it on MGM Amazon Channel whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

The Addams Family is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate The Addams Family from the crowd. A satirical inversion of the ideal of the perfect American nuclear family, they are an eccentric wealthy family who delight in everything grotesque and macabre, and are never really aware that people find them bizarre or frightening. In fact, they themselves are often terrified by "normal" people. The chemistry Carolyn Jones and John Astin bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. The series ran for 2 seasons (1964–1966), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. What keeps The Addams Family from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

The Addams Family is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. The tonal similarities to The New Addams Family are real, though The Addams Family carves out its own identity quickly. A contained run means every episode is doing real work. Carolyn Jones's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.

The Addams Family wrapped up in 1966, created by Charles Addams — and 2 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.