Series synopsis (courtesy NBC):
“Portland detective Nick Burkhardt has seen some gruesome crime scenes, but nothing prepares him for the strange visions he begins seeing: seemingly regular people momentarily transforming into hideous monsters. A visit from his only living relative reveals the truth. Nick has inherited the ability to see supernatural creatures, and as a “Grimm,” he is tasked with keeping the balance between mankind and the mythological. A reformed “Big Bad Wolf” becomes his greatest (and also reluctant) ally and confidant. It’s not long before his work as a policeman leads Nick to the criminals he once thought were only found in fairy tales.”

The top monster is called a Lausenschlange, a snake creature, complete with fangs and forked tongue, that kills by squeezing its victims like a boa. The bottom is a Mauzhertz, quite clearly a man-mouse hybrid.

(Images courtesy NBC, TVLine)

When asked by IGN’s Eric Goldman about the tone of the series being too much for television audiences, Greenblat responded, “You know what, it’s part of the mix. I mean, look at CRIMINAL MINDS. That’s a pretty dark show. I think [the Lecter show] is dark with a bit of a…fantastical element to it, you know? It’s a little mythic, that character.”

PREVIOUSLY ON THE MUNSTERS NBC REVAMP DEVELOPMENT– we heard that SUPERMAN RETURNS director Bryan Singer will be executive producing and directing the pilot of the new series, which has officially been greenlit by NBC. And now Bloody Disgusting has the details on what we can expect from the pilot!

First on the list is that inside sources say the series will NOT be a remake of the 1964 original, but a fresh new concept for THE MUNSTERS. The new take has been described instead as a freak hybrid of MODERN FAMILY and TRUE BLOOD, focusing on some more dark elements but balanced with light-hearted family comedy. This makes me wonder if the series will be framed in a more documentary style, traditional sitcom or gearing toward the cinematic.

The pilot’s episode is to focus on ten-year-old Eddie Munster, whom unaware that his family is ‘different’, is on a scouting trip when a baby bear attacks. In reality, the ‘bear’ is Eddie transformed into a werewolf. Unknowing of his affliction, this accident forces the family to move in order to protect their secret. But when Eddie realizes that his family is full of flesh-eating monsters, things start to get really troublesome.

In addition to the pilot synopsis, we’ve heard that the monstrous matron Lily Munster will have an eating disorder and devour suicide victims. Grandpa Munster is a 600-year old shapeshifter and Marilyn Munster was adopted when her mother tried to eat her as a baby. Gruesome! How do you like the new direction? Would you prefer the old show updated for the modern time, or is a new direction more exciting? Tell us in the comments!

The new series? THE MUNSTERS.

Deadline Hollywood gives us some insight into Fuller’s vision of the project:

Like Fuller’s previous series, Pushing Daisies, the  project features striking visuals mixed with all the classic Munsters archetypes. Grandpa Sam Dracula is essentially Dracula who assembled Herman because no man was good enought for his daughter Lily, a sexy vamp. Lily’s niece Marilyn the freak is actually normal and  Lily and Herman’s only child, Eddie, has his werewolf tendencies surface in puberty, forcing the family to relocate to their famous 1313 Mockingbird Lane address.

Word on the street is that THE MUNSTERS revamp will be a special event or summer series saved for later in the year. NBC’s ratings are hurting and they’re pulling a lot out of Bryan Fuller, tapping him for this and the HANNIBAL TV show, all while he’s penning a PINNOCHIO movie for Warner Bros. Do you think the guy gets any sleep?

What are your thoughts? Do you want to see THE MUNSTERS back on the small screen? Do you think the show could use an update? Is NBC just grabbing madly for any brand name that might boost their ratings? Tell us in the comments!

Deadline’s exclusive tells us that Fuller is developing a script against a 13-episode commitment. In layman’s terms, the show won’t go through the typical “Pilot” process and the entirety of the first season will go straight to greenlight if NBC approves the script.

The show is stated to be about Hannibal’s early days as a cannibal and his toying around chase with FBI agent Will Graham. The series is pulling inspiration from both films MANHUNTER and RED DRAGON as well as the original novel of RED DRAGON.

What do you think of a Hannibal TV show? Is it something you’d be interested in? I bet they could make bank with some great tie-in TV dinners featuring liver and fava beans. Hungry?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpVy9rbgjb0&w=560&h=315]

As fans know, the NBC comedy’s second season ended with a game-changer: Chuck had the Intersect 2.0 downloaded into his head. Now, not only is he back to having all the government’s secrets locked away in his noggin – he’s got all the physical abilities that come with the new version. At the end of the finale, we saw him bust out some sweet-ass kung-fu moves he didn’t know he had. In the season 3 promo clip below, we see him bust out some more new skills.

This definitely adds a new dynamic to the show. But is it too much of a change? Much of the show’s humor before came from Chuck being this inept, geeky everyman who’s been thrust into a world of intrigue and espionage. If he’s got superpowers, he’ll definitely be left less helpless than before. Then again, just because his body’s a deadly weapon doesn’t mean our favorite Nerdherder will be any less awkward. Presumably, Casey will also still be grumpy and scary, and Sarah will continue being mind-blowingly gorgeous. In other words, I’m fully expecting Chuck to continue bringing the goods with Season 3.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this show has everything I want from a TV series. There’s over-the-top fight scenes, gorgeous femmes fatales, nifty spy gadgets, awkward comedy, great music, and dynamic performances from every actor involved. It would have been an absolute tragedy for it to get canceled after last season, and I hope it starts performing this year.

Monsters vs. Aliens will battle it out against other commercials slotted to play during the Super Bowl XLIII. DreamWorks Animation has purchased a 90-second spot in 3-D and will be giving away 150 million pairs of 3-D glasses for viewers to enjoy the spring promotion.

According to Variety, a generic ad at 30 seconds of airtime during the Super Bowl runs approximately $3 million. Topper Jeffrey Katzenberg said the ad, including the giveaway of 150 million pairs of glasses, “involves tens of millions of dollars.” He calls it “perhaps the biggest media-advertising event in history.”

NBC, which is airing Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1, plugged the supersized trailer during its Saturday broadcast of the wildcard playoff game between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Diego Chargers. Don’t forget to pick up your glasses! Check out your local retail locations as the glasses will be attached to Pepsi/SoBe Life displays at 28,000 retail locations.

Each installment was directed by the biggest horror directors working in feature films today, including John Landis, Darren Lynn Bousman, and Ronny Yu. The episodes went on hiatus during the 2008 Summer Olympics with plans to return after, but no further episodes were aired. Now the plan is to air them online with episodes continuing to be added each week.

Currently, there are already three episodes online with behind the scenes clips as well.

The first is Eater, directed by Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator). This installment stars Samantha Moss (Mad Men) as a rookie cop who must spend her first night in the precinct watching over a serial killer, coined “The Eater”. When her fellow cops start acting bizarre, she quickly learns that no one is who they seem. See below for videos (new for FEARnet) that go behind the scenes with Gordon and discuss the creation of “The Eater” character.

Fear Itself: Eater – Behind the Director

Fear Itself: Eater – Behind the Characters

The second is Spooked, directed by Brad Anderson (The Machinist). Eric Roberts plays an ex-cop who’s thrown off the force for brutality. Now he’s a private eye on a stakeout of a haunted house, where some restless spirits are set on revenge.

The third full episode available is Skin and Bones from director Larry Fessenden (The Last Winter, Wendigo). After being lost in the woods for days, a rancher returns home to his family. But somehow, he isn’t the same. And now, his family is in trouble.