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Episode


"How to Kill a Monster" is the eighteenth episode of Season 2 of the Goosebumps TV series and the 37th episode overall. The episode aired on Fox during the Fox Kids block on February 1, 1997.

Blurb[]

While their parents are away on business in Atlanta, Gretchen and Clark have to stay with their grandparents in Mud Town. Bo-ring! Grandma Rose and Grandpa Eddie are really forgetful—so forgetful that they've gone out for the day and forgotten to warn them that there's a monster locked upstairs!

Cast[]

  • Courtney Hawkrigg as Gretchen
  • Ricky Mabe as Clark
  • Helen Hughes as Grandma Rose
  • Peter Boretski as Grandpa Eddie
  • Tim Rykert as Swamp Monster

Differences from the Book[]

  • The Swamp Monster has a different appearance. In the book, it is described as a furry creature with an alligator-like head and a gorilla-like body. In the episode, it is depicted as a man-sized humanoid hybrid of a chicken and a dinosaur.
  • Their dog, Charley, does not appear.
  • Gretchen and Clark put the ingredients into a gumbo, while in the book it was a pie.
  • In the book, the monster licks Gretchen's arm, and it speaks to reveal that it's allergic to humans before dying. In the episode, it does not speak and instead Clark sticks his arm in its mouth on purpose to protect Gretchen. After the monster dies, Gretchen concludes on her own that the monster was allergic.
    • In the episode, Clark has allergies that were not mentioned in the book, which was done to foreshadow this reveal.
  • In the book, Gretchen and Clark became step-siblings years prior to the events of the story. In the episode, Gretchen's Dad and Clark's Mom got married just before the events of the episode and the two must learn to work together throughout the episode.
    • Because of this, the episode explains that the kids are there because the parents are on their honeymoon, whereas in the book, they are called in for some undisclosed business.
  • In the book Grandpa Eddie was hard of hearing. The episode does not mention this fact.
  • The book also describes that Grandma Rose is a baker, where the episode shows that she is famous for making Gumbo.
  • Rose and Eddie only write one letter, and the message about the monster is on the back instead of being the main point of the letter.
  • In the book, the monster invaded Rose and Eddie's home. In the episode, Eddie shot the monster while hunting and brought it home, assuming it was dead.
  • In the episode, Gretchen and Clark are dropped off on their own at the start, while in the book their parents were with them.
  • The episode adds a running gag with others getting Clark's name wrong by calling him Craig instead.
  • In the book, it's mentioned that Clark wears glasses. In the episode, he doesn't.
  • In the book, Clark read a comic called Creatures from the Muck which made him scared of the swamp. The episode cuts this out but the comic appears in "Don't Go to Sleep"

Other media[]

Home media[]

Title Release date Media type

Monster Blood


Monsterblood-dvd
September 16, 2008 DVD

3-Pack Thriller


3 Pack; Monster Blood - Night of the Living Dummy - Say Cheese and Die
August 26, 2014 DVD


Trivia[]

  • This is the third of four television episodes on the Monster Blood DVD.
  • Helen Hughes was one of the oldest cast members of the show considering how she was in her late 70's when she played the role of Grandma Rose in the episode. She would pass away at the age of 100 in 2018.
  • Peter Boretski, who played the role of Grandpa Eddie in the episode, passed away four years later from emphysema at the age of 72. He was in his mid to late 60's at the time when he played the role of Grandpa Eddie, making him one of the oldest cast members overall.

Gallery[]

Videos[]

[[Category:Episodes]

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