Bewitched

Buzz

Bewitched ranks 939 out of the 18,467 shows on TV.com.

The 1,166 users who count themselves as Bewitched fans have written a total of 75 reviews.

Status

Premiered

Ended

Genre

Related Shows

• The Addams Family
• My Favorite Martian
• I Dream of Jeannie
• Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
• The King of Queens

Bewitched is a fantasy sitcom chronicling what happens when a witch and a mortal fall in love in 1960s and '70s suburban America. At the very center of the show is Elizabeth Montgomery's portrayal of a good-hearted witch named Samantha. A strong, independent woman with the world at her...  more

Bewitched is a fantasy sitcom chronicling what happens when a witch and a mortal fall in love in 1960s and '70s suburban America. At the very center of the show is Elizabeth Montgomery's portrayal of a good-hearted witch named Samantha. A strong, independent woman with the world at her finger tips (or a twitch of her nose), she gives up her witchly life to do things the "mortal way". Her mortal husband Darrin Stephens (played by Dick York, and later Dick Sargent) is a talented advertising executive with McMann & Tate. He obsesses with leading a "normal life" where one works hard to earn a good living for one's family. He constantly struggles against disapproving witches and warlocks, like Samantha's powerful mother, Endora (played by Agnes Moorehead).

Endora is determined to prove to Samantha that the mixed-marriage marriage was a tremendous mistake. Over the show's eight year run, Endora tries numerous spells, all creating humiliation and chaos in Darrin's mortal world. This often ends up affecting Darrin's money-obsessed boss and best friend, Larry Tate (played by David White). Larry's wife, Louise (played by Irene Vernon and Kasey Rogers), is Samantha's best friend, although she is unaware that Sam is a witch.

In season two, life changes dramatically when Samantha and Darin give birth to daughter Tabitha Stephens (played by five babies that season and by twins Erin and Diane Murphy starting in season three). Many early Tabitha episodes revolve around whether she is a witch or mortal until the big reveal in season three. Later in season six, the Stephenses give birth to a boy, Adam. Although less airtime is spent on his character, eventually audiences find out that he too has powers.

Recurring characters include Samantha's favorite aunt, Clara, who is a lovable, bumbling witch (played by Marion Lorne). Due to Aunt Clara's extended age, she is suffering the loss of her powers and inadvertently wreaks havoc at the Stephens home. Also often wreaking havoc is Samantha's practical joking Uncle Arthur (Paul Lynde), her Shakespeare orating father, Maurice (Maurice Evans), a bad joke-telling witch doctor, Dr. Bombay (Bernard Fox) and a shy witch-maid Esmeralda (Alice Ghostley). Elizabeth Montgomery also portrays Samantha's free-spirited, mischievous twin cousin, Serena.

On the mortal receiving end of the seemingly hallucinogenic world of witches are neighbors Gladys and Abner Kravitz. Gladys, first portrayed by Alice Pearce and later by Sandra Gould, was immediately aware that the Stephens household was positively strange, and was certain that something "beyond this world" was at work across the street. Abner (George Tobias) never believes it. Darrin's mother, Phyllis Stephens (Mabel Albertson), fairs no better, as she is forever witnessing zany antics only to have her husband, Frank Stephens (Robert F. Simon and later Roy Roberts) not believe it.

Bewitched earned nearly two dozen Emmy nominations during its run. Marion Lorne and Alice Pearce won well deserved awards, as did director and producer, William Asher (Elizabeth Montgomery's husband at the time). In 1970, Bewitched presented a Christmas episode regarding bigotry and racism, and received a special Emmy award, the Governor's Award, for the landmark episode (Sisters at Heart), not coincidentally, Elizabeth Montgomery's favorite episode. Beyond the theme of bigotry and "mixed-marriages", the series explored cultural issues of consumerism, materialism, human vanity, women's liberation, and mass hysteria. Season six of Bewitched brought about the biggest change to the series as Dick York was replaced by Dick Sargent in the role of Darrin. This element of the show has become a cultural touchstone, with many viewers debating their favorite Darrin.

First Telecast: September 17, 1964
Last Telecast: July 1, 1972

ABC Daytime: 1968 - 1973
ABC Saturday Morning: 1971 - 1973

Episodes: 254 Episodes (74 black and white, 180 color)

Ratings
Season 1: #2
Season 2: #7
Season 3: #8
Season 4: #11
Season 5: #12
Season 6: #25
Season 7: (above #25)
Season 8: (above #25) less

• Alice Pearce or Sandra Gould?

  Who was your favorite Gladys Kravitz? I like Both of them but i have to say Alice Pearce.

  Who was your favorite Gladys Kravitz? I like Both of them but i have to say Alice Pearce. less

  grambuolis Last online Aug 23, 2009
  9 comments, last one Nov 12, 2009 + Add Comment

• Which one played a better part, Dick Sargent or Dick York?

  Which one was better at the part? I say Dick York.

  Which one was better at the part? I say Dick York.less

  SupermanNYC Last online Dec 1, 2009
  85 comments, last one Jul 30, 2009 + Add Comment

• Favorite secondary or recurring character?

  I'm sooo looking forward to future seasons so I can see my favorite.... Dr. Bombay! Maybe it wasn't so much his character as t...more

  I'm sooo looking forward to future seasons so I can see my favorite.... Dr. Bombay! Maybe it wasn't so much his character as the situations that arose leading to him being needed. At any rate, witchdoctors rock! lol Just wondering if  anybody else has a favorite secondary or recurring character that they enjoy seeing? less

  chaosrainz Last online 8 days ago
  29 comments, last one May 20, 2009 + Add Comment

•  

  10 Perfect

  hide show

  "Classic"
  
  Didn't everyone want to have magic powers when they were younger? I loved this show because I always wanted to be a witch like Samantha.
  I would practice for hours twitching my nose!
  I always hoped that I had long lost relatives like Endora to come and tell me I was one.
  Endora was wacky and a favorite of mine.
  I also thought Tabitha was so cute.
  I loved see what pickles they would get themselves into.
  
  but hate it sme times when i wach it i just feel like aaa you now riht right come come come comecome come come com on on on no no on no

  Do you agree?

    0 0

  Report Abuse

  spy18 Added Aug 1, 2008 All my reviews
•  

  9.5 Superb

  Where else can you find a show, where every character is perfect? hide show

  As a child, I wanted to be a witch like Samantha. I would try to twitch my nose so I didn't have to walk up the long hill to the house. All of the characters are like "Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans" from Harry Potter (how fitting). Uncle Arthur, Esmerelda and Aunt Clara are my personal favorites - I know if they are on the we laught hard and learn a little about kindness and understanding. I guess the show is so special because it took me from grade school through to high school graduation. And best of all, it never "jumped the shark."

  Do you agree?

    0 0

  Report Abuse

  1955jb Added Jun 24, 2008 All my reviews
•  

  9.2 Superb

  I love this.... hide show

  I always used to watch Bewitched when i was younger and i even still do! This show is such a classic the late Elizabeth shines as Samantha. Shes charming loveable and downright Lucy-like. It is just a great series that has stood the test of time, like i hate most sitcoms but for some reason i love this one. It's just soooo inocent and not so in your face. You Don't need to worry abput story-lines you just sit back and relax and view this classic comedy gem. I personally hated the movie just because it wasn't the same as the show!! All together a cutsy little sitcom everyone can enjoy.

  Do you agree?

    0 0

  Report Abuse

  heroesfan07 Added Apr 26, 2008 All my reviews
•  

  10 Perfect

  great hide show

  a classic show about a witch who marries a human. It was one of the frist show to have witch as diffent that they aree put to be. And also this show made it possible for other show just like it. It is a classic that the whole faimly will love to wacth again and again. i just whant to wacth it right now becaues of shows are not what they were back than with funny puns and soem action and good problems the characters sovle. Classic are made once and a life time, so in love them with your heat nad mind.

  Do you agree?

    0 0

  Report Abuse

  InvaderNaruto Added Feb 17, 2008 All my reviews
•  

  10 Perfect

  Classic, that says it all! hide show

  This classic story of a nose twitching witch is one that will live on forever and ever. This is an old family friendly show that one day when I have kids will be one they must watch every episode. Some shows just never die. They never should die. If only half of todays sitcoms were as wholesome and funny as this one, maybe, just maybe the world might be a better place with fewer violent teens and abusive adults. This is just a good show. period. I only wish that the movie would have lived up to the amazingness that the show had set.

  Do you agree?

    0 0

  Report Abuse

  djkltt12 Added Jan 26, 2008 All my reviews