"Bewitched" (1964) TV series 1964-1972

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Creator:

Sol Saks

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Release Date:

17 September 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Plot:

A witch married to an ordinary man cannot resist using her magic powers to solve the problems her family faces.

Plot Keywords:

Witch | Magic | Witchcraft | Marriage | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 12 wins & 27 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 5	11:00 PM	WGNAMER	Sam's Witchcraft Blows a Fuse	#8.25
Sun. July 5	11:30 PM	WGNAMER	The Truth, Nothing But the Truth, So Help Me, Sam	#8.26

Cast

Elizabeth Montgomery	...	Samantha Stephens / ... (254 episodes, 1964-1972)
David White	...	Larry Tate (166 episodes, 1964-1972)
Dick York	...	Darrin Stephens (156 episodes, 1964-1969)
Agnes Moorehead	...	Endora (147 episodes, 1964-1972)

Also Known As:

"The Witch of Westport" (USA) (original script title)
"The Witch of Westwood" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

25 min (254 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White (1964-1966) | Colour (1966-1972)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 (2005) (DVD) (season 2) (self applied) | Finland:K-7 (2005) (DVD) (season 1) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Ashmont Productions

Trivia:

'Bernard Slade', a director with the series, was married to Jill Foster, who played Darrin's secretary Betty from 1965-69.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Male witches throughout the series are referred to as 'warlocks', however the term means 'betrayer' and is quite offensive to witches. A male witch is a 'witch' not a 'warlock'.

Quotes:

Samantha: Now when it comes to Santa Claus, most mortals don't believe he exists... just like they don't believe in witches.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Wizards of Waverly Place: Potion Commotion (#1.11)" (2008)

How Inane.....But I Just love it!

Jeannie and Bewitched have to be two of the most formulaic and predictable shows ever aired on TV. Every episode of Bewitched had ,in different orders and combinations, the same formula of Endora zaps something to muck up Darrin, and it pays off in Darrin's favour; witchcraft of some sort interferes with Darrin's work and he gets fired, then re-hired, when the witchcraft again pays off, or is foiled. While in the meantime, Gladys Kravitz, Mrs Stavens, or some unsuspecting extra is baffled by it all, and theres always some unbelievable explanation at the end of it all which the long suffering cast members swallow. With that in mind, its bizarre that it still rates in re - runs, and its bizarre that I've taped about 7 blank tapes worth of the show from TV that I watch again and again. I can't get enough of it. So. obviously the show has a lot of appeal which allows viewers to look beyond, or perhaps enjoy the formula. I think the appeal lies in alot of things. First, the magic is a huge and fascinating drawcard. Wouldn't we all love to be able to make things appear and disappear with a twitched, and wouldn't we all love Barbara Eden as our Genie who's madly in love with us? We all would (males, anyway RE Barbara Eden), and thats what draws us to the shows. Its also brilliant and magical itself to see the special effects being done nearly forty years ago without computers or complex editing machines. That really put a smile on my face. The characters were all so far - out an exotic, all kind of like British aristocrats who had lost all air of conservatism, and lived carefree lives zapping from the Riviera to lunch in Shanghai. They were so funny, fantastic and appealing. I loved the conflict too; Endora and Darrin, Darrin and Larry; Darrin and Serena etc. And the actors of course were all brilliant, and having a tremendous time playing their roles, and fun roles they were. The chemistry on set between York and Montgomery was so believable and real, the flamboyance and gestures of Endora and Dr Bombay was loads of fun, and the comic timing of York was always perfect. Yes, Betwitched and Jeannie have to be my two favourite TV shows of all time, because they're just unpretentious, lightweight and appealing entertainment, and thats why they've lasted so long, because who would take a show about witches seriously anyway. And thats its charm.