| Legend
The careers of many were enhanced by Bewitched. Reoccurring cast, all classically trained or stage actors, gave such incredible performances over and again, across all 254 episodes and 8 seasons. When has there been a gathering of so many great performers in the history of television, on a single series? There hasn’t. Bewitched writing, production, and directing was incredibly sharp and original. Samantha’s magic entertained, but also inspired so many growing up in the 1970’s. As a kid, I performed magic shows with sleight of hand, for neighbors in living room gatherings. It’s not surprising that today’s bland programming offers nothing remotely close to Bewitched. As Herbie Pilato reinforces in his great ‘Bewitched Forever’ book, the show was created at a time before television “lost its innocence.” Sure there were a few racy themes, especially when Serena was around (which was great)! But all orchestrated by Elizabeth (and Bill Asher) with such sophistication and humor, because that’s who Elizabeth was, the classiest woman on television, and she wouldn’t have done it any other way. Elizabeth moved effortlessly between Samantha and Serena, revealing both sides of her charming personality. Elizabeth was a master of expressions and emotion – her smile radiant, always glowing, in so many close-ups. Watch her brilliance as guitar-strumming Serena, in fourth season episode “Hippie, Hippie, Hooray”…such wonderful expressions, dance, even singing. The House at 1164 – if only I could visit it. Unfortunately, The Warner Ranch back lot is closed to the public. Who didn’t want to grow up in that cute neighbored and house, or swim in that nice pool often used for “Club” scenes in the show? Who hasn’t dreamed of building an exact replica of 1164, outfitted with precise 60’s appliances and furnishings, including wood-frame Zenith TV? Fortunately, the House facade still exists in near original form, at the Ranch. I am hopeful it remains, and one day, open to the public. My one regret was never meeting Elizabeth. From what I have read, those fortunate to work with or meet her relate similar impressions: she was open, unpretentious, caring, genuine, graceful, creative, charming, and of course, stunning. I would give anything to travel back in time to Salem, MA June 22 1970, spending a week around the ‘Salem Saga’ production, from sets at The House of the Seven Gables, Gloucester Fisherman Statue, and Hammond Castle in Magnolia. Who hasn’t had that daydream? I’ve spent recent years watching all 8 seasons on DVD. I continue to find new episodes, story lines, and many nuances of Samantha, only fully understanding and appreciating them as an adult. With each episode, I gain an ever growing admiration for the “Good Witch” Samantha, our beautiful Elizabeth, whom we love and remember forever, in hearts and minds. I, too, proudly remain, “Bewitched Forever.” |
| NEAR &
DEAR
|
|
I HAD TO SEE THAT HOUSE
I still to this day can remember everything. First, I explained to the gate attendant all the above and the failed times that I was turned away. We were told to circle once, not get out of the car, and then exit back to him. When he opened the gate bar, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Pictures were taken as my husband drove ever so slowly. I was in my own world, knowing each and every home. And there it was. We did pause for a good 3 minutes. I wanted to get out soooo badly and run around on the lawn and knock at the door, but knowing the gift the attendant had given myself the promise had to be kept. Hazel was next; I guess it was her day off. Driving slowly we finished out the circle, passing the gas station and looking at the beautiful park and koi fish fountain to our left. We thanked our host and drove off. Good memories never die. I thought I was odd for even wanting to make it a reality some day, but as I found out many of us want to see "where we grew up." |
| Hats
Off
|
I have graced
the walls of our home with photos of wonderful people from the most
beloved sitcom of all times called "Bewitched". As a child
from 1969, one of the first things noticed on T.V. besides cartoons,
was Bewitched. The most wonderful 8 seasons anyone could watch.
I am so proud of the
| Anyway...
How true those words
came to be as espoused by Elizabeth Montgomery as lovable Samantha Stephens.
And Elizabeth Montgomery took the character of Samantha, indeed, a long,
long way. More than forty years have passed since Samantha rode her
first broom across the pantheon of American television. She was, and
is, as ever a good-hearted soul who made us feel better just for being
in her presence. Bewitched never purported to be Shakespeare,
nor was it, but what it was, was a well written comedy that made us
feel good. In its first two seasons Bewitched was well written,
and with warmth and humanity. |
"Anyway,
all anyone can do is to take a little and make it go a long, long way."
| Hechizada
|
I think the first time I watch Bewitched was when I was
around 9 years old. Then the channel where it reruns cancelled the series,
and I remember in the morning I woke up and sadly my mum told me that
"Hechizada" (Bewitched is named like this in Argentina,
my country) wasn't on anymore. A few months ago, I turn 18 and the day
of my birthday I was watching TV in the morning and I realized a new
channel had Bewitched on its program schedule. I felt so happy!
It was a wonderful gift for my birthday. Since then, I watch it everyday.
I enjoy watching the reruns as much as the first time I saw the episodes
when I was only nine years old. The series is definitely my favorite
of all time. It's a shame that many actors of the cast aren't here to
see the successful show they were on it, the laughs that they bring
everyday to homes all around the world after 40 years of the appearance
of this marvelous show on TV. Here in my country, they are making a
remake of what Bewitched was in 1964. It hasn't get on aired
yet, but they are making it with famous actors on TV here. I don't know
how it will go, but I certainly do know that nobody could play Samantha
like Elizabeth did, but I have to wait and see it. Don't I?
| It
Lives On In Our Hearts
I love Elizabeth Montgomery she was
so enchanting and beautiful and still is even today, I'm just saddened
that she and so many other cast members are not here to know of the
show's continued success. I'm grateful for the opportunity to re-live
the memories and the show through re-runs and dvd's and I thank everyone
who was involved with this heartwarming classic. It lives on in our
hearts, and at any moment we can twitch our noses, snap our fingers
and be there! |
Where does anyone begin when talking about the show Bewitched?
Do you start off by talking about the magic? The characters? The humor?
It's ability to "bewitch" you for the thirty-minutes your
watching an episode? It's such a fabulous show that truly has had us
under a spell for so many years. Everybody wanted to be Samantha and
Darrin's neighbor, we all wanted to be able to go to Paris for lunch
just for a day with our moms. To transform anything ordinary into something
extrordinary, let's not even mention how many times we have tried "twitching"
our noses! At age 21 Bewitched remains my favorite television
show of all time. It was a suprise to me when it came out in theatres
that my younger cousin asked if we could go see the movie. I asked her
if she knew about "Bewitched" so that she could enjoy the
movie, she told me of course she did! It was on re-runs on TV Land.
She loved it! I remember feeling that excitement for her, that I had
when I first came across a re-run of the show. The announcer saying
"Elizabeth Montgomery in...Bewitched" and the familar
tune and Samantha flying across the screen on her broom.
| It
Is Truly Magic
There always has been and there will forever be people who say that Bewitched is associated with the devil and other evil things. To them, I say, "Watch an episode or two." I may not have watched every single episode but I have watched enough to know that Bewitched is bewitching in the sense that real issues are explored. The witches, warlocks and mortals in Bewitched faced love, family, racism and many other issues mortals face in everyday life. I am pleased to own the first season on DVD. This means I can watch over and over how much Sam and Darrin mean to each other. And that is truly magic, isn't it folks? |
Bewitched
has been a favourite program of mine ever since I was five years old.
For about thirteen years, I have dreamt about being able to twitch my
nose, but amongst other things, I have enjoyed the day-to-day lives
of Sam, Darrin, Tabitha and many more. I have always wanted to hug Samantha
and hex Darrin whenever I see episodes such as; "Help! Help! Don't
Save Me," because the way Dick and Elizabeth said those lines made
me as a viewer feel like I am in their house watching them like Endora.
|
What Bewitched Means to Me
My family was sort of dysfunctional, and my father {as Serena would say} was "a tosspot." Growing up in such an insecure and sometimes volatile environment, Bewitched became my refuge and Samantha became my friend. She was so kind and warm and gentle, and I wished like mad that she'd pop in one day and save my dad like she saved Zeno the Great when she gave him the DT's. Alas, this never happened and my father eventually drank himself into an early grave. But the magic of Bewitched got me through some pretty tough times...so perhaps Samantha {and Elizabeth} helped, after all. :) At some point around the age of seven I caught Elizabeth's TV movie The Legend of Lizzie Borden. I had no idea who Lizzie Borden was at this point, and as far as I could tell an evil witch had put a very bad spell on Samantha and she was hack-hack-hacking some poor people to death with an axe! Needless to say, I was absolutely horrified and kept thinking "Calling Dr. Bombay! Emergency! Come right away!" as the movie unfolded. Not long afterwards I watched her with Dean Martin and Carol Burnett in "Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?", which I liked a lot better. She didn't kill anyone in that! ;) As I grew older and started to understand what the show was about and who the characters were, I loved Bewitched even more. I can remember running home after school to catch the show, and after multiple viewings I developed favorite episodes and characters. I adored Aunt Clara, laughed out loud at Gladys Kravitz {Alice Pearce is my fave}, and when the Serena episodes aired I thought I'd died and gone to heaven! I liked both Darrin's equally {still do!}, loved it when Mrs. Stephens got a "sick headache", and gaped in awe at Endora and Maurice, who were magnificent and grand and always commanded my respect. Esmeralda was also a fave, as was Paul Lynde as Uncle Arthur...the chocolate covered bananas episode with Serena still makes me fall down laughing today {the double-entendres they got away with in that one take it to a whole different level!}. A favorite activity of mine during this period was to run outside during a windstorm, open my jacket and spread my arms. If I leaned into the wind just right it almost felt like I was flying, which is the closest I ever got to emulating Samantha and Endora's flights through the sky. I'm still tempted sometimes to do this today. In junior high, I can recall listening to Agnes Moorehead perform Sorry, Wrong Number for a class assignment. Everyone knew she was Endora, and we were all riveted by her performance. We also watched The Magnificent Ambersons for another class project, and I recall being blown away by Agnes' breakdown scene. It was at this point that I really started appreciating what a tremendously talented actress she was, and I started viewing Bewitched through new eyes. In high school we watched Inherit the Wind about the Scopes Monkey Trial, and it was pretty nifty to learn the theory of evolution from Darrin Stephens! In the early '90s, I can remember how impressed I was when Dick Sargent came out of the closet. I was even more impressed when Elizabeth publicly supported him. If Liz thought he was okay, then that meant she'd think I was okay, too. Pretty profound stuff for a confused 18 year old, and I'll always be grateful to both Elizabeth and Dick for the way they addressed this issue. Their bravery and honesty was admirable in the extreme. When Elizabeth passed away in 1995, I was deeply saddened. It still doesn't seem possible that she's gone..."Samantha" was immortal, so it was really hard to accept that Elizabeth was not. Thank goodness for re-runs, where everyone from the Bewitched cast will live forever. |
I've been a fan of both Bewitched and Elizabeth Montgomery for as long as I can remember, and in many ways Bewitched has had a hand in shaping my life. My earliest memories are of watching Bewitched re-runs on a black and white TV at some point during the early 1970s. Although I was too young to really understand what was going on, I could tell that Samantha was a nice lady and very, very pretty. After I watched the show I used to run around the backyard on a broom, pretending I could fly like Samantha did in the show's cartoon opening. The photos my parents took of me doing this always make me smile.
|
The Best Show Ever
I remember when Bewitched first came on. I was a young black girl growing up in the 60's, in the south. It was a disturbing decade, with the assassinations, Vietnam War, and integration. But great TV shows like Bewitched and the others that came on ABC TV (That Girl, Mod Squad, The Partridge Family, Brady Bunch, Dark Shadows) made growing up in the 60's, so much fun as a child. It was one the shows we kids talked about in school the next day. I even had a Samantha Halloween mask. Today, even as an adult, I try not to ever miss an episode and look forward to the show being released on DVD. My husband and I sometimes have a Bewitched night where we pop in one of my "taped" Bewitched shows and just enjoy the night. I absolutely loved Samantha, what a caring funny character she was. She and Darrin, though white, reminded me of my parents. My mother has the same turned up nose, hairstyle and sweet humble personality that Samantha had back then. When Elizabeth died, I remember crying, even though I was an adult and never met her. I wanted so much to meet the woman who helped me laugh my cares away, and who seemed to care for everyone. Not only do I love her in Bewitched, but I love all of her movies, especially The Awakening Land and Lizzie Borden. God Bless Her. She was one sweet, beautiful lady. She really put a spell on me and my family for life. We love her and all the actors/actresses on Bewitched. |
|
This One's for Lizzie
Bewitched was my very favorite TV show. It was truly entertaining, comical, and loads of fun. I still tune in on TV Land from time to time, it's like stopping in to see old friends. Sadly, Elizabeth Montgomery left us in 1995 to cancer. Wherever you are Lizzie, this one's for you! Bewitched is the best TV show of all time! |
|
The Magic Lives On
Being your average preteen in the world of the 2000 millennium, TVLAND was a simple channel I'd pass by as I flipped the channels for a good program to watch. Never did it occur to me that maybe I should stop and see what was on that channel for once! But then...one day my dad (who very much enjoys to look back on the shows of his childhood) happened to see Bewitched on TVLAND. "Hey, Jen," he said. "I think you'll like this...it's about a witch who twitches her nose..." And that was it. I was hooked. Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Agnes Moorehead and the rest of the cast---well---bewitched me. Literally. I couldn't stop watching Samantha twitch her nose and Endora wave her arms and my favorite character Serena sing "Iffin." I'd laugh hysterically as Mrs. Kravitz stared into the window of 1164 Morning Glory Circle, screaming at the top of her lungs as she saw little Tabitha making her toys float across the room to her. Bewitched took me away from reality and flew me on a magic broom to a fantasy world unlike my own. I got my VCR to tape Bewitched and it's great to come home from school to see Samantha and Darrin on the TV screen. After watching about 5 episodes (yeah, that's how long it took me to get hooked), I frantically searched on the Internet for more information and learned all that I could about this newly-found "cool" TV show. Then came Jeannie...Lucy...Lost in Space...Little House...I loved them all. Why? At first I didn't know. People in my class at school definitely noticed the change in me...saying "Oh My Stars" instead of "Oh My God" and such. "Why do you like all of the 'old' shows like that stupid Bewitched?", a classmate repeatedly would ask me. For a while, I simply shrugged and walked off. Yeah, I know, that's a really stupid thing to do. I realized, after some thought and...err...MORE Bewitched episodes to watch, that it didn't matter how "old" a TV show was. It could be a great one just the same. Most people today can't take their eyes off of "Survivor" and "Fear Factor" and such, and leave the oldies behind them in their childhood memories. I wonder why. That's something I'll never know. Now, when someone walks up to me and asks, "Why do you like that old show Bewitched?", I simply give a really cheesy fake smile trying to hide the fact that I want to chop that person's head off (LOL joking) and reply, "Bewitched isn't just OLD, it's a classic. Ask your parents about it; I'm sure they can tell you a lot." So, in conclusion, I am happy that the magic of Bewitched still lives on even today, so my family and I can be whisked off on Samantha's broom as we watch and laugh at the silly situations over and over again...I'm bewitched. And no one, not even a pesky classmate, can change that. In fact, I'm glad I wasn't born in the 60's... Then I would have to wait a whole week for Bewitched's next episode! :) |
|
The Best Show in History
|
|
The World in "Witch" I Wished I Lived
I believe I will never stop wishing for new worlds in which to live. Everyone does. Everyone wants a different life then what they have. But I think I have picked the best world of all. The show Bewitched has everything I wanted and more. |
For years now I have been watching classic television. Since I was a child, these shows have always taken me to a better place. A place where life is simple and problems are always solved with a moral involved. I was intrigued and always wanted to live in them. The one I wished was my life always seemed to be Bewitched. I remember thinking how beautiful Mrs. Montgomery was. I wanted her to be my mother. I wanted Dick York as my father. I always saw their world was better. What kid wouldn't want to live in a world where witches where real, and at the twitch of a nose you could have anything you wanted? I used to sit in the corner of my room and pretend I was Tabitha, or a sister, and that Sam was my mother. I would make episodes in my mind that never ended, but somehow I was brought back to reality. As I got older I realized that I wanted what Samantha wanted: a normal human life and to fit in. I may have not been a witch, but I hardly felt normal. So I began imagining me and Samantha living on Bewitched and making the best of our not so normal lives, so no one would notice. Now, being 16, I see that Sam was the mother I always wanted. My own mother hardly talking to me. I see that I thought that if I had problems like Sam did, my mother would notice me. So I saw Sam as a perfect candidate. Even now, I see that Sam is still the mother I always wanted, but I have moved on to a new character--Serena. Serena is the person I want to be. Beautiful, loving, and full of energy. She seems to know how to have fun and keep it. The world of love, peace, sex, and rock 'n roll keeps her spirit alive. This is now the world I wish I lived in.
|
She Was My Star
|
Elizabeth Montgomery
was the best female actor in my opinion. She ruled in every way. She
was early in starting in her field of acting, thanks to her father Robert,
in New York 40's-50's with his weekly show and she got a good start
to her career. I am a huge fan of Lizzie's and I love her reasons for
her love for the things she believed in, like animals in Africa, zoos,
etc. Her last husband, Robert Foxworth, and she really went wild after
Born Free movie came out after her role as Sam in Bewitched.
She longed for care and preservation of wild animals, she made it her
quest to make sure that she could help all animals in some way, researching
and finding ways to help for the lions. When she was a little girl her
grandmother took her to the race track, to watch the horses race. She
grew to love animals from that point of her life on. In her own life
she had dogs and cats in her house that she loved, a golden lab called,
Boo! She was my favorite ever since Bewitched. I watched in black
and white in the 60's until today. Watching Sam in color is so great.
I have the cookbook from Bewitched and love making the dishes
and reading the trivia about the show. I love to find out things that
went on and off the show. And thanks to Kasey Rogers for her input of
all that book. My father saw Maurice in New York on Broadway doing Shakespeare,
said his voice was so loud and that he did a great job. He played Sam's
father on Bewitched. I have several of her movies from The
Untouchables, Twilight Zone, Johnny Cool, A Case
of Rape, The Legend of Lizzie Borden, The Rules of Marriage,
etc. I really enjoy them all-- seeing her do other than her role in
Bewitched. She did a lot for AIDS and women's lib! She was true
to her own soul. She loved everything and stood up for anyone who had
a cause--she fought to the bitter end. Darrin on Bewitched, Dick
York, hated seeing homeless children. He donated money before his death
to help those in need. We need more people like them, and Elizabeth
did not get the credit she deserves. She did so many things for people
and animals. She made me smile and made me think in a different way,
and I love her for that. God bless her! Thank you, Lizzie, you make
us proud. And you're so sadly missed by all. My favorite saying she
did was, "Oh, my stars!" and she was my star and is one in the Cosmos
forever.
|
In My Heart and My Living Room
|
Where do I begin?
Ever since I was 7yrs old Elizabeth has been in my heart and my living
room. She has given me so much over the years--I feel as though she's
just as much a part of my life as she was to her own family. I admire
her and am so grateful for what she and Bewitched did for me.
I'm 46 yrs old now and I will watch and admire her until my last days.
Thank you so much Lizzie for being my friend and making my life so happy.
Even tho' you are gone you will always be loved by me.
|
Endora Was Right!
Faced with this powerful coven of females, it's no wonder Derwood, er, Darrin often feels at a loss. The force of femalehood, its mystery, power and terror, is too strong for this frustrated Madison Avenue man to master. But it's precisely the tensions inherent in his attempts to do so that makes "Bewitched" so strong and so compelling. |
Has
anyone ever noticed what a very female world "Bewitched" is? Unlike
its rip-off/counterpart "I Dream of Jeannie", which is dominated by
male bonding and is framed by an ultra-masculine portion of the already
hierarchically male military, the space program, "Bewitched" is teeming
with feminine interactions and a distinctly female sensibility. If you
don't believe me, check it out yourself on the "TV Land" cable channel:
they've brought my favorite show back at 9:30 weeknights, and not a
moment too soon. The strongest, most complex relationship on the show
is between mother and daughter. Samantha's position - caught between
two worlds - is played out in her relationship with Endora. It's a genuine
conflict: she accepts mortal life and marriage but she most definitely
does not give up her magical heritage. She's a witch, and says so, if
not always proudly then matter-of-factly. The downside to giving Samantha
this conflict, essentially a dramatic rather than a comic one, is that
Elizabeth Montgomery, ostensibly the show's star, often seems like she's
on the sidelines. True, she's the focal point of the Endora-Darrin conflict,
defending her mother to Darrin as much as she defends Darrin to her
mother, but there's often a feeling that she doesn't get the juicy comedy
material to play. She runs the risk, especially in some of the later
episodes, of being the straight woman rather than the comedienne, of
seeming like something of a guest at her own party rather than the center
of attention. Mary Tyler Moore encountered the same problem as her show
progressed, although in her case it was more a matter of the gaggle
of supporting players stealing the spotlight rather than something so
central to the show's premise. Of course, both Montgomery and Moore
were savvy enough to play to the considerable strengths of their ensembles.
The calculated outrageousness of Paul Lynde's Uncle Arthur or Bernard
Fox's Dr. Bombay make an interesting counterpoint to the appealing thick-headedness
of Ted Knight's Ted Baxter and Betty White's horny yet sugary-sweet
Sue Ann Nivens. In addition, Samantha's mediator role - one that many
females take on in family relationships - played off a significant strength
of Montgomery's as an actress. She's a great listener and an excellent
re-actor. This skill, as well as her concentration, make even her most
unbelievable conversations believable, whether she's talking to a leprechaun,
a horse, a husband-changed-into-a-goat, her child or a dopey client.
She certainly listens to her mother (though she may not like what Endora
has to say). Of course, with Agnes Moorehead, who could find the acid
in a bowl of syrup, that's not difficult. In fact, it looks like a pleasure
for an actress. It's significant that Montgomery and Moorehead are two
of only three principal actors who played the same role for all eight
seasons. David White's Larry Tate, a caricature of a stereotype, was
the third, keeping the same face with the same character for the show's
entire duration. There were not only two Gladys Kravitzes - the dementedly
funny Alice Pearce and the serviceable Sandra Gould - but also two Louise
Tates, the sharply snotty Irene Vernon and the warmer but less secure
Kasey Rogers. The dual-ing Darrins have, of course, become famed in
song and story, although what has gotten lost in the comparisons of
Dick York with Dick Sargent is how little the switch affected the show's
innate structure. What, after all, is "Bewitched" about? On one level
it's simply light fantasy like its cinematic forebear, René Clair's
I Married A Witch. On another, it's a reworking of classic sitcom themes,
à la "I Love Lucy": straight-laced husband endeavors, in vain, to keep
wacky wife from perpetrating mischief. (Sitcom creators have continued
to mine this vein as recently as "Dharma & Greg".) On a sociological
level, "Bewitched" is clearly a parable for feminism. A strong, confident,
capable woman with enormous powers is literally roped into domestication.
Her husband, under the guise of protecting their marriage and maintaining
his own status, forbids her from using those powers. How many women
still feel straightjacketed by their mates' narrow view of their proper
roles? Friedan's Feminine Mystique was published three years before
"Bewitched" premiered in 1964, and women's liberation blossomed into
a potent force during its run - with nary an on-screen mention. It wasn't
necessary, and indeed would have made the tensions on the show unbearable:
the battle was being played out already, week after week. On another
level, the mother-in-law's constant disapproval of her mortal son-in-law
can be seen as an allegory of snobbery. Substitute "blue-collar" for
"mortal" and "old money" for "witchcraft" in the 80% of scripts with
Endora disparaging Darrin and the shows would play almost exactly the
same. Endora often refers to a high-flying high life that Samantha has
given up for marriage, including rubbing elbows with European nobility,
landed gentry and the literati. For the rootless, classless American,
these still hold nearly as much magic as the incantations uttered by
the various witches and warlocks. But the spell still isn't quite complete.
What explains the show's continuing popularity? I believe one reason
is that it expresses a number of female fantasies. In contrast, "Jeannie"
not only took place in a masculine world, it also expressed a potent
male fantasy: capturing and subjugating a beautiful woman, one who could
be reduced to the size of a Barbie doll and bottled up when she was
naughty or inconvenient. The fact that Jeannie's owner/master refused
to take advantage of the sexual possibilities inherent in the situation,
and that Jeannie herself seemed more sexually aware than Tony (her frequent
jealousy of the few fly-by-night dates he went on with other women)
served only to titillate viewers, especially male viewers. ("If I had
a beautiful blonde genie who called me 'master,' I can think of a few
things I'd be wishing for," must have been a refrain in, oh, tens of
thousands of horny male teenagers' heads during the late 1960s). More
overt acting out of the sexual situation, however, besides putting Jeannie
outside the bounds of 1960s TV "morals," would also have destroyed the
premise of the show. As with "Bewitched" and feminism, it would have
made too obvious what was more powerful on an unspoken level. The show
declined even further in comic quality when Tony and Jeannie got married,
since much of the illicit thrill of having a female genie, i.e. a sexual
relationship outside the prescribed bounds of marriage, was the requirement
that her very existence remain a secret. This is, again, the masculine
fantasy of "owning" a desirable, available woman that no one else -
except the ineffectual best friend - can know about, much less get access
to. Of course, this fantasy has its price. Tony's frequent hysteria
that Col. Bellows, the Air Force and NASA will discover Jeannie's existence
and true identity is an expression not only of his concerns about his
career but of his losing "ownership" of this woman. Marriage, which
made public this private relationship, made his hysteria even more hollow
than it was before. "Bewitched," in contrast, detailed the price that
women paid (suburban slavery for a husband, home and family) but also
a fantasy that made that price bearable. "Bewitched" allowed a housewife
to have the faults she knows are present in her husband to be magnified
for her inspection - all without her conscious action. Endora's malevolent
spells - making Darrin's ears grow when he lied, giving him total recall
that turned him into a self-absorbed boor/bore, emphasizing his narcissism,
stinginess, snobbery, laziness - ironically served as the secret wish
fulfillment of countless wives. Superego Samantha was then given the
privilege of correcting those faults - another wish-fulfillment situation
for the average woman, who would have liked curing her husband's ills,
from which she often suffered more than he, to be as simple as twitching
her nose. If Samantha's rather unconscious support of Darrin through
all these expressions of his mortalness starts to wear on viewers -
she often comes off as a Goody Two-Shoes, albeit with an increasingly
sardonic wit as the series progressed - remember that she only represents
the light side of her personality. Her
cousin Serena - pouty, sexually aggressive, whiny, flighty and vain
- is literally Samantha's darker, brattier side, an expression of the
selfish side of Samantha's ego. What Serena wants, she goes after. Actually,
she's a rather ballsy woman, while Samantha is what you might call aggressively
feminine. Her psycho-sexual implications aside, Serena is really the
best of the evil twins on TV, and the most believable (funny that a
fantasy witch should be a believable character, but there it is). The
black wig, the beauty mark, the pale makeup and the hilariously mod
clothing all help, but it's really Montgomery's acting skill that creates
the illusion of two separate characters. Even with the clumsy split-screen
technology of 1960s TV, Montgomery as Serena sounds, moves and behaves
so differently than Samantha, some people actually forget that it's
one actress playing both parts. Patty Duke, who also played "identical
cousins" in her early 60s sitcom, did what she could to separate the
two characters, with what she called, in her autobiography Call Me Anna,
a vaguely European accent for Cathy, the refined (non-American) cousin.
She apparently wanted to take the separation even further, she wrote,
but was held back by the time demands of appearing in a weekly series
and the producers' fear that an actual Scottish accent would be difficult
for the audience to understand. By the way, William Asher, the main
director/producer of "Bewitched" and Montgomery's husband in real life
during "Bewitched"'s run, also worked on "The Patty Duke Show" in its
early years. I guess he had a thing for identical cousins. Maybe Sidney
Sheldon, who actually created Duke's show as well as "I Dream of Jeannie"
did as well, but Barbara Eden never made anyone with an I.Q. higher
than Roger Healey's believe that Jeannie's dark-haired sister was anything
but, well, Barbara Eden in a dark wig speaking in a baritone voice.
It didn't help that the evil sister was also named Jeannie - parents
in old Persia apparently didn't have too much imagination. With Endora
a vengeful, clever id, Serena a sexually precocious ego and Samantha
a smart, sane but subdued superego, we have represented the elements
of a distinctly feminine personality. We even have Aunt Clara representing
Samantha's dream state - in some ways the true heritage of her subconscious.
In Marion Lorne's inspired playing, Aunt Clara's jumbled phrases, missed
connections and half-remembered incantations are the clearest expression
that Darrin will remain forever frustrated in his attempts to turn Samantha
into a "normal" wife and mother. In fact, the real reason the show declined
somewhat in quality in its later years had little to do with Dick Sargent's
replacement of Dick York - he brought some sardonic wit of his own and
played down the hysteria, which helped as the show progressed (after
all, how surprised could he be the 50th time Endora popped in unannounced
at breakfast? Both Darrins may have been boobs, but they weren't idiots.)
What really hurt was that Marion Lorne's passing eliminated Aunt Clara
as a character. Alice Ghostley, wonderful as she was as Esmeralda, lacked
both a blood connection to Samantha and a sort of goofy pride in her
own wackiness, and her own witchiness, that Lorne brought to Clara.
|
Family
|
To me, Darrin
and Samantha Stephens will always be my second parents. They were always
there, no matter what was going on. I
don't remember much about life before I found Bewitched, and
I'd like to keep it that way. I'm
always finding new reasons to love the show and its cast. But the only
reason that will remain in my mind is this: Darrin and Samantha, Larry
and Louise, Mr. and Mrs. Kravitz, Tabitha, Adam, Endora, Serena, Maurice,
Aunt Clara, and all the others we've come to love will always be my
family. The family I got to pick.
| The Supreme
Chef
With every best wish to all Sam's friends. |
Of all the many
shows that I have seen on television, there is none to compare with
Bewitched.It
is still a classic and will stand the test of time. One cannot fault
any of the actors performances. They all blended together, like the
ingredients that go into making a superb meal.And
the supreme chef, Elizabeth, made the series loved throughout this troubled
planet.The
likes of Elizabeth come along only once in a lifetime.Elizabeth
is still with us. She lives on in our heart and soul.I believe
that she is so happy knowing that so many people love her.Thank
you Elizabeth for being you. We miss you but you will always be a very
important part of us.We
will keep your name alive.
| Television: A
Mirror Image of the Modern Woman
All of the above mentioned characters, in their respective decades, define the various stages of progress real women have made in society. Try switching their decades around. Would Mary Richards survive in the 50s? Would Lucy Ricardo succeed in the 60s? Can Samantha Stephens be considered representative of the 70s female? Could Sabrina Spellman exist as effectively in the 80s? Is Jeannie sending 90s women a message? No. Their characters reflect specific periods in American history and the attitudes formed in the real world during those times. |
If art
reflects life, certain television situation comedies stand as mirror
images of the progress of the American women's movement. A close look
reveals many parallels between the image of women on television and
their changing roles in society. Take
Lucille Ball. Her show, I Love Lucy, which originally aired on
CBS from October 15, 1951 through June 24, 1957, is an example of how
television reflected the position of women in post-WWII America. While
June Cleaver (Leave It to Beaver) and Alice Mitchell (Dennis
the Menace) seemed resigned to their roles in their home, and reflected
only one side of a multi-sided coin, Lucy Ricardo reflected a decidedly
different one: the I'll-stay-at-home-but-I-won't-like-it side. The
second world war gave American women a hint at life in the workforce:
American men were in the trenches while back home women did their share
on the assembly lines. When the war ended, former soldiers returned
to the workplace, and women were forced back into the confines of the
home. This short-lived work experience left many women dissatisfied.
Who on television best represented this frustration and dissatisfaction,
and in an amusing way? Lucy. On one hand, she is a typical 50s housewife
and mother who depends on her husband, Ricky, for the necessities of
life. She dutifully keeps home spotless, baby diapered, and husband
in clean shirts. However, both Lucy's dissatisfaction with her domestic
role, and her need to rise above it, constantly manifest themselves
in amusing ways. Convinced
that Ricky's desire for a typical American housewife is holding back
her own budding career, Lucy tries her best to become the toast of New
York, Hollywood, and Europe. However, she rebels against her position
in the home in such a comedic way viewers rarely think of Lucy as a
pre-feminist feminist but as a clown and one of the funniest clowns
television has ever seen. As
the 1950s ended and I Love Lucy took its permanent place in syndication,
other television women, even more fantastic and unbelievable, took center
stage in the 1960s. There were genies in the form of Jeannie (I Dream
of Jeannie), vampires such as Lily Munster (The Munsters)
and witches like Samantha Stephens (Bewitched). At a time when
real women re-evaluated their worth and positions in the home, their
television counterparts personified this identity search in a most offbeat,
supernatural way. Samantha Stephens is television's most memorable immortal
in Bewitched, which originally aired on ABC from September 17, 1964
through July 1, 1972. Like
many middle class housewives, Samantha tries to follow her husband Darrin's
wishes and live up to her marital vows to with a twist, "love, honor,
and obey" changed into "love, honor, and no witchcraft." But when her
witchy relatives make trouble, Samantha is forced to use her powers
to rectify the situation. The housewife of the 50s was no more. The
60s woman gained power in the home, and Samantha's witchcraft reinforces
this point. This
pretty witch is an appealing character for women who can appreciate
the drudgery of her chosen daily mortal toil. However, her role as homemaker
is exaggerated and complicated by witchcraft and unlike Lucy, Samantha
is not jealous of her husband's success. She leaves the rat race to
Darrin, content with her role as housewife and mother and secure in
the knowledge that, as a witch, she has unlimited power in her home
and outside in her "real world." Samantha
seems an obvious metaphor for the rising collective American women's
consciousness of the 60s. Yet she is subtle in the use of her powers,
possibly sending a message to women that they, too, can have it all.
They can be themselves and still remain partnered with husbands who
love them enough to accept them. As Samantha herself says, "What's a
wife for if she can't inspire her husband with occasional witchly wifecraft?"
As
the turbulent, unpredictable 60s-when women redefined their identities-became
the 70s, the modern American woman emerged. She was competent, intelligent,
self-reliant and secure. She was Mary Richards of The Mary Tyler
Moore Show, originally on CBS from September 19, 1970 through September
8, 1977. Mary was the girl next door, yet liberated and independent
of the spouses most 50s and 60s television women needed. It is also
important to note that this 1970s character, unlike the 50s Lucy or
60s Samantha, is based in reality. She is fictional, but believable.
Mary
proves that women can make it on their own, surrounded by friends, family,
and co-workers, but not necessarily husband and children. Mary doesn't
need a ring on her finger to give her an identity. She creates her own
identity, and it's one of the most soft-spoken and charming portrayals
of the 70s woman the sit-com world has to offer. This
trend continued with the situation comedies of the 1980s. The real world
finally acknowledged that there are many vibrant, active women over
50 making a difference and television reflected this with The Golden
Girls, a phenomenally successful show. Working mothers with a realistic,
and somewhat caustic, view of the world gained prominence on television
in the form of Roseanne. Other shows, such as Designing Women
and Murphy Brown, also remind viewers that women are as independent
and empowered as the men for which their mothers used to cook and clean.
This
trend continues, but takes an interesting turn in the 1990s. Shows like
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and Buffy, the Vampire Slayer
point out that not only are women more empowered than ever before, but
so are girls. Teenage girls have not been given so much obvious power
since a young Debra Winger donned a Junior Miss version of the Wonder
Woman costume and helped her sister fight crime as Wonder Girl. The
idea of women, even young women, solving their own problems and helping
their friends and families along the way is a 1990s' message. To a degree
it is also a case of young people growing up faster and being forced
to deal with tougher issues earlier in life, such as drug addiction,
alcoholism, sex, peer pressure, etc….Never
before have viewers been so aware of the progress of the women's movement.
Proof of this is that, as in previous decades, the roles of women on
television have changed to mirror the real world. There are no more
zany housewives, but there are plenty of executives, reporters, doctors,
lawyers, judges and every other position representative of contemporary
working women. Like
Lucy, Samantha, and Mary, newer characters, like Sabrina and Buffy,
have already achieved a place in America's consciousness, and are assisting
in their own ways to blaze a trail for the next generation of American
women.
|
A Perfect American Couple
What Elizabeth Montgomery had I don't know, but she certainly worked her magic over me! Her acting and portrayal of Samantha certainly was "one of a kind." But let's not forget her husband Darrin (Dick York has my preference, I'm afraid) because without him, maybe the show would not have proved so good, who knows? I'm 45 now and for around three quarters of my life, have been watching this "magic" little TV show. Yes, we know it was only a programme, but what the heck, I can relate to all the characters and for half an hour, simply forget about the rest of life's problems and come out of it feeling great....and that's not a bad thing, is it? |
What
can you say about Bewitched and Elizabeth Montgomery that hasn't
already been said. I'm so glad Channel 4 here in the UK has decided
to run the series from the first episode (I'd never actually got to
see these first episodes). I remember rushing home from school in the
sixties to watch each episode! Something about this beautiful lady just
captivates you. If ever there was a "perfect American couple" made for
TV, then here they were! After watching countless episodes over the
years, I think that their "love" came across really strong (and isn't
that what life/marriage should be about folks?) I bet there isn't one
Bewitched fan who after watching any episode does not have a
great sense of "warmth" from Samantha and Darrin! For
each half hour you're suddenly captivated with good fun, clean humour,
and a bit of magic for good measure. And we all like magic, don't we?
| 1972 - The End
But,
I think the #1 cause of "The Decline of Bewitched" is time itself.
By 1972, all the 1960s style sitcoms were either dead or dying. CBS
killed all the "Hillbilly" shows in 1971, and All in the Family
was up against Bewitched most of 1972. A case of "old vs. new,"
and it was time to go. A vivid memory is my parents ordering me to change
the channel to All in the Family and I couldn't watch a "new"
Bewitched. |
I
wanted to share my thoughts about the last year of Bewitched.
I was 10 years old, and at that time, I thought the 1971-72 episodes
were "the coolest," mainly because they were so new! As
a kid then, black and white reruns were "old and icky," and anything
color with new clothes and cars, etc. was preferred. Of
course, as an adult, I see that there were too many lame remake episodes
that year, and obviously Liz Montgomery was bored. Then, there were
26 shows a season, all filmed in a row, so quality suffered. These days,
every other week there is a rerun! 
Bewitched by Elizabeth
Many say I look like her, I think I act like her too, but that's just because I admire her. She's my role model, and again, always will be. Although she was one of the most beautiful people in the world, she was still the "funny girl" inside. I don't really think she knew how talented she was. I also don't think she realized how much she was loved until Herbie J Pilato talked to her for his book. He did justice to her, and Bewitched, and we all are thankful for his efforts. Elizabeth and Bill brought together some of the most talented people, and mashed them all up into something we love to call, Bewitched. |
In
all of my life there never has, and probably never will be, someone
who has captured me quite like Elizabeth. She had everything, charm,
grace, intelligence, beauty. However, not having met her, she is the
kind of person you long to meet, but if you didn't, it still seems as
if you did. Many people who have met her say that she made you feel
special, whether or not she really did like you anyhow. She had a flare
that only she and her personality could bring, and even in the worst
of times that flare would shine through.Bewitched
was a great success, and I can't really imagine anyone else in the role
of Samantha. Being as obsessed as I am, I have learned how to make getting
up at 2:30 in the morning just to watch Bewitched a natural part
of my lifestyle, and even though I might be tired out of my mind in
the morning, I say to myself, "It was worth it." Like many Bewitched
people, I often fantasized about having met Miss Montgomery, and as
far as I'm concerned I don't care if it sounds childish, or foolish,
it's just one of those daydreams you always get, but can't control.
Once you really think about it, it sounds more and more, well, cool.Bewitched
wasn't one of those two-season crap shows, it was a masterpiece. Eight
wonderfully composed, directed, acted, and thought out seasons ever.
Two hundred fifty-four touching episodes that bring out the meaning
in true love. But there is only one Elizabeth. I think many people feel
the same way. It was one of those shows that can't be recreated, redone,
or made into a spin-off movie. Nobody can ever replace Liz. She was
all any man ever wanted, and although she had four husbands, only two
really ever had a chance. I won't ever believe she has died, for she
is still here, in everyone's heart, and always will be.
|
Elizabeth Montgomery Is...
A show such as Bewitched would probably never appeal to me but I know, that regardless of what kind of a day I've had, or what has transpired in my life, if I turn on that half hour of television, I will end up having a smile on my face and a chill down my spine. That is what she brings to my life. One of her friends, I believe it was her agent, said that if you knew her, the world was just a safer place and that really resonated with me. Like I said I don't know her, at least in a personal sense, but I know she will always have the ability to take me away from whatever it is that has me down, and at least for that short time, I can know that the world is maybe not a safer place, but it is by far a better place for her having been in it... |
...where
to start. You can begin with the obvious.She is by far one of the most
beautiful people to grace the screen with her presence. But there are
so many people that also retain an aesthetically pleasing appearance,
yet lack any further substance. We may enjoy looking at them and even
admire their work but beyond that we don't give it a second thought.
Elizabeth Montgomery is one of those rare individuals that despite her
breath taking beauty, that's not even her defining characteristic. Her
beauty is transcended by the person she was, the charisma she exuded
from the screen, and the personality that was hers. Her legions of fans
that spread across generations are a testament to this. I'm sure the
women, who most likely outnumber their male counterparts, can appreciate
her beauty, but I would doubt that this is what inspires them to follow
the life of Elizabeth Montgomery. Instead, I believe it's what was aforementioned
above. The special quality that only Elizabeth had that kept people
awestruck whenever they were in her presence, and not in the literal
sense, of course, but as simple as seeing her on the screen. The same
goes for the males, at least this one.I am
taken aback by her remarkable looks, but that doesn't make me tape every
episode of Bewitched that has aired in the past months. Instead,
it is her captivating ability to literally take the breath out of me
and slap a childish grin on my face that keeps me tuning in. Now, of
course, I've never met her and never will. I will only know her by her
"roles" in a world that doesn't exist, and this is often a criticism
of people I know who inquire as to why I have become so involved in
a woman's life that I do not know. It is often frivolous to explain
it to them because they haven't seen what I have. Despite knowing Elizabeth
only through her acting, I believe that I have seen past the performance
and actually seen a real side of her. It often lies in just a look that
was perfect for the scene that she was in, but somehow you know that
it was genuine, just as she was. Despite her being a great a actress,
and even in roles where she has had to play somewhat of a bitch, she
still exudes that aura that lets you know that she was a unique and
special individual. She has a charm and a presence like no other. I
cannot explain this element that she possesses, I can only describe
what it does to a cynical pessimist such as myself.
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