ABC had planned a 9th season which would have been the 1972-73 season, and I was told by TV.com that the show was renewed for two more seasons instead of just one after 1971. Instead, Elizabeth Montgomery decided not to come back after the show's 8th season and to move on to other projects. Should Samatha have been played by a different actress for this to happen? I keep wondering if Bewitched lasted from 1964-1974 instead of 1964-1972.

Probably, but it was wise of the network to cancel the show since the star wasn't going to come back. It wouldn't have worked with a different actress in the lead. They may have pulled the wool over our eyes with the Darrin switch, but they wouldn't have gotten away with a Samantha switch.

Indeed, Elizabeth was Bewitched, pure and simple. And in hindsight, it was good for the show to leave when it did. How in the world would the show explain the loss of Agnes Moorhead? It was one thing when Marion Lorne passed on and they simply never referred to Aunt Clara again, but Endora?

^ Agree with those insights 100%.

I still feel that if Elizabeth Montgomery hadn't came back after season 8, ABC and Screen Gems should have gotten an Elizabeth Montgomery lookalike for the role of Samantha. It was a shame that Bewitched had no series finale. The final episode, "The Truth, Nothing But the Truth, So Help Me Sam", was just a remake of episode 50 "Speak the Truth".

The show's ratings were already way down during the last season. I doubt they would have improved if the show lasted longer.

The show's ratings were already way down during the last season. I doubt they would have improved if the show lasted longer.
:yeahthat

I still feel that if Elizabeth Montgomery hadn't came back after season 8, ABC and Screen Gems should have gotten an Elizabeth Montgomery lookalike for the role of Samantha.

With the exception of Dick Sargeant, I had no problems with the replacement stars on this show but replacing Elizabeth would've been a ratings disaster and like Tony said they were already down anyway so this would only add fuel to the fire. If this had been pulled off, The name of the show should've been changed to Beswitched. :lol:

It makes you wonder. If "Bewitched" did have a proper final episode, what do you think would have happened?

Would Sam loses her powers permanently?

Would Darrin move with her to the other realm?

Would Endora finally get Darrin's name right?

I wonder what other scenarios would have been had. Hmm....

^ So many unanswered questions, but I don't think Endora would've ever gotten Durwood's name right. :rofl:

^ So many unanswered questions, but I don't think Endora would've ever gotten Durwood's name right. :rofl:

Yeah, she was never fond of him; and given the way he sometimes behaved toward Sam's family I can understand. At best, she tolerated him. To me Endora was always very glam...and fun.

I think they ended the show at the right time, it was pretty well played out by the 8th season and time to call it quits. I've never been a big Liz Montgomery fan, but I recently gave this show a chance and bought the first 4 seasons on DVD. It's a good show, a little more subdued than I Dream Of Jeannie and the humor is a little more understated than it is on Jeannie. Comparing the two shows, Jeannie is faster paced and has more visual humor, more on the slapstick side. Bewitched is slower paced but I think overall the episodes are better written than the Jeannie episodes. I'm debating whether I want to buy seasons 5 & 6, right now I'm content with seasons 1 thru 4.

The only redeeming quality of the 8th season was the emergence of Erin Murphy. She was a natural child actress. I did enjoy the storylines featuring Tabitha. Other than that, the show was played out. The plug should had been pulled after the 6th season. Liz's energy for playing Samantha was not there during the 8th season and her performances was going through the motion and you can see that starting in the middle of season 7.

The only redeeming quality of the 8th season was the emergence of Erin Murphy. She was a natural child actress. I did enjoy the storylines featuring Tabitha. Other than that, the show was played out. The plug should had been pulled after the 6th season. Liz's energy for playing Samantha was not there during the 8th season and her performances was going through the motion and you can see that starting in the middle of season 7.
You're right - Erin had a real skill; she was a natural performer. As for the plots, they weren't breaking any new ground. It lasted way too long.

Does anyone ever remember them doing a series focusing on Tabitha like I do? I vaguely remember that! They also had several Kravit's, etc. as you probably all know that Elizabeth was Bewitched and none could take her place; her stunt double was close however. It was sad though when they ended it like they did; they could have a least tied the knot like they do now when they end a series.

I bought the Tabitha dvd when it first came out, it was a good show. I agree, they should have done a final Bewitched before ending the show. I don't think they knew it would end until after Ms. Montgomery made it known she didn't want to do the series anymore.

^ I checked the Tabitha series out of the library. Lisa Hartman and Robert Urich were certainly charming, but I just don't think the show really jelled. Having said that, the series was EONS better than the original pilot, which was a TOTAL ripoff of the Bewitched pilot. BLECCH!! puke:

To me the Tabitha pilot wasn't that great, a brunette Tabitha? I don't think so. I also didn't like how they had Adam as a wiseguy Warlock? It was against his character.

The Adam in the Tabitha series was a wimpy mortal--I didn't like him at all. The one in the TABATHA pilot played by Bruce Kimmel to me was an Uncle Arthur type, at least he was a warlock, keeping with the Bewitched series. They should have kept him like that with Lisa Hartman's Tabitha, upped the romance with Robert Urich, dump Minerva(just how she was related to Tabitha and Adam anyway?),& brought in more semi-regulars from Bewitched.
The series actually did well in summer reruns, but ABC apparently was ready to move on.

I'm not sure that would have worked since in the original series he didn't really have all of his power, since Darrin was against witchcraft. They could have also had his powers fade in and out creating different situations.

Well, to be safe, "Adam Warlock or Washout" was just discovering that Adam indeed was a warlock. Had the series gone to a 9th season.....we might have seen his powers develop further. But ultimately the show in the beginning was about a relationship, not a silly sitcom with zing, zangs, and pops, which is what BW devolved into by the 8th season.

That's true however, I liked how they blamed Esmerelda for the leaning tower of Pisa.

That's true however, I liked how they blamed Esmerelda for the leaning tower of Pisa.

:rofl: That was the lamest Tower of Pisa prop I've ever seen!

"One tower and make it lean" LOL.

Well, to be safe, "Adam Warlock or Washout" was just discovering that Adam indeed was a warlock. Had the series gone to a 9th season.....we might have seen his powers develop further. But ultimately the show in the beginning was about a relationship, not a silly sitcom with zing, zangs, and pops, which is what BW devolved into by the 8th season.
You hit the nail on the head, Jude. Bewitched (at least in the DY era) was really about a man and a woman from different worlds who found true love and had to fight outside forces to stay together. Once DY left, all the romance and tenderness was gone and Bewitched just became another wacky sitcom. I don't blame that on DS, I blame it on the writers and producers. They were regurgitating scripts right and left, and they weren't doing anything that they hadn't done (better) before. Everything became stale and bland. That's my take on it, anyway.

Thank goodness the show finished at the end of season eight which was far too late anyway. That last season was a mistake and was really like a car running without gas. Elizabeth Montgomery was very wise to finish when she did. I couldn't even imagine how tired a ninth season of the show would have been.

Every good show's path is an arc----rising as it develops, zenithing as turns out its best and most memorable work, and falling as it becomes old, repetitive, and loses its appeal.

Bewitched is no exception. It had outlived its era, outlived the interest of its star, outlived its ability to find fresh plots, and outlived the audience's taste for that brand of fantasy.

The advent of grittier, issues-oriented programming in the early 70's (like "All in the Family") made it impossible to go on even it hadn't already run its course.

However, even though it's fortunate there was no 9th season, it's no surprise that we continue to love the show through 35 years of syndication and eagerly buy the DVD seasons as they come out. It was a great and wonderful show!

And I still discover other fans everywhere. Recently, at the clinic where I work, we were wishing we had another doctor due to the demand for appointments. Jokingly I said out loud, "Dr. Bombay, Dr. Bombay..." and one of my colleages immediately brightened up and said, "Emergency! Emergency! Come right away!" Naturally, we both fell into helpless laughter. Since then we've talked about the show several times. :D :cool:

^ Cute story!! :lol:

isn't it great to discover with others things you have in common? And how some things are just ingrained into pop culture?

I don't think series finales were very common in the 60's. Most shows just got cancelled, and that was that. One exception comes to mind, The Andy Griffith Show, when Andy and Helen got married and the show became Mayberry RFD.

I don't think series finales were very common in the 60's. Most shows just got cancelled, and that was that. One exception comes to mind, The Andy Griffith Show, when Andy and Helen got married and the show became Mayberry RFD.
I thought the Dick Van Dyke Show had a "real" final episode, but I could be wrong.

I thought the Dick Van Dyke Show had a "real" final episode, but I could be wrong.
Yes, the Dick Van Dyke Show did have a finale episode. Rob Petrie writes a book about his experiences as a comedy writer and gets it published. Alan Brady then options the book, planning to turn it into a TV series!

Andy Griffith did not have a finale--Andy and Helen's wedding was the first episode of Mayberry RFD.

Yes, the Dick Van Dyke Show did have a finale episode. Rob Petrie writes a book about his experiences as a comedy writer and gets it published. Alan Brady then options the book, planning to turn it into a TV series!
OK, thanks for clarifying that!! :cool:

Well honestly if Bewitched had a season 9 and 10 I can only imagine what Liz would have been like. in season 8 she looked down right pi**ed and snapped at what anybody said:mad:. I think Darrin would have had to drag Sam any where he went by Season 10 lol. But Bewitched ended at the right time Season 7 might have even been a better time to stop.Liz was sick of playing goody two shoes Samantha plus by that time Bewithced could have been renamed Beswitched or sorry Liz as much as I love her Bebitched (but who could blame her). The Tabitha spinoff was alright but it lacked alot of what Bewitched had.

Andy Griffith did not have a finale--Andy and Helen's wedding was the first episode of Mayberry RFD.

...and strangely enough, the last ep of Andy Griffith's show was called "Mayberry RFD" and served as the pilot for the new series, since its writer, Bob Ross, was credited as the creator of Mayberry RFD. It involved Sam Jones helping an Italian immigrant family, though the characters of Sam Jones and his son Mike had been introduced in a few episodes prior to the last AG ep.

Well honestly if Bewitched had a season 9 and 10 I can only imagine what Liz would have been like. in season 8 she looked down right pi**ed and snapped at what anybody said:mad:. I think Darrin would have had to drag Sam any where he went by Season 10 lol. But Bewitched ended at the right time Season 7 might have even been a better time to stop.Liz was sick of playing goody two shoes Samantha plus by that time Bewithced could have been renamed Beswitched or sorry Liz as much as I love her Bebitched (but who could blame her). The Tabitha spinoff was alright but it lacked alot of what Bewitched had.
Supposedly, Liz had a lot more fun playing Serena during Season 8. :lol:

Looking back on what I've heard about the Dick Sargent seasons of Bewitched in recent years, a ninth or tenth season of Bewitched should never have been considered at all.

ABC probably renewed Bewitched after Dick Sargeant's first year because it was still ranked in the Nielsen Top-30 (#24) after the 1969-70 season (figures for season 7 are unavailable, however, because it was out of the Top-30). Bewitched's eighth season airing against two of CBS's best programs (The Carol Burnett Show on Wednesday, then All in the Family on Saturday) didn't help its ratings, either.

The Dick Sargent years of Bewitched were notorious for numerous remakes of its early episodes, and I think there definitely would have been more episode remakes if that contract had been fulfilled. Exactly when was that contract taking Bewitched to season 10 signed? And why sign such a contract if you're going to end up burying Bewitched by scheduling it against the number-one-rated program on all of U.S. broadcast television?

I'd like to have seen a Bewitched reunion... I Dream Of Jeannie had 2 reunion specials, so Bewitched should have gotten at least one... Would like to have seen what Samantha and Darrin were up to in the through the 80s and 90s

Elizabeth Montgomery staunchly refused any reunion ideas that were pitched to her on occasion. She believed there was no way to top what they already had done so why do it. I think she was right and without Agnes it wouldn't have been the same.

Elizabeth Montgomery staunchly refused any reunion ideas that were pitched to her on occasion. She believed there was no way to top what they already had done so why do it. I think she was right and without Agnes it wouldn't have been the same.

There was an interview with Erin Murphy where she describes a meeting with Dick Sargent where they were given a script for a "Bewitched" reunion, and they were looking at each other like "it's... just... so... BAD" but were trying to be tactful. Like... the script was a blatant attempt at the writer to give parts to himself and his friends, according to her. So it's a good thing that never happened. Same with season 9, knowing what we know from the leaked season 9 script that was yet ANOTHER remake (this time, of "Illegal Separation" but with the Tates).

There was an interview with Erin Murphy where she describes a meeting with Dick Sargent where they were given a script for a "Bewitched" reunion, and they were looking at each other like "it's... just... so... BAD" ...

Dick Sargent's idea was that Darrin would admit to everyone he was married to a witch and hundreds of other mortals had also "come out" as being in relationships with witches and would march in a huge parade. He spoke of this in an interview.

Yes. I liked Dick Sargent's idea much better (even if it was technically the witches who were discriminated against, not the mortals). It was very touching how he described it.

I think York's Darrin had any confession consequences right (season 4 - "I Confess"). The military would swoop in and try to control all that witchly power if it ever happened. Although, The Stephens family looked cool in their Army fatigues.

https://i.postimg.cc/XJnK5bH6/army.jpg