I am looking for the Recut Version of the Bewitched Pilot:

"I Darrin take this witch Samantha" that was repeated on December.31,1964.

It was both seen & set on New Years Eve as Darrin & Samantha got together
on their first New Years Eve together to reminisce about their wedding night where
she first told him she was a Witch.

This version is different then the original one of this episode seen on Sept.17,1964
as the first episode of Bewitched, it has a special teaser scene i described above with all new footage in it that was not in the first showing of this episode.

If you have it or know where i can obtain it contact me at:

LarrytateT@aol.com

Thank You

Larry Tate :)

I didn't even know they did a recut version of the pilot. I know they did recut versions of the first Christmas episode and the first appearance of Darrin's parents, but not this one. Cool! :cool:

I didn't even know they did a recut version of the pilot. I know they did recut versions of the first Christmas episode and the first appearance of Darrin's parents, but not this one. Cool! :cool:

Yes there was quite a bit of footage shot for the pilot that was not used due to time constraints.

Much of that footage was used in ABC Bewitched promos seen prior to & during the First Season of the show.

I have seen at least 5 instances in these promos where this was the case re never before seen footage was used, the best was the Samantha whipping up some cake batter that ended up all over herself.

This recut episode would be a great find & it has to be out there somewhere, the teaser scene would be about 40 seconds long.

It is ironic that where there have been internet rumours out there about lost Bewitched episodes never seen, as in from season 9 but never used etc.

Same thing about the claim in the IDOJ book that there were 3 i think they said lost Bewitched episodes, of course in that case it was all a tongue in cheek joke.

And here there actually is a lost Bewitched episode that actually has brand new Bewitched footage never before seen by us all except for a few grizzled veterans of the Bewitched viewing wars, new Bewitched episodic footage waiting to be discovered.

Larry Tate :)

They should have included the full lenght pilot as a bonus when they put the first season out on DVD.

They should have included the full lenght pilot as a bonus when they put the first season out on DVD.
:yeahthat

That would have been a great idea!

That would have been a great idea!
:yeahthat

Wow--never heard of this......is Herbie J. Pilato aware of this, because I don't recall him mentioning it in Bewitched Forever.

Wow--never heard of this......is Herbie J. Pilato aware of this, because I don't recall him mentioning it in Bewitched Forever.
I don't know myself...I wonder if this recut episode exists in some form today.

I don't know myself...I wonder if this recut episode exists in some form today.

Everything exists in some form somewhere, maybe in my Attic ;)

Hopefully it will turn up, i bet it is in Sony's vaults but they can't be bothered to look it up, it would have made a great extra recut episode on the Season one DVD set like the two recut episodes did on the Season two DVD set.

First time i heard about it was quite recently from another collector.

Larry Tate :)

..."A Vision Of Sugar Plums" and "Samantha Meets the Folks" were included in syndication and network repeats, Screen Gems/Columbia decided ONE version of the pilot episode was enough for future rebroadcasts- and the second edition wasn't included in their "official" package, the way the 1956 "I LOVE LUCY" Christmas episode was seen only once [according to Lucy, that was a "one-shot special" that was never intended to be seen in repeats, featuring highlights of selected "expectant episodes"; she said it was her and Desi's "gift to viewers", giving them, in those pre-repeat days, "a chance to see the baby shows again"]. Apparently, the "New Year's Eve" version of "I, Darrin..." was also intended to be seen only once.

:tv:

..."A Vision Of Sugar Plums" and "Samantha Meets the Folks" were included in syndication and network repeats, Screen Gems/Columbia decided ONE version of the pilot episode was enough for future rebroadcasts- and the second edition wasn't included in their "official" package, the way the 1956 "I LOVE LUCY" Christmas episode was seen only once [according to Lucy, that was a "one-shot special" that was never intended to be seen in repeats, featuring highlights of selected "expectant episodes"; she said it was her and Desi's "gift to viewers", giving them, in those pre-repeat days, "a chance to see the baby shows again"]. Apparently, the "New Year's Eve" version of "I, Darrin..." was also intended to be seen only once.

:tv:

As far as i know the two season Two recut episodes were never shown in repeats & syndication other then the original airings.

Certainly from 1990 on they were not at any time nor do i recall seeing them before then & i heard that they were not reaired in the 1960's either, even in the daytime airings of Bewitched.

The recut of the Pilot was actually done to give Liz a breather as they were on such a tight schedule to deliver there show on time to the network after their slow start in filming due to having to wait on Liz to have her baby before she could start filming again.

It was not done as a special experience or gift for the audience persay like the Lucy one was.

Larry Tate :)

As far as i know the two season Two recut episodes were never shown in repeats & syndication other then the original airings.

Certainly from 1990 on they were not at any time nor do i recall seeing them before then & i heard that they were not reaired in the 1960's either, even in the daytime airings of Bewitched.



Actually, I have some old TVGuides from Toronto from around 1973, and those re-cut episodes were part of the original syndication packages on some Canadian stations, such as CFPL London or CHCH Hamilton from around that time. I don't think they stayed in the package for long though as I didn't see those episodes in the listings after early '74.

Also, I find it surprising that they'd film a separte New Year's Eve bit for the show if they were on a tight schedule. It's still basically a rerun anyway. However, it's footage I'd love to see one day...

Actually, I have some old TVGuides from Toronto from around 1973, and those re-cut episodes were part of the original syndication packages on some Canadian stations, such as CFPL London or CHCH Hamilton from around that time. I don't think they stayed in the package for long though as I didn't see those episodes in the listings after early '74.

Also, I find it surprising that they'd film a seperate New Year's Eve bit for the show if they were on a tight schedule. It's still basically a rerun anyway. However, it's footage I'd love to see one day...

That is very interesting Torcan, i take it all 3 were shown as repeats in 1973?, i wonder if this was so as well in the USA?.

The reason the New Years Eve episode would be a breather for Liz is that with a tight schedule they would not have to film an entire episode that week, but rather just the teaser scene with the rest of the pilot already having been filmed giving the cast a much needed break from their grueling weekly filming schedule.

Myself i don't think it was ever decided or intended by Screen Gems or ABC to have these 3 recut episodes seen only once in prime time.

Larry Tate :)