The final episode of "Bewitched" was aired on ABC on March 25th 1972

38 years ago Samantha cast her last spell and TV has been a lot less magical ever since.

Reruns ran for another 14 weeks until Bewitched disappeared from ABC primetime altogether on July 1, 1972.

Reruns ran for another 14 weeks until Bewitched disappeared from ABC primetime altogether on July 1, 1972.
:yeahthat Four and a half months later (11/14/72), Liz would make her very first TV movie in the dramatic The Victim.

The final broadcast episode was "The Truth, Nothing but the Truth, So Help Me Sam".

Did they know it was a final episode, I wonder? Maybe Montgomery was already getting enough movie offers that she had to move on.

The final broadcast episode was "The Truth, Nothing but the Truth, So Help Me Sam".

Did they know it was a final episode, I wonder? Maybe Montgomery was already getting enough movie offers that she had to move on.
EM felt that 8 seasons was enough, and she wanted to spread her wings and avoid typecasting. Plus, her marriage to Bewitched director/producer William Asher was breaking up. Bewitched was actually originally renewed for a 9th season, but since EM wanted out, Bill Asher made a deal with ABC to produce 2 new shows - The Paul Lynde Show and Temperatures Rising for the 1972-73 season - and both shows failed in short order.

The final broadcast episode was "The Truth, Nothing but the Truth, So Help Me Sam".

Did they know it was a final episode, I wonder? Maybe Montgomery was already getting enough movie offers that she had to move on.

Bewitched had been renewed by ABC & Screen Gems for a 9th season, all the other cast members had been resigned for a 9th season, Liz had a mutual option for a 9th season as she had for the 8th season after being obligated contractually speaking for seasons 6 & 7.

She at first indicated that she was going to pick up the option for Season 9 and as such everyone thought there would be a Season 9.

It was later in March that Liz informed ABC & Screen Gems that she had changed her mind & did not pick up that option.

The Paul Lynde Show and Temperatures Rising for the 1972-73 season were not due to what was owed by the Ashers to ABC but rather due to what ABC owed them still from the contractual renewal after Season 5.

ABC had a commitment to a season in the 1972/1973 TV Season to the Ashers & for the following year as well re a Bewitched TV Movie which became Temperatures Rising instead to fullfill those obligations.

ABC & Screen Gems sent a high powered team to Liz's home to try to talk her into a 9th season & offered everything but their first born, she politely listened & said no and that was that, Bewitched was no more. :(

Larry Tate :)

EM felt that 8 seasons was enough, and she wanted to spread her wings and avoid typecasting. Plus, her marriage to Bewitched director/producer William Asher was breaking up. Bewitched was actually originally renewed for a 9th season, but since EM wanted out, Bill Asher made a deal with ABC to produce 2 new shows - The Paul Lynde Show and Temperatures Rising for the 1972-73 season - and both shows failed in short order.

Ah, ok, thanks! I had a hunch you might have this info, I don't know WHY I would think that :lol:

I actually remember the Paul Lynde Show. I remember Temperatures Rising, although I never watched it. We did watch the Paul Lynde Show while it was on, and as much as we loved the guy on Hollywood Squares, the show was not good.

I remember even at 12 or 13 being disappointed at how poor the show was. We didn't think Paul Lynde could miss, because he's been so funny on Hollywood Squares, and were were quite excited about him getting his own series... but looking back, I guess he really was much more suited to being a wacky supporting character than being the lead on a sitcom. He never did come across as a believable father, even in the "Bye Bye Birdie" film he'd made in the early 60s. Of course, Hollywood Squares was really the first place that I'd seen him regularly, so he was just a game show panelist to me.

...ABC & Screen Gems sent a high powered team to Liz's home to try to talk her into a 9th season & offered everything but their first born, she politely listened & said no and that was that, Bewitched was no more. :(

Larry Tate :)


Ah see, that should be a lesson for ALL TV Executives... whenever you try to sign a big star to another season, ALWAYS include your first-born. See, they never do that, and the star always leaves!

WHEN are they gonna learn????

Yes, I've seen Bye Bye Birdie and never bought Paul Lynde as Ann-Margret's father. I've never seen the Paul Lynde Show but I guess he was supposed to be a husband and father in that, too, and the whole thing fell flat.

But, I DID love his Halloween special with KISS. That RULED!!!! :cool: :D

Ah see, that should be a lesson for ALL TV Executives... whenever you try to sign a big star to another season, ALWAYS include your first-born. See, they never do that, and the star always leaves!

WHEN are they gonna learn????
:lol:

Yes, I've seen Bye Bye Birdie and never bought Paul Lynde as Ann-Margret's father....

lol, that WAS quite the pairing, wasn't it?


..I've never seen the Paul Lynde Show but I guess he was supposed to be a husband and father in that, too, and the whole thing fell flat...

Yes, he was a family man there as well. Just a bad show... my sister (a year older than I) and I both loved Lynde from "Squares", but we both watched the new show and, even though I think we probably watched however many episodes there were, we just thought, "this really isn't funny".



...But, I DID love his Halloween special with KISS. That RULED!!!! :cool: :D

lol, now THAT one, I missed! Wow, I'll bet that would be funny to see today!

The Paul Lynde Halloween Special aired in 1976. Bruce Vilanch (who went on to write The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, as well as some other shlocky shows) was a co-writer in this. Here's a couple of reviews:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/34546/paul-lynde-halloween-special-with-kiss-the/

http://www.tvdvdreviews.com/paullynde.html

The last episode of Bewtiched was a repeat of an episode they did in season two. Sadly they went out with a whimper and not a bang.

The last episode of Bewtiched was a repeat of an episode they did in season two. Sadly they went out with a whimper and not a bang.
That was my feeling exactly. :(

Sigh, well I guess all good things must come to an end. And even though I think the show jumped the shark when Dick York left it was still fun just NOT LIKE S#1-5 esp. the Aunt Clara episodes. Boy the crazy predicaments that confused old gal (witch) could get herself into. All I have to do is think of some choice episodes and I start chortling to myself!

(I'm so glad I have S#1-5 at home; they always make for fine entertainment and de-stressing after a rough day)

The last episode of Bewtiched was a repeat of an episode they did in season two. Sadly they went out with a whimper and not a bang.

I agree. Then again they didn't know it was going to be the last episode when they filmed it. EM wanted to move on.

I agree. Then again they didn't know it was going to be the last episode when they filmed it. EM wanted to move on.
Good point. :nod:

I remember as well reading in the TV Guide in the spring of 1971 that after considering matters & thinking of calling it a day, that Liz decided to pick up her side of the mutual option for Season 8 after ABC had already done so.

She was offered 80% ownership up from 50%, even more creative control & a huge raise per episode.
Hence the credit for Ashmont came about in Season 8.

She was just leveraging the contract negotiations, she did not have to do Season 8 & only did so because she wanted too do so all along.

She then tentatively did likewise for Season 9 in late 1971 while still shooting Season 8 but did not actual sign to pick up the option & later changed her mind so it never happened.

ABC had already picked up their side of the option & Screen Gems was on board, but Liz had the veto & in the end excercised it.

The Later Paul Lynde Shows were for what ABC owed the Ashers & Ashmont not the other way around.

Larry Tate :)