at the time that Hollywood made the movie big-screen adaptation of the series "Bewitched"(she died in 1995,10 years (not sure of the year it was released)before the big-screen remake ,what do you think she would have thought of it?Did anyone who took part in the series(producers,writers)take part in the movie.And a final question:Did the late Elizabeth Montgomery (TV's Samantha)ever meet Nicole Kidman(movies Samantha)?

LIz would have been cool with it. In fact, she probably would have made a cameo appearance in the film.

When she was alive, she was adamant about not wanting to do a Bewitched reunion. She felt that the past was best left in the past, and they wouldn't be able to top what they had done anyway. I tend to agree. Liz's ex Bill Asher DID direct reunion movies for I Dream of Jeannie and Green Acres (which were NOT well-received). I read somewhere that Liz called Bill and essentially said he was nuts. :lol:

When she was alive, she was adamant about not wanting to do a Bewitched reunion. She felt that the past was best left in the past, and they wouldn't be able to top what they had done anyway. I tend to agree. Liz's ex Bill Asher DID direct reunion movies for I Dream of Jeannie and Green Acres (which were NOT well-received). I read somewhere that Liz called Bill and essentially said he was nuts. :lol:


While die-hard fans (like myself) did not like the made-for-TV I Dream of Jeannie reunion movies, the first one William Asher directed (I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later) actually did very well in the ratings. It aired in 1985 and was up against THE FINAL GAME OF THE WORLD SERIES on another network! That being said, the ratings were very high (it came in at no. 15 in the ratings for the week), and that is why there was another reunion film years later (I Still Dream of Jeannie). Apparently, the ending of 15 Years Later (where Col. Nelson was made to forget about Jeannie and their son, T.J.) was done with the intent of a premise for a new series - but for some reason, it never materialized. Fans did NOT like it (among many changes to the original series, such as Hajji being changed to Samir for one), the alterations to her pink harem costume (it looked like a cheap version of the original), the new sound effects of her "blink," or the cheap visual of the smoke coming out of the bottle during the re-created beach scene (because they would not pay the original special effects man (Richard Albain) his price to work on the movie (...big mistake).

As for Elizabeth Montgomery, I heard the same thing you mentioned about her speaking to William Asher. Though I heard a recording of her audio interview with Herbie J. Pilato in which she stated that she "did not care" that Asher worked on the first Jeannie reunion movie and she also said, "They couldn't have gotten anyone better, let's face it." I don't know about the Green Acres movie:)

Liz was one smart cookie. Thank goodness she didn't agree to do any reunion movies - and it wouldn't have been the same anyway because Agnes Moorehead was gone. I don't think Liz would've liked the 2005 movie, either (and neither did a lot of people, including myself).

And besides that,I read that when she did her dramatic films(especially "A Case of Rape")she said that there would never be another "Bewitched".She may have changed her mind before she died,because the movie "When The Circus Comes To Town"she did in 1981 was a romantic comedy.As far as her doing a cameo role,I doubt that if she were still alive,she would have been asked.We'll never know.

Elizabeth Montgomery knew that Bewitched was a Brilliant show & could not be replicated again.

She stated on many occasion that she was against a remake of it in any form & i believe would have been very much against the movie & would not have considered a cameo for an instant, even though she would have been asked for sure by the producers as her name would have brought enormous publicity to the movie.

Bill Asher has publicly stated that Liz gave him Hell over his involvement with the first IDOJ movie & she thought he had prostituted himself in making it.

The point about reunion movies has nothing to do with ratings but rather that the quality of them is terrible & a pale imitation if what the original was.

This was proven to be so with both the IDOJ & Green Acres disasters, they were just plain and simple very bad.

Liz was right in her views of reunion movies in general.

The Dick Van Dyke Show reunion special is an example of how you just can't recapture lightening in a bottle.
It was just not very good & the actors just didn't have it any more, watching it was embarrassing.

Nobody connected with Bewitched had anything to do with the movie, Thank God for that.
The Movie version just plain stunk.

Larry Tate :)

at the time that Hollywood made the movie big-screen adaptation of the series "Bewitched"(she died in 1995,10 years (not sure of the year it was released)before the big-screen remake ,what do you think she would have thought of it?Did anyone who took part in the series(producers,writers)take part in the movie.And a final question:Did the late Elizabeth Montgomery (TV's Samantha)ever meet Nicole Kidman(movies Samantha)?

Oh, don't get me started on The Dick Van Dyke: Revisited from 2004. That was a travesty!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Liz was one smart cookie. Thank goodness she didn't agree to do any reunion movies - and it wouldn't have been the same anyway because Agnes Moorehead was gone. I don't think Liz would've liked the 2005 movie, either (and neither did a lot of people, including myself).


She was very smart. ...and I don't think she would have liked it either. I didn't like it either.

I think there were some good ideas, but the execution was garbled. The true golden moment was Steve Carell as the ghost of Uncle Arthur. He did a PERFECT imitation of Paul Lynde - he NAILED it!!! :cool: :D

I think there were some good ideas, but the execution was garbled. The true golden moment was Steve Carell as the ghost of Uncle Arthur. He did a PERFECT imitation of Paul Lynde - he NAILED it!!! :cool: :D


He did do a good job:)

If they ever make a movie about Paul Lynde - they should hire Steve Carell in a heartbeat!!!!

Oh, don't get me started on The Dick Van Dyke: Revisited from 2004. That was a travesty!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:i agree it was horrable beyond words

If they ever make a movie about Paul Lynde - they should hire Steve Carell in a heartbeat!!!!i agree

Liz was one smart cookie. Thank goodness she didn't agree to do any reunion movies - and it wouldn't have been the same anyway because Agnes Moorehead was gone. I don't think Liz would've liked the 2005 movie, either (and neither did a lot of people, including myself).
I never saw the movie and I'm not interested in it. :p

I never saw the movie and I'm not interested in it. :p
Good, don't waste your time.

And I don't think that if THEY had been alive,Dick York,Dick Sargent or Agnes Moorehead would have done cameos,either.

I doubt it, too.

It was just another example of Hollywood taking a nice classic,and "bastarizeing" it.ANYTHING with WILL FARRELL in it is automaticly bad!

Even if Liz Montgomery had lived, she may not have had any say as to whether a Bewitched remake was made or not. She could have said yes or no to appearing in the film in some capacity, but unless she had some kind of ownership stake in the show, they would do what they wanted to do.

By and large, the classic TV shows are owned by the studios and it's obvious they're trying to cash in on a brand name rather than come up with something fresh or inventive.

I realize that when you're an up and coming actor, you have to take whatever parts you can get, but I don't get actors of status who can pick and choose their parts that decide to do these lame remakes. Obviously, they're being goaded by their agents and managers to take big salaried roles, but as an actor, do you really wanna build your career on remakes?

She and her then-hubby Bill Asher did have part ownership of the show by the time it ended its run in 1972. I don't know how big the percentage was - but they definitely did have a stake in the show.

I just went and looked it up - the Ashers owned 20 percent of Bewitched's profits - not to mention a slice of the merchandising rights.

http://www.bobsbewitchingdaughter.com/SamanthaGetsHerWay.html

http://www.bobsbewitchingdaughter.com/RoughToughAndDelightful.html

http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=bewitched

When Bewitched started Bill & Liz owned 20% of the show, when she resigned after season 5 it was increased to 50% of the show, when she picked up the mutual option for season 8 it was increased to 80% of the show.

Nobody would have had any say in a remake being made of Bewitched at either the TV or Motion Picture level other then Sony who, owned the rights to the show.

Liz could only refuse to be a part of it and that alone was always enough to kill any chance of a remake while she was still alive, after all you could not have a Bewitched in any form without Elizabeth Montgomery being a part of it, without her it would have never had a chance with the public who understood in the end that Elizabeth Montgomery was Bewitched.

Liz sold her stake in the show in about 1978.

Larry Tate :)

Even if Liz Montgomery had lived, she may not have had any say as to whether a Bewitched remake was made or not. She could have said yes or no to appearing in the film in some capacity, but unless she had some kind of ownership stake in the show, they would do what they wanted to do.

By and large, the classic TV shows are owned by the studios and it's obvious they're trying to cash in on a brand name rather than come up with something fresh or inventive.

I realize that when you're an up and coming actor, you have to take whatever parts you can get, but I don't get actors of status who can pick and choose their parts that decide to do these lame remakes. Obviously, they're being goaded by their agents and managers to take big salaried roles, but as an actor, do you really wanna build your career on remakes?

Does Bill Asher still have any ownership?

That's a good question, i am not sure if he still does, but even if he did it would only amount to less then a quarter of the show so he would have no decision making authority.

I do know he has not been involved with the show in any direct way since it ended nor was he involved with the movie.

Larry Tate :)

Does Bill Asher still have any ownership?

Thanks - that would be a great thing to find out if he still has any ownership of the show. I know he was at the unveiling of the Samantha statue in Salem, MA in 2005 as well as Liz's Star on the Walk of Fame ceremony - but I think that's about all he's done as far as the show's concerned in recent years other than some interviews.

And now for the question,which was never answered:Did Elizabeth Montgomery when she was alive ever meet Nicole Kidman?

And now for the question,which was never answered:Did Elizabeth Montgomery when she was alive ever meet Nicole Kidman?
I have absolutely no idea.

I cannot see Elizabeth Montgomery having any interest in participating in that movie in any capacity!

Does anybody recall Penny Marshall and the late Ted Bessell were behind the original script for a Bewitched movie?

Does anybody recall Penny Marshall and the late Ted Bessell were behind the original script for a Bewitched movie?
Yeah, Herbie J. Pilato's book Bewitched Forever states that Ted Bessell was going to direct a Bewitched movie but died before his plans could come to fruition. Never heard of Penny Marshall being involved, though.

Yes they were & it was going to be a literal remake of Bewitched looking at it from the perspective of the lives of Darrin & Samantha before they met, then through their courtship up to the point of their wedding when the show in effect began.

In effect it would have been a prequel which conceptually would have been perfect & would have worked wonderfully.

We won't even talk about what the movie eventually evolved into as we are in mixed company.....................mortals & witches alike. ;)

Larry Tate :)

Does anybody recall Penny Marshall and the late Ted Bessell were behind the original script for a Bewitched movie?

Penny Marshall was originally asked to Direct the remake, but she was too busy so she opted to Produce it & have her very good friend Ted Bessell direct it instead.

They were only a few months from filming when the whole thing fell apart when Ted Bessell unexpectedly passed away.

Larry Tate :)

Yeah, Herbie J. Pilato's book Bewitched Forever states that Ted Bessell was going to direct a Bewitched movie but died before his plans could come to fruition. Never heard of Penny Marshall being involved, though.

Yes they were & it was going to be a literal remake of Bewitched looking at it from the perspective of the lives of Darrin & Samantha before they met, then through their courtship up to the point of their wedding when the show in effect began.

In effect it would have been a prequel which conceptually would have been perfect & would have worked wonderfully.

We won't even talk about what the movie eventually evolved into as we are in mixed company.....................mortals & witches alike. ;)

Larry Tate :)
Now THAT would've been an interesting concept. I wonder who they would've gotten to play the roles.

Hey,Larry Tate-Do YOU know if Elizabeth Montgomery and Nicole Kidman ever met?

At the time Alicia Silverstone & Jim Carry were the choices by Penny & Ted.
This was about the time Alicia was in a big hit clueless.

Nicole Kidman was just starting out & still in Australia when Liz passed so i am sure they never met, plus Liz was never much for those Hollywood Parties where one meets such people.

Larry Tate :)

Now THAT would've been an interesting concept. I wonder who they would've gotten to play the roles.

I learn new things from the site all time. Was not aware of Montgomery's ownership stake in the series.

Wow, Bill Asher is still alive?? He really outlived Liz.

Wow! What could have been! I'm sure Marshall and Bessell would have done a much better job with the movie.

Well it sure could not have been any worse could it have?
They may very well have done a good job & this remake if it had happened may have been the rare one that worked.

Larry Tate :)

Wow! What could have been! I'm sure Marshall and Bessell would have done a much better job with the movie.

Well it sure could not have been any worse could it have?
They may very well have done a good job & this remake if it had happened may have been the rare one that worked.

Larry Tate :)
Plus, with their combined sitcom experience - they could've really made something special. Alas, we will never know now. :(

Actually the movie wasnt that bad as everyone says, I think people just hated it being remade into a movie.

I think the tv remake they are trying to do would be interesting.

60s Bewitched
21st century Bewitched

I dont know why people are getting so worked up over a tv remake.

If its remade give it a try and watch it might be ok.

Going back to the thread title Liz was similar to John Ritter, Laura Branigan, Ronnie James Dio, Luther Vandross and others where if they simply went to the doctor earlier they likely would've extended their lives!!

Going back to the thread title Liz was similar to John Ritter, Laura Branigan, Ronnie James Dio, Luther Vandross and others where if they simply went to the doctor earlier they likely would've extended their lives!!

Sad but true - they, like so many others, waited until it was too late. :(

Sad but true - they, like so many others, waited until it was too late. :(

Yeah, the problem is many people just don't like seeing the doctor and it's not just celebrities.

It must be even more uncomfortable for big stars to go since most will recognize. I suppose the big stars can have the doctor come to them unless it's an emergency.

I can't imagine Tom Cruise or Angelina Jolie walkin into a doctor's office!

In the case of Dio's doctor he actually said if he just came to me earlier he'd STILL be alive! I'm sure the doctors of Liz, Ritter, and the others would've said something similar!

^ Agreed - 100%.

They should've made a Bewitched reunion movie. The series end was so abrupt.

If they did a reunion I'd have taken Dick York over Sargeant any day!