I read an article where the writer slams Bewitched on other 60's sitcoms. Saying they were so "High concept" that really anybody could've played the roles. Agree? Disagree?

Here is a portion of that article...

In looking back at the rest of the sitcoms from the 1960s, especially the ‘high concept’ sort- like The Addams Family, The Munsters, My Mother The Car, Bewitched, I Dream Of Jeannie, My Favorite Martian, Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies, etc.- they all depended upon, well, the highness, so to speak, of their concept. I mean, were Barbara Eden or Elizabeth Montgomery really indispensable in their roles as a genie and witch? Could not either of them have been paired up with their male mates and basically have had the show’s premises been the same? Was Uncle Fester the reason anyone watched The Addams Family? No. All of the actors were replaceable.

If you look at the roles on paper, it may have seemed like anyone could've played the roles of the beautiful witch and genie. But Elizabeth Montgomery was the rock of Bewitched - as was Barbara Eden on "Jeannie". I can't imagine anyone else in the roles, but do wonder what Elizabeth would've been like as Jeannie and Barbara as Samantha.

I know that MickeyMac would love nothing more than to see Liz in a pink harem outfit!!! :nod:

"I mean, were Barbara Eden or Elizabeth Montgomery really indispensable in their roles as a genie and witch?"

Frankly, yes. I can't speak for "I Dream of Jeannie," but I can for "Bewitched"- Elizabeth Montgomery was married to director Bill Asher (both came on as a package deal), and the two made a lot of changes to the pilot script and created the show as we know it today (including the "twitch.")

Even Dick York was, in hindsight, irreplaceable as Darrin. Heck, as soon as he left, the ratings dropped 13 places. There's the answer.

We really can't say as they never were replaced and as some evidence suggested during the Darrin switch, Bewitched droped 13 places in ratings. The writer of the article doesn't know what he's talking about.

"I mean, were Barbara Eden or Elizabeth Montgomery really indispensable in their roles as a genie and witch?"

Frankly, yes. I can't speak for "I Dream of Jeannie," but I can for "Bewitched"- Elizabeth Montgomery was married to director Bill Asher (both came on as a package deal), and the two made a lot of changes to the pilot script and created the show as we know it today (including the "twitch.")

Even Dick York was, in hindsight, irreplaceable as Darrin. Heck, as soon as he left, the ratings dropped 13 places. There's the answer.
I agree about Dick York 100%. No offense to Dick Sargent, who was a good actor in his own right, but he wasn't Darrin. Only Dick York was the real, true Darrin. Of course, that's MY opinion - your mileage may vary. ;)

All these shows worked because of the actors and their chemistry with one another. Granted with a show like Bewitched the chemistry with Liz and Sargent wasn't as strong as her and York, there was still enough there that worked. Also, all of these were great ensemble shows- did people watch Addams Family for Uncle Fester? No of course not they watched it for the entire cast. This is true for almost all sitcoms, even the so-called ones of today.

"I mean, were Barbara Eden or Elizabeth Montgomery really indispensable in their roles as a genie and witch?"

Frankly, yes. I can't speak for "I Dream of Jeannie," but I can for "Bewitched"- Elizabeth Montgomery was married to director Bill Asher (both came on as a package deal), and the two made a lot of changes to the pilot script and created the show as we know it today (including the "twitch.")

Even Dick York was, in hindsight, irreplaceable as Darrin. Heck, as soon as he left, the ratings dropped 13 places. There's the answer.

No. They were NOT dispensable. Dick York is a good example. ...and even Nicole Kidman couldn't replace Elizabeth as Samantha (or in the case of the movie another witch playing Samantha). Just look at how that film bombed! And I CAN speak for Jeannie. Bill Daily put it best when he stated on Barbara Eden's A& E Biography, "Without Barbara that show could never have gone on the air. That 'note' she does is innocent, it's charming. To play clean, wholesome, sexy is a tough one." Sidney Sheldon tried out many brunette middle eastern types for the lead but could not find the unique qualities he was looking for but when he saw Barbara he knew he had found his genie. You can't just put a pretty face in a harem outfit. There is a unique quality that these SEASONED actors brought to these roles (not like many on TV today). Luckily for us loyal fans shows like Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie to name two gave us such talented and seasoned actors. People such as the author of the article in question on this topic make the mistake so many do. They see a 'high concept' show and see it as fluff but in reality so many elements have to be done EXTREMELY professionally (acting, special effects, props, costumes, etc.) or it just can't be pulled off right. Anyone who has seen the 1980s update of "The Munsters" and how cheaply the acting, makeup, etc. was done in comparison to the original knows what I mean. Really these so called 'fluff' shows need the best in order to be done right and be received well by audiences. I think it's much easier to have a dramatic role on CSI or Law and Order (both good shows) than it is to be in a comedy like "Gilligan's Island" or "The Adams Family" and have people want to tune in week after week. The actors have to make it believable and make the characters ones that you care about and want to tune in to see. ...and that's NOT nearly as easy as they make it look!

Whoever wrote that is an idiot, someone under 40, and someone who probably likes all this modern day garbage (like reality shows).

Elizabeth Montgomery was utterly irreplaceable on Bewitched, without her the show could not have even approached what it became because of her.

She was not merely playing a role, rather she infused so much of the fundamental essence of herself into Samantha that the two were so intertwined to never allow anyone to be able to attempt the role much less achieve it.

Good point by Woof Woof about Liz as well being indispensable what with her & Bill Asher having created the premise that was used in Bewitched that was a unique & new creative entity in of itself.

In most cases the basic premise of these shows were so superb and well thought out that other top notch experienced & highly trained actors could have made the show fly as high in both success and quality as the actually cast actor or actress did.

So he was right in that sense that the premise trumped the casting in general.
Barbara Eden could have been recast with another actress and she would not have been missed and the show being just as good and popular.

Liz Montgomery was one of the exception's to this rule that makes a rule a rule.

Aggie & Marion Lorne were as well irreplaceable in a sense as they were so good, but Venessa Redgrave for example if the same age as AM could have played Endora every bit as well, other actresses likewise could have done so re Aunt Clara, but it would have taken Brilliant Hall of Fame caliber Actors or Actresses like VR to be able to accomplish this.

Larry Tate :)

Paul Lynde now there was a unique entity but even he could have been recast with the guy from Laugh in.

Larry Tate :)

Paul Lynde now there was a unique entity but even he could have been recast with the guy from Laugh in.

Larry Tate :)
I could also see Charles Nelson Reilly as Uncle Arthur. They both had that snarky humor going on. :lol:

Whoever wrote that is an idiot, someone under 40, and someone who probably likes all this modern day garbage (like reality shows).
My thoughts exactly. This guy probably hates all 1960's tv shows.

And Barbara Eden was Jeannie. She couldn't have been replaced and neither could Liz.

Oh ,Larry Tate.That "guy from Laugh-in"if you are referring to the guy who played "the dirty old man"in the sketches with Ruth Buzzi,was none other than Arte Johnson,who played Samantha's cousin Edgar.

No Alan Sues from Laugh In was the one i was referring too, he would have been a great Uncle Arthur if they had cast him then, he was a Paul Lynde Clone.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0837297/

Larry Tate :)


Oh ,Larry Tate.That "guy from Laugh-in"if you are referring to the guy who played "the dirty old man"in the sketches with Ruth Buzzi,was none other than Arte Johnson,who played Samantha's cousin Edgar.

My thoughts exactly. This guy probably hates all 1960's tv shows.

And Barbara Eden was Jeannie. She couldn't have been replaced and neither could Liz.


Well, apparently he likes "Get Smart."

I still obviously disagree with him about BW and IDOJ.

Oh ,Larry Tate.That "guy from Laugh-in"if you are referring to the guy who played "the dirty old man"in the sketches with Ruth Buzzi,was none other than Arte Johnson,who played Samantha's cousin Edgar.
I loved those sketches. I loved how Ruth Buzzi always ended up smacking him with her purse. :rofl:

I loved those sketches. I loved how Ruth Buzzi always ended up smacking him with her purse. :rofl:
Artie's dirty old man character on "Laugh - In" was called Tyrone F. Horneigh.

And you cannot just switch the two-that would be too easy. I cannot imagine anyone else playing either role. But it would be fun to try and come up with two people who could play these roles. Maybe Connie Hines or Melody Patterson for Jeannie. Or how about Carolyn Jones from the Addams Family for Samatha. For me it is way harder to find the perfect Samatha. Or how about Karen Valentine for Samatha? Probably too young at the time.

There's a huge difference between saying that "anyone could have played the part" and "the actor/actress who played the part was replaceable and anyone could have replaced them".

Of course it's "possible" that ANY show would have worked with a different starting cast. It's a matter of putting the right combination of people together, but the idiot who wrote that makes it sound like you could just throw ANY group of people together and make a show work (why not, that's what reality shows do).

Could Ed Asner have played Herman Munster? Asner was, after all, an Emmy winning actor. I think we all know the answer to that one. Well, except the idiot who wrote that article.

I'm sure he also thinks Charlie Sheen would have made a great Ward Cleaver. :rolleyes:

Great example from an earlier post about the theatrical releases of films depicting just such a show as "Bewitched". Didn't work. Granted, the pacing of a 90 minute or two hour film is different that that of a 30 minute sitcom, but good luck casting Kidman and Ferrell as Samantha and Darren in a "Bewitched" sitcom today and trying to get anyone to watch that.

Heck, I WISH it was that easy to cast a sitcom! If it was, maybe we'd have a decent sitcom or two on these days. I liked "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (now canceled), and I like "Hot in Cleveland" (entirely because of Bertinelli's presence, if it wasn't for her I wouldn't watch it...I'm not THAT "in love" with Betty White). But even HiC is just about out of ideas. Didn't take 'em long.

Artie's dirty old man character on "Laugh - In" was called Tyrone F. Horneigh.
I loved those skits!!! :rofl:

[QUOTE=Tweety]I'm sure he also thinks Charlie Sheen would have made a great Ward Cleaver. :rolleyes:QUOTE]
God help us!!! :eek: :rolleyes: