EXCLUSIVE: CBS has ordered a script from Sony Pictures Television for a remake of the classic TV comedy "Bewitched."

It's not a surprise that CBS would gravitate to a project with a pre-sold brand like "Bewitched," having scored one of the few hits of the 2010-11 season with "Hawaii Five-0," another TV reboot. Sony also is behind another remake getting buzz heading into the coming season, "Charlie's Angels," on ABC.

The "Bewitched" film didn't exactly bewitch moviegoers at the box office, though, even with Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell as its stars. Pic earned just $63 million domestically, and reportedly cost upward of $80 million. Pic grossed an additional $68 million overseas.

Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher, the married couple behind the 2005 film version, are on board to exec produce through their Red Wagon shingle. Marc Lawrence ("Did You Hear About the Morgans?"), who will write the script, is also an exec producer.

"Bewitched" ran for eight seasons on ABC beginning in 1964. Elizabeth Montgomery starred as a witch with magic powers who also happened to be a suburban mom married to a perpetually put-upon mortal husband, played by Dick York, who was succeeded in 1969 by Dick Sargent.

"Bewitched" is just one of about a dozen comedy scripts Sony has gotten orders from at the broadcast level even though it's still relatively early in the development season.

CBS declined comment.


http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118041122

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://i56.tinypic.com/2yy82lg.jpg

Careful, CBS - Mother is watching!!! Hopefully, she'll turn these execs into penguins. :lol:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
:yeahthat

What made Bewitched special was the Amazing cast. Their talent and incredible chemistry can never be duplicated and it should never even be attempted!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Not to mention the terrific writing, especially by Danny Arnold in the first season. The effects still hold up today - now they'd be using CGI. puke:

Not to mention the terrific writing, especially by Danny Arnold in the first season. The effects still hold up today - now they'd be using CGI. puke:
What the original cast and crew did for 8 years truly was magic! And it's the sort of magic that could never be duplicated with modern technology like CGI. It would be the equivalent of cooking a gourmet meal in a microwave!! Yech!!! puke:

I smell fail here.

Considering the movie remake was technically considered a bomb, that makes no sense to have the people behind the movie making a TV series.

I smell fail here.

Like Endora herself said at the end of episode 2, sitting on the roof of Samantha and Darrin's new home, "Believe me, it will never work!" Then she starts cackling. :rofl:

Considering the movie remake was technically considered a bomb, that makes no sense to have the people behind the movie making a TV series.

My sentiments exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not a surprise that CBS would gravitate to a project with a pre-sold brand like "Bewitched," having scored one of the few hits of the 2010-11 season with "Hawaii Five-0," another TV reboot. Sony also is behind another remake getting buzz heading into the coming season, "Charlie's Angels," on ABC.

The new "Hawaii Five-0" was a fluke.

There are more tv remake/reboot series that failed vs. the ones that made it.

I think they should leave tv shows alone. It's bad enough that movies have been remade. I can't imagine classic shows like Bewitched, Family Ties, etc. remade. It seems wrong.

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/rewitched-studios-looking-back-for-magic-20110810-1ilmb.html

Re-witched: studios looking back for magic Giles Hardie
August 10, 2011 - 2:38PM

Dick York and Elizabeth Montgomery in the original television series Bewitched
http://images.smh.com.au/2011/08/10/2547530/GHBewitched_20110810112902273000-420x0.jpg

TV series Bewitched to get a 21st century remake. Bewitched, the beloved TV series that became a beleagured movie may become a TV series again. U.S. television network CBS has ordered a script for a potential remake of Bewitched from Sony Pictures Television the Hollywood Reporter noted today. Screenwriter Marc Lawrence, who started out writing for the Michael J Fox sitcom Family Ties and has recently penned the scripts for such rom-coms as Miss Congeniality 1 & 2, Music & Lyrics and Two Weeks Notice, has been given the duties of updating the nose-twitching witch. Red Wagon, the procution team behind the much-maligned cinema adaptation starring Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman, will produce the new series.

The original Bewitched ran for eight seasons from 1964 to 1972, starring Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha, and Dick York (and later Dick Sargent) as her mortal husband Darrin. Remakes of classic TV series are a popular option with American networks at the moment, following the success of Hawaii Five-O for CBS and 90210 on the CW network. Though the formula is far from a guarantee for success. NBC's Knight Rider reboot lasted less than a season, and a remake of Wonder Woman was recently rejected after a woeful pilot episode.

If I may add some positive in all this bushois. If they do it right it could work, it's all in the casting for chemistry between the cast. This would be the time for Erin Murphy to be cast as Samantha. Let's all write CBS and give our suggestions on who should be Sam, Darrin, Mother, Larry, Louise, and the Kravitz'. Who knows maybe Diane Murphy would be down to playing Serena. Think of the possibilities.

Or they could do a sequel with Erin Murphy as a grown up Tabitha.

Re: Erin playing Samantha - she did grow up to look uncannily like Liz, and with similar mannerisms. Her own real life husband is named Darren (with an "e", not an "i")!! He is in real estate, but he certainly looks the part of "Durwood"!!

:barf:

They can't come up with anything original,they keep trying to re-make the old shows. Why don't they just admit it,the old shows were the best.
The answer is simple, cancel everything that's on tv these days and
just show the old tv series, there are plenty of people that never
saw them. Plus, it would be cheaper, wouldn't have to pay these
people that call themselves writers and actors, they can get jobs
picking up trash along the highway.

They can't come up with anything original,they keep trying to re-make the old shows. Why don't they just admit it,the old shows were the best.
The answer is simple, cancel everything that's on tv these days and
just show the old tv series, there are plenty of people that never
saw them. Plus, it would be cheaper, wouldn't have to pay these
people that call themselves writers and actors, they can get jobs
picking up trash along the highway.
:lol:

Besides that, why does the remake have to air on CBS? Why can't ABC do it, they're too busy with those crappy single-camera sitcoms, they're the original network. or probably NBC, they have plenty of bombs they can handle.

I ask CBS, do not order the Bewitched remake to series, not this season, not next season, not ever! If I worked for Sony Pictures Television, I wouldn't even allow the remake to be ordered to series. If it's ordered to series, cancel it after one episode. Or better yet, if i was a CBS exec, I would reject the pilot. If the Bewitched remake airs its first episode, many of its fans would end up boycotting it and I'd probably stick to watching the Hawaii Five-O remake or any of the CSI TV series.

It's a worthless and pointless gesture. The 'magic' of the original was largely because of the stars, and to think they can recreate it forty years later just by slapping on the title is kind of insulting to the original.

Of course when you are creatively bankrupt this is what happens. :rolleyes:

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/tzgames/cbs-1.jpg

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/tzgames/CBS2-1.jpg

I bet Betty White could channel the character of Aunt Clara. She's WAY to busy though!!!

Seriously though, Retro4Life put it best. It would be an insult to everyone involved with the original!

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/tzgames/cbs-1.jpg

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/tzgames/CBS2-1.jpgThat says it all Charles!

:wallbang

For every remake that is successful, there are 5 that fail....Hawaii was a success this past season, but "The Defenders" wasn't (even though I liked it)......I for one think "Charlie's Angels" will fail on ABC, I am against re-making absolute classics like "Bewitched" and "The Flintstones".

Since "Mad Men", the networks are going for retro originals with "The Playboy Club" & "Pan-Am", both I will try, but at least they are original ideas!

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/tzgames/cbs-1.jpg

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/tzgames/CBS2-1.jpg

YES!!!!!!! :clap :clap :clap :clap :clap

I bet Betty White could channel the character of Aunt Clara. She's WAY to busy though!!!

I do have to agree that Betty would make an AWESOME Aunt Clara.

OK, so we all seem to be in agreement. :(

Erin wants our opinions too...

http://twitter.com/#!/Erin_Murphy/status/101290106979237888

I do have to agree that Betty would make an AWESOME Aunt Clara.

Her or Doris Roberts.

Her or Doris Roberts.
I see Georgia Engel as Aunt Clara.

They can't come up with anything original,they keep trying to re-make the old shows. Why don't they just admit it,the old shows were the best.
The answer is simple, cancel everything that's on tv these days and
just show the old tv series, there are plenty of people that never
saw them. Plus, it would be cheaper, wouldn't have to pay these
people that call themselves writers and actors, they can get jobs
picking up trash along the highway.

And if they did cancel every tv show going now, you and other people will be saying a few years later, "I loved that show, whatever happened to it!"

:rolleyes:

The last show I watched on a regular basis was in the early 80s.
So I wouldn't miss anything.

I see Georgia Engel as Aunt Clara.

That might be a good one, Doris would make a great Endora.

Finally another chance to do a Bewitched reboot right! This new TV reboot could really work but only if they get it right this time. First of all, for those who are saying Erin Murphy should play Samantha. That's a nice thought, but that will never happen. Most likely we will see a young unknown twenty something in the role. I however would love to see the new show use the original house still standing today at the Warner Bros. ranch and if they can this time just stick to the original story and characters, then it might have a chance. I don't know who they would choose for the role of Darrin, but if the show does make it on the air and lasts for 5 seasons and suddenly the actor playing Darrin wants off the show, they could always replace him with Neil Patrick Harris to play the second Darrin. That would be about the same time How I met Your Mother would be already off the air making Neil available for employment for another CBS show.:crazy:

With that said, it was just announced today that NBC is now back to developing their reboot of The Munsters. Another great classic show which also premiered in 1964.

That might be a good one, Doris would make a great Endora.
I agree! Doris Roberts would be better as Endora than Aunt Clara.

Besides, Doris Roberts has already serious cred in the buttinsky mother-in-law department (see Everybody Loves Raymond). :D

Georgia Engel As AUNT CLARA????? Sorry, I don't see that at all!

OK, so we all seem to be in agreement. :(

Erin wants our opinions too...

http://twitter.com/#!/Erin_Murphy/status/101290106979237888
I tweeted that I'd be for it as long as she played the part of Samantha.

Maybe they should re-make Tabitha instead, with Erin as Samantha.

I tweeted that I'd be for it as long as she played the part of Samantha.

Ditto!!!!!

Ditto!!!!!
That would be a great name for the Reboot if it ever comes to fruition. Since the title Bewitched has already been used by the original they can call the Reboot "Ditto"! :lol:

I am a huge fan of Bewitched, but I really do think it would be fun to see it remade if they did it right. Like someone else said, why in the world would they want to get the execs from the movie when it failed so miserably? So, that would be the first change I'd make. Anyway, love this idea or hate it, but I think Amanda Bynes would be a great Samantha. She's funny, cute, and bubbly. I think there's great potential there.

Well looks like Erin wants your opinion because she is in negotiations with CBS to be a part of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMdlPEg01bo&feature=player_embedded

Joan Collins would make a good Endora. I hope the young blonde actress they hire has Elizabeth perky flip hairdo.She can straighten it and grow it long in a later season.

Joan Collins as Endora would definitely be an interesting choice - especially since she had the villainess role down cold as Alexis Carrington Colby. What would she look like in the lavender/green chiffon flying suit??

Isn't Amanda Bynes sort of young to be Samantha?

Amanda Bynes is now 25, and EM was 30 when she filmed the original Bewitched pilot. So it's not that much of an age difference now.

Joan Collins as Endora would definitely be an interesting choice - especially since she had the villainess role down cold as Alexis Carrington Colby. What would she look like in the lavender/green chiffon flying suit??

I always thought of Joan as the perfect choice as Endora even when that Nicole Kidman movie came out :lol:

Well looks like Erin wants your opinion because she is in negotiations with CBS to be a part of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMdlPEg01bo&feature=player_embedded

If they ARE going to do this, I would just love for Erin to be Samantha!!! Has she done much acting since playing Tabitha??

If they ARE going to do this, I would just love for Erin to be Samantha!!! Has she done much acting since playing Tabitha??

Not much, but she has done reality stuff on cable, etc.