NOTE: I'm leaving up the original post as it appeared before I dove deeper and found out it actually wasn't.
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It's true that after Dick York was replaced as Darrin by Dick Sargent in season 6, the ratings dropped from #11 to #24. But today, it's the 18-49 demographic most prized by advertisers, and in that age group (http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2018/04/1969-70-sitcom-scorecard-cbs-mops-floor.html), "Bewitched" was the #1 sitcom ("Here's Lucy" was #9 in that demographic despite being the #1 sitcom overall).

Seasons 7 and 8 dropped to the bottom of the ratings (the latter was #72 of 78... ouch), but season 6 was still doing all right.
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EDIT: Looking at the actual data from the time at the bottom of that page, it might not be so rosy- "Bewitched" was indeed tops with women in that age group at 16.9, but not with men (10.8). That averages to 13.85. The chart-maker seemed to do the same with other shows like "My Three Sons" (listed at 15.6, but that's just with women 18-49; with men it was 11.8; averaging 13.7). Sorry, Dick Sargent fans.

It's true that after Dick York was replaced as Darrin by Dick Sargent in season 6, the ratings dropped from #11 to #24. But today, it's the 18-49 demographic most prized by advertisers, and in that age group (http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2018/04/1969-70-sitcom-scorecard-cbs-mops-floor.html), "Bewitched" was the #1 sitcom ("Here's Lucy" was #9 in that demographic despite being the #1 sitcom overall).

Seasons 7 and 8 dropped to the bottom of the ratings (the latter was #72 of 78... ouch), but season 6 was still doing all right.

EDIT: Looking at the actual data from the time at the bottom of that page, it might not be so rosy- "Bewitched" was indeed tops with women in that age group at 16.9, but not with men (10.8). That averages to 13.85. The chart-maker seemed to do the same with other shows like "My Three Sons" (listed at 15.6, but that's just with women 18-49; with men it was 11.8; averaging 13.7). Sorry, Dick Sargent fans.


I can't believe all the rating data isn't in one place available to be looked at by the general public and television historians. The more you know the more you want to know. It is what it is so let's see what we've got.

Bewitched was up against two series that skewed towards the older age group (50+). The chart details indicate that the bulk of the audience for Ironside and Jim Nabors (the shows up against Bewitched) were 50+ age group both female and male. Bewitched also drew a significant part of their audience from 5-11 age group and teens. This might suggest that the 18-49 numbers lean towards the younger end (18-24). Advertisers sweet spot in the 18-49 group is 25-44. We also don't have data from 68-69 so we don't know whether the 18-49 female numbers slipped from one year to the next and by how much. Another shortcoming of looking at the yearly average, we don't know what the week-to-week trend was.

I Dream of Jeannie data was not available (unfortunately).

Thanks for posting this information.

You're welcome. I've heard anecdotes that the Salem episodes in season 7 had better ratings than the rest of the season, but I've never seen hard data (or even if they actually kept track of week to week ratings back then).

I think the Salem episodes in season 7 were the best ones in the DS years. Thanks for all your research Arfies. Very interesting.

The 18-49 grouping doesn't have anything to do with creative work. It's marketing - the network can sell those viewers for higher rates because they're considered more susceptible to being influenced by advertisers.

It would seem likely that the season 7 and 8 drops were a clear reaction by the public to season 6 and loss of York (I know that was true in my household as a kid at the time).

Also the latter seasons seemed more juvenile/skewed to children with more Tabitha and Adam based stories, etc, so the demos would tend to follow (back then I kept watching but my parents and older siblings didn't).

And Samantha became more of a cranky/exasperated mom/"straightman" during those years too, rather than the charmingly naughty witch of yore who was complicit in the magical doings.

Also they began repeating premises/scripts of far superior shows that were still being run during daytime.

Yes, all of those things.

I think in the later years, the Tabitha/Adam episodes were some of the better ones, because at least they weren't (usually) remakes (and the Salem episodes were more original than the Europe ones. It would've been nice if they actually went to Europe, but no way would they do that with the budget). The "Darrin gets a spell cast on him" and "Darrin with a client" episodes were not nearly as funny as they were with Dick York, and the romance angle wasn't really there anymore (even compared to season 5).

Due to increases in cast/crew salaries and such, the latter seasons of "Bewitched" were far more expensive to make than the earlier, better ones. They should've spent the money on more writers.

I've found (for me) that most shows with a strong concept and good writers have about 5 years of good stories in them. Then the show invariable changes things too much or starts retelling the same basic stories over and over. Bewitched had 4 good years with season 5 mostly good still, but it lapsed into just making Darrin ticked off all the time which irritated one of Samantha's relatives. That continued into The Sargent years way too much.

Bewitched started to become a parody of itself at some point with Serena becoming very much a silly caricature and a low point with the horrible Loch Ness Monster costume. Liz was right to want to end with season 5. But financially (Jackie Cooper gave her a nice offer to stay it seems) I understand why she continued.

https://i.postimg.cc/6QnpygBD/samantha-and-the-loch-ness-monster-92971-season-8-the-loch-n.jpg

Going through the original chart, the actual top sitcom in the 1969-70 season for ages 18-49 was "The Bill Cosby Show" (a sitcom without a laugh track- unusual at the time) and wasn't even on the created chart of sitcoms for that website, but it was the real highest-rated sitcom in the the 18-49 age group (men 17.6; women 18.3; averaging 17.95).

NOTE: Upon further investigation, the title of this thread is not accurate, but I can't change it.

It's true that after Dick York was replaced as Darrin by Dick Sargent in season 6, the ratings dropped from #11 to #24. But today, it's the 18-49 demographic most prized by advertisers, and in that age group (http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2018/04/1969-70-sitcom-scorecard-cbs-mops-floor.html), "Bewitched" was the #1 sitcom ("Here's Lucy" was #9 in that demographic despite being the #1 sitcom overall).

Seasons 7 and 8 dropped to the bottom of the ratings (the latter was #72 of 78... ouch), but season 6 was still doing all right.

EDIT: Looking at the actual data from the time at the bottom of that page, it might not be so rosy- "Bewitched" was indeed tops with women in that age group at 16.9, but not with men (10.8). That averages to 13.85. The chart-maker seemed to do the same with other shows like "My Three Sons" (listed at 15.6, but that's just with women 18-49; with men it was 11.8; averaging 13.7). Sorry, Dick Sargent fans.

You can change the title when editing by clicking the "Go Advanced" button.

For some reason I thought they did do some on location shooting in Europe. I guess not.

You can change the title when editing by clicking the "Go Advanced" button.

Thanks! Changed.

For some reason I thought they did do some on location shooting in Europe. I guess not.

At some point they were in Italy, I think. I remember something going on with the leaning tower.

I assumed they filmed in Europe too but the cheesy looking effects of the Leaning Tower made me think otherwise. And it looks like the filmed "Italy" on a studio back lot.

https://i.postimg.cc/fbq9KmYZ/lot.jpg


To me the 1970s episodes look much more dated than the 1960s episodes. The shag carpet and plaid materials don't help. Neither does the wardrobe of the principle actors. Sargent's Darrin always dressed in less formal suits especially towards the end.

https://i.postimg.cc/Jz99YvxT/pisa.jpg

I thought that scene in the square was in Italy also. For some reason I have always liked that episode. I guess because it was at least original.

I think if they had actually gone to Europe, they would've advertised it/did plugs for American Airlines like they did with the Salem trip.

I think if they had actually gone to Europe, they would've advertised it/did plugs for American Airlines like they did with the Salem trip.

And they would have taken advantage of the scenery and filmed the city - not just that rather un-Italian looking studio back lot.

Elizabeth as Samantha really seems to be fed up with Esmeralda in "Samantha's not so Leaning Tower of Pisa." Much like all of season 8 Samantha just seems over everything and every one. It's weird. I wonder if it was a reaction to the success of "All in the Family" and they tried to make everyone a bit more disagreeable.

I think it was more because Elizabeth Montgomery was bored with the show, her marriage was falling apart, and she wanted out.

I think it was more because Elizabeth Montgomery was bored with the show, her marriage was falling apart, and she wanted out.

Most of that season plays as if Samantha is tired of human life. And Darrin automatically hates everyone he meets. I do kind of like Samantha not giving a crap anymore and doing magic in front of whomever she chooses. But is is out of character for the show.

An old friend of mine said she always thought that Samantha would have eventually divorced Sargent's Darrin based on how their relationship was by season 8.

Most of that season plays as if Samantha is tired of human life. And Darrin automatically hates everyone he meets. I do kind of like Samantha not giving a crap anymore and doing magic in front of whomever she chooses. But is is out of character for the show.

An old friend of mine said she always thought that Samantha would have eventually divorced Sargent's Darrin based on how their relationship was by season 8.

LOL, yeah, especially with the foray into women's lib!

What's interesting is that the plot of "I Dream of Jeannie 15 years Later" which was directed by Bill Asher (and is a terrible movie) plays more like a Bewitched reunion plot-wise. I wonder if Asher was psychologically trying to live out his desire to revisit his Bewitched success?

The plot had Jeannie leave Tony because he wouldn't retire and she went live life as a modern woman. And Jeannie's sister causes more trouble between them. Then Jeannie is forced to leave Tony for good when the Chief Genie made her do so (to save Tony's life). The movie ends with Jeannie "accidentally" bumping into Tony (who doesn't remember her) to start "a new beginning." Technically none of that makes any sense as, even if she married Tony, she was still his genie. As long as he had the bottle he was her master (per the lore of the original series).

But that plot fits Bewitched more with Samantha leaving Darrin to become a modern woman while Endora (would Asher have recast Agnes?) causes more trouble. Then Samantha is forced to leave him for good by the Witches Council. But she makes sure to bump into him again at the end for "a new beginning."

Asher even went so far as to recast Hagman (like York) rather than pay him the same amount Barbara Eden made. That at least per Larry Hagman. However, another time he said they never asked him to be in it at all.

You're welcome. I've heard anecdotes that the Salem episodes in season 7 had better ratings than the rest of the season, but I've never seen hard data (or even if they actually kept track of week to week ratings back then).

I have so far only found biweekly Nielsen ratings for season one, published in weekly Variety, and even then, not for the whole season. I have not been able to find any ratings at all for season seven, but it is very common for shows to have higher ratings at the beginning of a season. I'm hoping the ratings may exist in Daily Variety, which has proven much harder to access remotely.