The dismal last season - Page 4 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Novarro · 08-24-2003, 06:44 PM

Totally agree Arfies!!

Brenton · 09-30-2003, 07:37 PM

There should be a law that sitcoms can not produce more than 150 episodes. Why? Because after 150 episodes they start recycling. Shows like Bewitched (252 episodes) The Beverly Hillbillies (274 episodes) Happy Days (255 episodes) all ran themselves into the ground. The novelty was over and the comedy was gone.

Novarro · 09-30-2003, 09:20 PM

Yes totally agree Brenton. It seems after about 5 seasons of a comedy things start to get stale. It is such a shame that a show like Bewitched which was so excellent over all for so long, was allowed to go on for too long and to finish so tired and stale. I like to remember a show when it was still at its peak and was fresh not how shows like Bewitched finished. In a way it spoils the impression you have of a show

Janice · 10-01-2003, 12:47 AM

Dick Van Dyke had the right idea. He said his show would have a five year run, and he went out on top. The result today is a show where every episode is terrific.

mstewart · 10-02-2003, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janice
Dick Van Dyke had the right idea. He said his show would have a five year run, and he went out on top. The result today is a show where every episode is terrific.

Here is the highlight of the final season:
Erin Murphy's portrayal of Tabitha. She plays her as though she is a real child not a typical sitcom child. Storylines involving Tabitha was very good given that the final season was lame and the show was tired.

Liz Montgomery's performance during the final season was pathetic. Is she did not want to do an eighth season she should had bowed out. She looked bored and really did not want to be there.

I agree that the show should had ended after five years. Too bad William Asher and Liz could have learned from Dick Van Dyke and pull the plug after five years.

bb25 · 10-04-2003, 09:26 PM

I have to disagree. I've been watching the last season eps lately and they really aren't THAT bad. They weren't the classic first 2 B&W seasons, but they're still good. It's also a cool novelty to watch the final season eps and think that that kind of thing was still running when shows when "All in the Family" and "Sanford & Son" were on top...

Sitcom Sally · 10-04-2003, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Liz Montgomery's performance during the final season was pathetic. Is she did not want to do an eighth season she should had bowed out. She looked bored and really did not want to be there.

Glad to see someone else saw this. Some of the shows in the last season she seems downright angry, that is, when she's not bored. That said, I don't think the season 8 shows were all awful; there were some good ones (the show with Larry de-aging comes to mind, and The Ghost Who Became A Specter was arguably Sargent's best during his run).

It's just that, IMO, DY was a much more... animated Darrin; his reactions were priceless, where DS was more of a "slow burn" type. Looking at shows today, I wonder if the lack of chemistry between Sargent and Montgomery was part of the reason we saw relatively little of Darrin 2...

Hello Board! (my few posts have been on the Dick Van Dyke board but I'm also a big Bewitched fan and looking forward to the old eps which begin TONITE on TVL!!!!!)

tvtator · 10-05-2003, 04:26 PM

I like this show so much that there isn't really an episode that I despise, and a really bad episode is tolerable. After watching Season 8, I didn't think it was that bad, it wasn't superior, but not totally dismal.

Novarro · 10-05-2003, 06:20 PM

I find I never watch the last season as fully as the earlier ones. I just find it very sad viewing , a bit like watching Dick York's last episode "Daddy Does His Thing", knowing the troubles behind the filming. With the last season I just feel it's a pale, tired straggling remainder of a great idea that was well and truly past its use by date. I like to remember Elizabeth as she was when know as the "Grace Kelly of 1960's TV" back in seasons 1 - 5 not as the quite harsh and not totally loveable character she became for most of that last season.

bb25 · 10-06-2003, 01:18 AM

Personally, my favorite moments in this series come from Aunt Clara. She was just so warm, charming, and cute it just made you laugh. Her smoky entrances with the big arm gestures were hilarious! I never failed to laugh at her...it's just a shame she didn't win her much deserved Emmy before she passed on...

BlueEyes1767 · 12-07-2003, 01:42 PM

For me the series ended when Dick York left. I don't watch the later ones at all. Between Darrin #2, the tired storylines and the lack of enthusiasm from the actors, Bewitched was over long before it actually ended in my opinion.

Arfies · 10-06-2021, 12:10 PM

Much is made about the show's worst episodes being in season 8, and it's true (it's not Dick Sargent's fault the writing got worse), but there are also some clunkers in the Dick York years. Last night I was watching season 5 and watched for the first time in a years "Is It Magic or Imagination?" I didn't laugh once. There was nothing redeeming nor special about this episode. Darrin's far more of an ass than normal to the point of being everyone's stereotype about Darrin rather than someone who at least has sweetness underneath- it's not there in this episode: he doesn't listen to Samantha about the contest, he chickens out and leaves before his mother comes over for an "inspection" (uncharacteristic of them both), and he spends most of the episode sulking, drunk, and/or hung over. It's just depressing.

It's the only episode written by Arthur Julian, who usually plays a client (like in "Art for Sam's Sake" and "To Twitch or Not to Twitch") but it's really a remake of Danny Arnold's "Help, Help, Don't Save Me" from season 1. Whereas that one had Darrin being an ass as well, it had the benefit of examining gender roles, Endora critiquing Samantha's devotion to all things housewife, Samantha storming out in a dramatic "packing" scene, Darrin realizing what an idiot he was, heartbroken at losing her, and sincerely apologizing to an empty house not knowing where she was, plus a sweet ending... none of that is here. Instead, we have:

- Phyllis Stephens being even more annoying than usual

- Darrin being even more of an ass than usual, and apparently an alcoholic

- "Tinkerbell Diapers"? Really?

- Samantha leaving Tabitha with a *dog nanny* that is never seen again (but not before a stupid "raised ears" sight gag)

- Larry Tate, who only ever hires women as secretaries, suddenly offering Samantha a job at McMann and Tate after just the one slogan

- There's no big apology from Darrin this time because he's just drunk/hung over. When Samantha tucks him in, it's supposed to be sweet judging by the background music, but it just feels pathetic.

stevea · 10-06-2021, 12:47 PM

The main problem with season 8 is that 11 scripts are partial or full remakes.

Arfies · 10-06-2021, 03:13 PM

Yes; also Elizabeth Montgomery clearly didn't want to do the show anymore, so the enthusiasm is gone.

Chocolate Moose · 10-06-2021, 03:32 PM

i could have done without the Serena episodes.

10-06-2021, 03:32 PM	#60
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,881	i could have done without the Serena episodes.
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

08-24-2003, 06:44 PM	#46
Novarro Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2002 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 191	Totally agree Arfies!!

09-30-2003, 07:37 PM	#47
Brenton Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 29, 2002 Location: Beverly Hills, CA Posts: 86	There should be a law that sitcoms can not produce more than 150 episodes. Why? Because after 150 episodes they start recycling. Shows like Bewitched (252 episodes) The Beverly Hillbillies (274 episodes) Happy Days (255 episodes) all ran themselves into the ground. The novelty was over and the comedy was gone.

09-30-2003, 09:20 PM	#48
Novarro Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2002 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 191	Yes totally agree Brenton. It seems after about 5 seasons of a comedy things start to get stale. It is such a shame that a show like Bewitched which was so excellent over all for so long, was allowed to go on for too long and to finish so tired and stale. I like to remember a show when it was still at its peak and was fresh not how shows like Bewitched finished. In a way it spoils the impression you have of a show

10-01-2003, 12:47 AM	#49
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,389	Dick Van Dyke had the right idea. He said his show would have a five year run, and he went out on top. The result today is a show where every episode is terrific.

10-04-2003, 09:26 PM	#51
bb25 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 22, 2002 Posts: 784	I have to disagree. I've been watching the last season eps lately and they really aren't THAT bad. They weren't the classic first 2 B&W seasons, but they're still good. It's also a cool novelty to watch the final season eps and think that that kind of thing was still running when shows when "All in the Family" and "Sanford & Son" were on top...

10-05-2003, 04:26 PM	#53
tvtator Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 04, 2003 Posts: 50	I like this show so much that there isn't really an episode that I despise, and a really bad episode is tolerable. After watching Season 8, I didn't think it was that bad, it wasn't superior, but not totally dismal.

10-05-2003, 06:20 PM	#54
Novarro Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2002 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 191	I find I never watch the last season as fully as the earlier ones. I just find it very sad viewing , a bit like watching Dick York's last episode "Daddy Does His Thing", knowing the troubles behind the filming. With the last season I just feel it's a pale, tired straggling remainder of a great idea that was well and truly past its use by date. I like to remember Elizabeth as she was when know as the "Grace Kelly of 1960's TV" back in seasons 1 - 5 not as the quite harsh and not totally loveable character she became for most of that last season.

10-06-2003, 01:18 AM	#55
bb25 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 22, 2002 Posts: 784	Personally, my favorite moments in this series come from Aunt Clara. She was just so warm, charming, and cute it just made you laugh. Her smoky entrances with the big arm gestures were hilarious! I never failed to laugh at her...it's just a shame she didn't win her much deserved Emmy before she passed on...

12-07-2003, 01:42 PM	#56
BlueEyes1767 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 26, 2003 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 95	For me the series ended when Dick York left. I don't watch the later ones at all. Between Darrin #2, the tired storylines and the lack of enthusiasm from the actors, Bewitched was over long before it actually ended in my opinion.

10-06-2021, 12:10 PM	#57
Arfies Memberific Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: There beneath the blue suburban skies, in summer, meanwhile back.... Posts: 481	Much is made about the show's worst episodes being in season 8, and it's true (it's not Dick Sargent's fault the writing got worse), but there are also some clunkers in the Dick York years. Last night I was watching season 5 and watched for the first time in a years "Is It Magic or Imagination?" I didn't laugh once. There was nothing redeeming nor special about this episode. Darrin's far more of an ass than normal to the point of being everyone's stereotype about Darrin rather than someone who at least has sweetness underneath- it's not there in this episode: he doesn't listen to Samantha about the contest, he chickens out and leaves before his mother comes over for an "inspection" (uncharacteristic of them both), and he spends most of the episode sulking, drunk, and/or hung over. It's just depressing. It's the only episode written by Arthur Julian, who usually plays a client (like in "Art for Sam's Sake" and "To Twitch or Not to Twitch") but it's really a remake of Danny Arnold's "Help, Help, Don't Save Me" from season 1. Whereas that one had Darrin being an ass as well, it had the benefit of examining gender roles, Endora critiquing Samantha's devotion to all things housewife, Samantha storming out in a dramatic "packing" scene, Darrin realizing what an idiot he was, heartbroken at losing her, and sincerely apologizing to an empty house not knowing where she was, plus a sweet ending... none of that is here. Instead, we have: - Phyllis Stephens being even more annoying than usual - Darrin being even more of an ass than usual, and apparently an alcoholic - "Tinkerbell Diapers"? Really? - Samantha leaving Tabitha with a dog nanny that is never seen again (but not before a stupid "raised ears" sight gag) - Larry Tate, who only ever hires women as secretaries, suddenly offering Samantha a job at McMann and Tate after just the one slogan - There's no big apology from Darrin this time because he's just drunk/hung over. When Samantha tucks him in, it's supposed to be sweet judging by the background music, but it just feels pathetic.

10-06-2021, 12:47 PM	#58
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,176	The main problem with season 8 is that 11 scripts are partial or full remakes.

10-06-2021, 03:13 PM	#59
Arfies Memberific Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: There beneath the blue suburban skies, in summer, meanwhile back.... Posts: 481	Yes; also Elizabeth Montgomery clearly didn't want to do the show anymore, so the enthusiasm is gone.