Liz Montgomery's performance in the final season of Bewitched - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

mstewart · 05-28-2004, 01:32 AM

What do you think of Liz's performance during the final season of Bewitched?

I personally think she did not want to be there during that season. She did not put out the same energy and drive as Samantha as she did in the previous seasons. Towards the end of the previous season you can see a change in performance as Samantha.

Plus I heard she did not really want to do the 8th, and final, season of the show. From my understanding, her and Bill Asher were having problems with their marriage. That could get in play as well.

I think it was sad that what could had went down as one of the classic TV shows of all time got ruined by staying on the air too long. The plug should had been pulled after Dick York left the series in 1969.

Mr. Television · 05-28-2004, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mstewart
What do you think of Liz's performance during the final season of Bewitched?

I personally think she did not want to be there during that season. She did not put out the same energy and drive as Samantha as she did in the previous seasons. Towards the end of the previous season you can see a change in performance as Samantha.

Plus I heard she did not really want to do the 8th, and final, season of the show. From my understanding, her and Bill Asher were having problems with their marriage. That could get in play as well.

I think it was sad that what could had went down as one of the classic TV shows of all time got ruined by staying on the air too long. The plug should had been pulled after Dick York left the series in 1969.

I agree. I very rarely watch the last 3 seasons of Bewitched.

Jeannieboi · 05-28-2004, 04:30 AM

I agree about the part about her not putting what she had put into Samantha but I think if her marrage was going good things would have been fine. I beleive that put alot on Liz.

hawaii five-o · 05-28-2004, 12:16 PM

Samantha had an acute case of the blahs.

sitcomfan1 · 06-08-2004, 06:06 AM

I agree she didn't put the same energy into the character as she previously had. I think by the 8th season she had divorced Bill Asher so she didn't want to do another season. Supposedly the show was cleared for a ninth season but Liz said no. I think they should have done it and focused more on Tabitha & Adam.

hch · 06-15-2004, 12:06 PM

1) Actors tired of doing same role

2) ran out of ideas, so they remake old ones

3) Overstay their welcome (I personally thought that she should not have made that dismal 8th season)

Basically, that's why Bewitched suffered an 8th season. It should have been cancelled in its 7th year. I mean, the replacement Darrin and all other replacement characters alone was a death knell for the series. But, oh well, they did what they had to do, even thjough everyone was weary and wanting more to do with themselves.

Peter Tong · 07-02-2004, 10:56 PM

I couldn't disagree more. I loved the eighth season. Was totally unaware of any "problems". Until people start dissecting it on "Bewitched" sites. I loved the eighth season with Sam's funky outfits and boots! I thought Dick Sargent was great. They certainly weren't going to give up a moneymaker. Because Dick York left! Season 8 was groovy man groovy. Especially the new sets. With the livingroom and kitchen

jehobden · 07-03-2004, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter Tong
I couldn't disagree more. I loved the eighth season. Was totally unaware of any "problems". Until people start dissecting it on "Bewitched" sites. I loved the eighth season with Sam's funky outfits and boots! I thought Dick Sargent was great. They certainly weren't going to give up a moneymaker. Because Dick York left! Season 8 was groovy man groovy. Especially the new sets. With the livingroom and kitchen

I have to disagree w/ you on the kitchen, which was remodeled after a fire on the set before season 7. It had that stupid staircase to nowhere in it, which the site www.harpiesbizarre.com points out just had 3 turning stairs then went into the wall. Also where did the staircase go? The sets were pretty faithful to the outside layout of the house, but following that layout, the kitchen staircase would've gone on to the roof somewhere.

bb25 · 07-03-2004, 01:21 PM

There was a fire on the set??? More info!!

Also, does anyone know what Bewitched's ratings were in the last 2 seasons?

ILoveLucy2002 · 07-05-2004, 02:44 PM

I hate to disagree with you all about the 8th season, but it's always been one of my favorites. I never even noticed anything about Liz's performance being different (until reading your opinions) and I've always looked forward to watching those episodes, sometimes even more than the Dick York ones. Of course the first couple of seasons were classic, but I loved watching Liz with that gorgeous long hair.
I know things were alot more different from the earlier years, but to me it's always been special in its own way. IMO episodes like "How Not to Lose Your Head to King Henry...", "Paris Witches Style", "Sam is Earthbound", "Tabitha's First Day at School", "Sam's Witchcraft Blows a Fuse", "Adam Warlock or Washout", and "Serena's Youth Pill" are some of the best from the series.

mstewart · 07-05-2004, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bb25
There was a fire on the set??? More info!!

Also, does anyone know what Bewitched's ratings were in the last 2 seasons?

The last two seasons of Bewitched was below the top 25. If you look at Liz's performance towards the end of the 7th season her energy was not there in playing Samantha.

algebra74 · 07-05-2004, 03:37 PM

Quote:

There was a fire on the set??? More info!!

I havent heard much about this at all, but I do know that there was a minor fire on the set, and the producers took advantage of this fire to redecorate the kitchen of Bewitched. FYI, this is why the kitchen does look different during the final couple of seasons of Bewitched. (i.e the fake staircase, etc.)

Novarro · 07-08-2004, 10:19 PM

I know this topic has been discussed at length last year in this room but I believe most definately that you can see that Elizabeth Montgomery played Samantha very differently in that last season. Apart from the series having a very tired look with so many remade episodes in season eight Samantha is not half as sweet and charming and at times comes across as down right stern and almost mean. Compare Samantha from for example season four and you will see a definite difference. The series was really running out of steam that last year and it was a sad end to a glorious series that just ran for too long.
Simon

jamesanthony · 07-09-2004, 12:46 PM

One example of Samantha being short fused is in Samantha's Magic Sitter when she practically yells at Darrin for worrying about what Esmerelda might've done to the little boy Ralphie that she was babysitting. That was very strange to see her shielding Esmeralda from Darrin like that. She's also a bit short with him in Serena's Youth Pill when he's freaking out over Larry aging in reverse. Another one where she is rather unpleasant is the one where Darrin thinks she used magic to help him with his account. SHe seems a bit pissed off at Julie Newmar in the episode in which she appears as the catwoman character. There are probably a lot of other examples. At least Montgomery looked good for someone who was almost 40 years old at the time. She looks more youthful in year 8 than she did in year 1, although the braless look was a bit much (I'm surprised that there wasn't some censor practice against women going without bras in this kind of show at that time)

Yet someone at ABC actually wanted this show to have a year 9.

mstewart · 07-10-2004, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamesanthony
One example of Samantha being short fused is in Samantha's Magic Sitter when she practically yells at Darrin for worrying about what Esmerelda might've done to the little boy Ralphie that she was babysitting. That was very strange to see her shielding Esmeralda from Darrin like that. She's also a bit short with him in Serena's Youth Pill when he's freaking out over Larry aging in reverse. Another one where she is rather unpleasant is the one where Darrin thinks she used magic to help him with his account. SHe seems a bit pissed off at Julie Newmar in the episode in which she appears as the catwoman character. There are probably a lot of other examples. At least Montgomery looked good for someone who was almost 40 years old at the time. She looks more youthful in year 8 than she did in year 1, although the braless look was a bit much (I'm surprised that there wasn't some censor practice against women going without bras in this kind of show at that time)

Yet someone at ABC actually wanted this show to have a year 9.

She was more stern and angry when dealing with Darren. In the episode where Darrin accused her of using witchcraft to help his account I love her comment in that episode, "If I'm stuck with the name I might as well enjoyed the game." She looked as though she wanted to do some bodily harm to him in that episode.

Another episode when Tabitha's school teacher came over unannounced and invited herself in. The comment, "Mrs. Peabody barging in uninvited you do a thing more courageous than you think." I have used that statement in various situations. Most of that season she turned Samantha loosed on her temper.

In all Liz did keep Samantha very lovable. The problem was Liz did not want to do the show anymore and it filtered into her performances. I think letting Samantha loose on her anger was Liz's way of venting plus her marriage to Bill Asher was going sour.

I am in full agreement of how youthful Liz looked that season. With her straight long hair and those mini-skirts Liz was the bomb. I think personally with all that she was turned off by doing another series. Too bad because Liz was a great sitcom actress.

05-28-2004, 01:32 AM	#1
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	Liz Montgomery's performance in the final season of Bewitched What do you think of Liz's performance during the final season of Bewitched? I personally think she did not want to be there during that season. She did not put out the same energy and drive as Samantha as she did in the previous seasons. Towards the end of the previous season you can see a change in performance as Samantha. Plus I heard she did not really want to do the 8th, and final, season of the show. From my understanding, her and Bill Asher were having problems with their marriage. That could get in play as well. I think it was sad that what could had went down as one of the classic TV shows of all time got ruined by staying on the air too long. The plug should had been pulled after Dick York left the series in 1969.

06-08-2004, 06:06 AM	#5
sitcomfan1 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 08, 2004 Location: Calif Posts: 59	I agree she didn't put the same energy into the character as she previously had. I think by the 8th season she had divorced Bill Asher so she didn't want to do another season. Supposedly the show was cleared for a ninth season but Liz said no. I think they should have done it and focused more on Tabitha & Adam.
	__________________ Tell me you didn't just say that!

06-15-2004, 12:06 PM	#6
hch Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 07, 2001 Location: Montross, VA 22520 Posts: 983	Basic reasons why a show gets cancelled 1) Actors tired of doing same role 2) ran out of ideas, so they remake old ones 3) Overstay their welcome (I personally thought that she should not have made that dismal 8th season) Basically, that's why Bewitched suffered an 8th season. It should have been cancelled in its 7th year. I mean, the replacement Darrin and all other replacement characters alone was a death knell for the series. But, oh well, they did what they had to do, even thjough everyone was weary and wanting more to do with themselves.
	__________________ "You don't own the rights or the patent on scuffling!" Willona from "Good Times"

07-02-2004, 10:56 PM	#7
Peter Tong Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 26, 2002 Posts: 15	" Last Season " I couldn't disagree more. I loved the eighth season. Was totally unaware of any "problems". Until people start dissecting it on "Bewitched" sites. I loved the eighth season with Sam's funky outfits and boots! I thought Dick Sargent was great. They certainly weren't going to give up a moneymaker. Because Dick York left! Season 8 was groovy man groovy. Especially the new sets. With the livingroom and kitchen

05-28-2004, 04:30 AM	#3
Jeannieboi Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 06, 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 51	I agree about the part about her not putting what she had put into Samantha but I think if her marrage was going good things would have been fine. I beleive that put alot on Liz.

05-28-2004, 12:16 PM	#4
hawaii five-o Book 'Em, Dano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 27, 2003 Location: At home, eating cereal straight out of the box Posts: 1,406	Samantha had an acute case of the blahs.

07-03-2004, 01:21 PM	#9
bb25 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 22, 2002 Posts: 784	There was a fire on the set??? More info!! Also, does anyone know what Bewitched's ratings were in the last 2 seasons?

07-05-2004, 02:44 PM	#10
ILoveLucy2002 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 30, 2002 Posts: 49	I hate to disagree with you all about the 8th season, but it's always been one of my favorites. I never even noticed anything about Liz's performance being different (until reading your opinions) and I've always looked forward to watching those episodes, sometimes even more than the Dick York ones. Of course the first couple of seasons were classic, but I loved watching Liz with that gorgeous long hair. I know things were alot more different from the earlier years, but to me it's always been special in its own way. IMO episodes like "How Not to Lose Your Head to King Henry...", "Paris Witches Style", "Sam is Earthbound", "Tabitha's First Day at School", "Sam's Witchcraft Blows a Fuse", "Adam Warlock or Washout", and "Serena's Youth Pill" are some of the best from the series.

07-08-2004, 10:19 PM	#13
Novarro Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2002 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 191	I know this topic has been discussed at length last year in this room but I believe most definately that you can see that Elizabeth Montgomery played Samantha very differently in that last season. Apart from the series having a very tired look with so many remade episodes in season eight Samantha is not half as sweet and charming and at times comes across as down right stern and almost mean. Compare Samantha from for example season four and you will see a definite difference. The series was really running out of steam that last year and it was a sad end to a glorious series that just ran for too long. Simon

07-09-2004, 12:46 PM	#14
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	One example of Samantha being short fused is in Samantha's Magic Sitter when she practically yells at Darrin for worrying about what Esmerelda might've done to the little boy Ralphie that she was babysitting. That was very strange to see her shielding Esmeralda from Darrin like that. She's also a bit short with him in Serena's Youth Pill when he's freaking out over Larry aging in reverse. Another one where she is rather unpleasant is the one where Darrin thinks she used magic to help him with his account. SHe seems a bit pissed off at Julie Newmar in the episode in which she appears as the catwoman character. There are probably a lot of other examples. At least Montgomery looked good for someone who was almost 40 years old at the time. She looks more youthful in year 8 than she did in year 1, although the braless look was a bit much (I'm surprised that there wasn't some censor practice against women going without bras in this kind of show at that time) Yet someone at ABC actually wanted this show to have a year 9.