Questions

[Rezny@gmail.com]

Why was "Bewitched",which had been practically a Thursday Night staple for ABC since the 1964-1965 season,moved to Wednesday for its last season,and THEN move to Saturday Nights at midseason?And did Elizabeth Montgomery and William Asher have ANY say in the decision to move it to Wednesday from Thursday and then Saturday?Or was ABC's decision entirely? And 2)In the late 1970's,Screen Gems/Columbia Pictures TV released the currently unreleased black and white episodes of "Bewitched" with Dick York as Darrin from the first two seasons(and with the late Alice Pearce as Gladys Kravitz,).What took them so long?

[Larry Tate]

Originally Posted by rrezny@usnetizen

Why was "Bewitched",which had been practically a Thursday Night staple for ABC since the 1964-1965 season,moved to Wednesday for its last season,and THEN move to Saturday Nights at midseason?And did Elizabeth Montgomery and William Asher have ANY say in the decision to move it to Wednesday from Thursday and then Saturday?Or was ABC's decision entirely? And 2)In the late 1970's,Screen Gems/Columbia Pictures TV released the currently unreleased black and white episodes of "Bewitched" with Dick York as Darrin from the first two seasons(and with the late Alice Pearce as Gladys Kravitz,).What took them so long?

It was all counter programing by ABC who made all such decisions in an attempt to better their overall ratings posture.

The move to Sat. was a counter programing move against the CBS Hit All in the Family, Bewitched demographically actually had very respectable ratings against them & was the main reason ABC renewed Bewitched for a 9th season, practically begging Liz Montgomery to change her mind about ending the show.

As to why Screen Gems waited so long to put out Bewitched episodes on VHS................look at the lack of extras on the DVD sets & that answers your question, they are not exactly the sharpest knives in the kitchen.

Larry Tate

[Rezny@gmail.com]

Oh,I'm sorry.I meant why did it take so long for Screen Gems/Columbia Pictures TV to release the "Bewitched"Black and White episodes in SYNDICATION.(Not VHS)Because,as we all know,before the late 1970's,(when I first saw the black and white episodes on a local station)the only "Bewitched"episodes syndicated were the color ones.

[Larry Tate]

Originally Posted by rrezny@usnetizen

Oh,I'm sorry.I meant why did it take so long for Screen Gems/Columbia Pictures TV to release the "Bewitched"Black and White episodes in SYNDICATION.(Not VHS)Because,as we all know,before the late 1970's,(when I first saw the black and white episodes on a local station)the only "Bewitched"episodes syndicated were the color ones.

It is the old biased none of the recent generations will watch B/W view.

That is what caused the stations to play only the color episodes of Bewitched.

I was able to see them only during the original run of the show for many decades as they were already color only.

Larry Tate

[Rezny@gmail.com]

And a few final questions:1)I realize that the late Howard Greenfield(who co-wrote along with Neil Sedaka most of Sedaka's early1960's hits)and Jack Keller wrote the theme,but why was Greenfield-Keller's CLOSING theme different with each season?2)In the opening to the Dick York as Darrin years,it said "Starring Elizabeth Montgomery" (no announcer)but in the Dick Sargent as Darrin years an announcer said after the zing "Elizabeth Montgomery in...""Bewitched"and THEN in the last season,--I think--the opening was modified,and just said,after the zing,"Elizabeth Montgomery in(no announcer)"Bewitched"?Did Elizabeth Montgomery and William Asher have any say in that change of the opening,or was that ABC's idea?