New Kitchen

[Willbo]

What do you all think of the new kitchen that debuted in season 6? My wife hated it but I liked it. Although it is dated now I thought it was a nice addition. Now the fake stairs I did not like that were in the kitchen going upstairs.

[MichaelKeith]

Well.....I'm a purist so just like I prefer the original Darrin more, I also prefer the original kitchen. I liked the layout of the original with the broom closet next to the back door and the washer/dryer set into the wall.

I'm also a big fan of the original wallpaper which had matching curtains over the kitchen sink window.

[missy's pop pop]

There are two reasons for the all-new kitchen in S6. First, General Motors' Chevrolet division dropped sponsorship of "Bewitched" at the end of the 1968-69 season. Frigidaire provided the appliances for Sam's kitchen, including the distinctive "Flair" range (much as Ford's Philco affiliate provided appliances for Shirley Booth's kitchen on "Hazel.").

Also, in the summer of 1969, a fire destroyed the soundstages on which "Bewitched" was filmed--except, curiously, Elizabeth Montgomery's dressing room! So the kitchen had to be rebuilt, so it was. I never understood the spiral staircase leading upstairs, but in "The House That Uncle Arthur Built," Sam opens the broom closet (with a loud yelp after finding the skeleton inside), which is alongside the washer and dryer. While the brand name is obscured, they're recognizable as early-'70s "New Generation" Maytags.

Also, the cooktop and oven are gas, not electric, a fact hinted at in the "Mother Flanagan" episode when Larry wonders where Darrin went between zaps....hence Sam's response, which is the title of this post!

[jehobden]

Originally Posted by missy's pop pop

There are two reasons for the all-new kitchen in S6. First, General Motors' Chevrolet division dropped sponsorship of "Bewitched" at the end of the 1968-69 season. Frigidaire provided the appliances for Sam's kitchen, including the distinctive "Flair" range (much as Ford's Philco affiliate provided appliances for Shirley Booth's kitchen on "Hazel.").

Also, in the summer of 1969, a fire destroyed the soundstages on which "Bewitched" was filmed--except, curiously, Elizabeth Montgomery's dressing room! So the kitchen had to be rebuilt, so it was. I never understood the spiral staircase leading upstairs, but in "The House That Uncle Arthur Built," Sam opens the broom closet (with a loud yelp after finding the skeleton inside), which is alongside the washer and dryer. While the brand name is obscured, they're recognizable as early-'70s "New Generation" Maytags.

Also, the cooktop and oven are gas, not electric, a fact hinted at in the "Mother Flanagan" episode when Larry wonders where Darrin went between zaps....hence Sam's response, which is the title of this post!

Actually the fire happened in the summer of 1970. As was explained on another thread, the Salem episodes at the beginning of S7 were filmed on location after the fire, then the rebuilt kitchen appeared after the return from Salem. Here is a link to a great explanation of the changes to the kitchen:

http://www.harpiesbizarre.com/kitchen.htm

I agree with the web author here that the staircase was "a real lemon of a change".

[KatieAnn]

I'm going through season 7 right now and the new decor appears in the first episode of season 7 before they go to Salem. It's shocking to see and I actually forgot about it until I started watching. I think Endora might have made some comment about the decor but other than that I don't think anyone makes mention of all the changes to the home. On one hand it's strange but on the other hand it makes sense that the Stephens might have renovated over the summer and they are used to the changes so there's no need to mention it.

I guess they thought that since they changed the actor that played Darrin and just expected the audience to go along, changing a kitchen was just something that the audience would go along with without any explanation.

[MichaelKeith]

If you've noticed that with season seven, Darrin's and Larry's offices have also been changed/redecorated. They don't look bad, but I guess I just prefer Dick York's old office better.

[missy's pop pop]

Thanks for the correction on the fire! Appreciate it!