'Bewitched' broke ground 45 years ago

[TMC]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/bew...cid=spartandhp

To hardcore fans, ABC’s Bewitched had jumped the shark eight years before the Happy Days expression was even coined, when in 1969 actor Dick York was swapped out with no explanation for Dick Sargent in the lead role of Darrin Stephens. So by 1970 fewer eyes than ever were on the long-running show. That is, until an experimental Christmas-themed episode took it from the TV listings to the front pages.

"Sisters at Heart," which aired 45 years ago on Christmas Eve, not only found the usually frothy fantasy acknowledging real life with a story about racism, it also incorporated the issue by having it written by an entire class of inner-city tenth graders.

The idea was hatched when Marcella Saunders, a young English teacher at L.A.’s Thomas Jefferson High School, reached out to several TV shows looking for a way to connect her students to reading and writing through prime time. Bewitched star Elizabeth Montgomery and producer William Asher (Montgomery’s then-husband) responded with an invitation for the class to come to the set. As a thank you, the group collaborated on a storyline for the show about black-and-white friendship that was spun by staffer Barbara Avedon into a 1970 holiday episode. Set on Christmas Eve, twin stories revolve around 6-year-old Tabitha Stephens’ friendship with a black girlfriend whom she calls her sister, and Tabitha’s ad-exec father Darrin dealing with a bigoted client who comes to mistake the “sister” for Darrin’s actual child and thus the product of a mixed-race marriage. Disapproving, he cuts business ties with Darrin, referring to him as “unstable.” (In true TV fashion, the client comes to recognize and learn from his prejudice.)

Montgomery introduced the episode, telling viewers it evoked “the true sprit of Christmas …conceived in the image of innocence and filled with truth.” And while “Sisters at Heart” serviced the show’s cartoony legacy (novice witch Tabitha conjures up black polka-dots for her skin and white ones for her friend’s, so they’ll look more alike), it also offered up fairly in-your-face storytelling for its time. Literally. One scene featured the white cast in blackface to underscore Darrin’s client’s racism. The end-credits read “Story by: 5th Period English – Room 309 Thomas Jefferson High School [Los Angeles, California].” All 26 students were listed.

[Babalu]

And the era of PC was on.

[JohnObrien]

superb

[comedyfreak]

Too bad they did not do more on issues of its day, a well written story.

[PracTz]

I agree that it was well done and even fun while making an important point.

However; I wonder why there were NO other appearances/references re Darrin's colleague or Tabitha's 'soul sister'?
For that matter, the ONLY African-American witch/warlock I can recall on the show was Willie Mays [as himself!] whose appearance at an all-witches/warlocks shindig was explained by Endora to Darrin as due him being one of them due to his phenomenal baseball ability (in contrast to sweet Aunt Clara whose entire knowledge of baseball was that 'it involved eating hot dogs').

[dougiezerts]

Originally Posted by Babalu

And the era of PC was on.

If combatting bigitry is political correctness, then that's fine with me!

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by dougiezerts

If combatting bigitry is political correctness, then that's fine with me!

And me too!

I thought Bewitched dealt with this issue in a charming tender way-so typical for this show. And if this was PC, then all I have to say is: viva PC!

You won't hear any complaints about this epic show from me.

[scrapple]

Babalu, truer words were never spoken. I always love how liberal elitists have to give us boneheaded redneck viewers "lessons" and "teachable moments". If I want lessons on policy or morality, I'll go to a political debate or a religious service, not a sitcom.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by PracTz

I agree that it was well done and even fun while making an important point.

However; I wonder why there were NO other appearances/references re Darrin's colleague or Tabitha's 'soul sister'?
For that matter, the ONLY African-American witch/warlock I can recall on the show was Willie Mays [as himself!] whose appearance at an all-witches/warlocks shindig was explained by Endora to Darrin as due him being one of them due to his phenomenal baseball ability (in contrast to sweet Aunt Clara whose entire knowledge of baseball was that 'it involved eating hot dogs').

Willie Mays at the Crossroads.

[Will Dockery]

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

And me too!

I thought Bewitched dealt with this issue in a charming tender way-so typical for this show. And if this was PC, then all I have to say is: viva PC!

You won't hear any complaints about this epic show from me.

Yes, a true classic from start to finish, even replacing Dick York didn't even ruin it, I just liked him better than the other fellow.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by scrapple

Babalu, truer words were never spoken. I always love how liberal elitists have to give us boneheaded redneck viewers "lessons" and "teachable moments". If I want lessons on policy or morality, I'll go to a political debate or a religious service, not a sitcom.

If you take offense at a script, written by high school students, that celebrates a friendship between two little girls of different races, that tells us a lot about your heart.