What if Bewitched did less episodes per season - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 02-17-2022, 05:58 AM

The first two seasons had about 35 episodes each. It's been said that the show's writing began to suffer and became more repetitive after a few years. This was compounded by the fact that Elizabeth Montgomery had two babies during the first two seasons while filming 70 episodes where she was almost every scene. Meanwhile, Dick York suffered from severe back pain during that time.

Willbo · 02-17-2022, 07:06 PM

Possibility of less repetition but the writing was very lazy. I am not sure I have seen another show have so many remakes.

tcr1701 · 02-17-2022, 09:11 PM

There's book out that gives a kind of scholarly look into the series. The author postulates that the remakes of Dick York episodes was a way by the series to "erase" his Darrin from past continuity completely. It's all supposition, but an interesting take. Although I tend to believe that's over-thinking things a bit.

In reality I think the writers simply fell into recycling scripts and ideas as a way to get a script done and keep the show within its established themes. By season 5 the show seems to have run its course. Even with a new Darrin in the remaining three years the stories were mostly repetitive and lackluster. But at that time TV executives thought audiences didn't want TV that made them think. TV was meant to entertain only, so giving them the same story lines over and over didn't matter.

Duster76 · 02-17-2022, 11:21 PM

It amazes me how many episodes were produced of TV series in this era. Leave It to Beaver produced 234 episodes in 6 seasons! To put that in context, the 234th episode of The Big Bang Theory was the third episode of season 11! That's why it's so unfair comparing shows of that era with modern shows. They had no choice but to repeat ideas and squeeze out as many scenes as possible on each set.

Arfies · 02-21-2022, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcr1701

There's book out that gives a kind of scholarly look into the series. The author postulates that the remakes of Dick York episodes was a way by the series to "erase" his Darrin from past continuity completely. It's all supposition, but an interesting take. Although I tend to believe that's over-thinking things a bit.

Yeah, I don't think it was "Darrin erasure"; I think it was laziness. At that point, quantity mattered over quality to get enough episodes for color syndication.

Schmoe56789 · 06-30-2022, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arfies

Yeah, I don't think it was "Darrin erasure"; I think it was laziness. At that point, quantity mattered over quality to get enough episodes for color syndication.

I agree, I think they knew that eventually only the color episodes would be in demand or at least command higher syndication rates, so they figured they could remake a lot of the B&W episodes that eventually might go unseen. Of course, they also remade episodes from the color years too, which was even lazier.

tcr1701 · 07-01-2022, 08:26 PM

Ironically, Bill Asher denied there were any "remakes" of episodes. Of course, it was late in his life and he may not have remembered. Or the writers did it on their own and he had no idea at the time. After directing so many episodes he probably didn't have every prior story line memorized at the time.

Arfies · 07-05-2022, 12:08 PM

Do you know which interview he said that? (As you said, it may be due to him being older). I recall reading another one where he was asked about the remakes, and he said "I didn't think anyone would notice."

tcr1701 · 07-05-2022, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arfies

Do you know which interview he said that? (As you said, it may be due to him being older). I recall reading another one where he was asked about the remakes, and he said "I didn't think anyone would notice."

Oops...it appears it's me who is getting old. Asher was asked if they remade any black and white episodes from season 1 or 2 into color versions after going to color in season 3 - and he said no. It's around the 26:54 mark here:

https://interviews.televisionacademy...nterview-clips

Thanks for helping me figure that one out. But also in these fascinating interviews he mentions a lower budget for season 8 and so the reused scripts would be a cost saver.

02-17-2022, 05:58 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,393	What if Bewitched did less episodes per season The first two seasons had about 35 episodes each. It's been said that the show's writing began to suffer and became more repetitive after a few years. This was compounded by the fact that Elizabeth Montgomery had two babies during the first two seasons while filming 70 episodes where she was almost every scene. Meanwhile, Dick York suffered from severe back pain during that time.

02-17-2022, 07:06 PM	#2
Willbo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2012 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 863	Possibility of less repetition but the writing was very lazy. I am not sure I have seen another show have so many remakes.

02-17-2022, 09:11 PM	#3
tcr1701 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2012 Posts: 461	There's book out that gives a kind of scholarly look into the series. The author postulates that the remakes of Dick York episodes was a way by the series to "erase" his Darrin from past continuity completely. It's all supposition, but an interesting take. Although I tend to believe that's over-thinking things a bit. In reality I think the writers simply fell into recycling scripts and ideas as a way to get a script done and keep the show within its established themes. By season 5 the show seems to have run its course. Even with a new Darrin in the remaining three years the stories were mostly repetitive and lackluster. But at that time TV executives thought audiences didn't want TV that made them think. TV was meant to entertain only, so giving them the same story lines over and over didn't matter.

02-17-2022, 11:21 PM	#4
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,655	It amazes me how many episodes were produced of TV series in this era. Leave It to Beaver produced 234 episodes in 6 seasons! To put that in context, the 234th episode of The Big Bang Theory was the third episode of season 11! That's why it's so unfair comparing shows of that era with modern shows. They had no choice but to repeat ideas and squeeze out as many scenes as possible on each set.

07-01-2022, 08:26 PM	#7
tcr1701 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2012 Posts: 461	Ironically, Bill Asher denied there were any "remakes" of episodes. Of course, it was late in his life and he may not have remembered. Or the writers did it on their own and he had no idea at the time. After directing so many episodes he probably didn't have every prior story line memorized at the time.

07-05-2022, 12:08 PM	#8
Arfies Memberific Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: There beneath the blue suburban skies, in summer, meanwhile back.... Posts: 481	Do you know which interview he said that? (As you said, it may be due to him being older). I recall reading another one where he was asked about the remakes, and he said "I didn't think anyone would notice."