The Literary Club: Read a Script from BEWITCHED Season Nine (Yes, Nine!)

[TMC]

https://jacksonupperco.com/2022/02/1...nine-yes-nine/

It’s called “Samantha The Matchmaker,” and like so many outings from the end of the run, it’s a remake. But it’s unique in that it’s essentially a double remake — taking the basic storyline of the first season classic “Illegal Separation,” in which Abner and Gladys Kravitz split, but adding in — as a second act complication — the variation that was used when this idea was first revisited and tweaked at the end of Season Four as “Splitsville.” In other words, it takes the structure of “Illegal Separation,” where Sam uses a mutual dream to bring the warring lovebirds back together, but it adds in a second act twist where she also calls on another man (Rollo the warlock, in this case) to create a triangle and drum up some possible jealousy. Oh, and, instead of the Kravitzes, this take on the story involves Larry and Louise Tate… Yet even with these switch-ups, it’s still a highly uncreative outing, revealing just how lazy Bewitched had gotten in its final seasons, when, frankly, its strong construction should have been helping it produce more original fare… at least, if anyone involved was still trying. They weren’t, and thus, while this is a fascinating curio, as, again, it’s an episode we would have seen had the show been renewed, it’s not a favorable reflection of the series’ state in 1972… Nevertheless, if you’re like me, you’ll want to see it anyway. So, subscribers can comment below, and for everyone else, here’s a sample…

[tcr1701]

for a reworked script some of that dialogue is terrible.

LOUISE: Larry, is this a proposal?

LARRY: No, it's plans for the new football stadium.

And a bit ludicrous to think Larry and Louise were in college together when David White was clearly a lot older than Kasey Rogers.

[Arfies]

I'm glad this was posted, but it sounds like a season 9 would've been the same tired remakes that season 8 was doing. Ugh.

You know, the plot wouldn't have been so bad with Larry and Louise, had the *exact same dialogue* not been lifted from the Kravitzes in "Illegal Separation," one of my favorite episodes. Yikes.

[Willbo]

David White was around 9 years older than Kasey Rogers. Certainly if they had filmed the episode they would have changed some of the dialog.

[Arfies]

Originally Posted by Willbo

David White was around 9 years older than Kasey Rogers. Certainly if they had filmed the episode they would have changed some of the dialog.

I'm not so sure they would've changed it- the writing was awfully lazy at that point.

Besides, when this dialogue was first used in "Illegal Separation," it was with George Tobias (born 1901) and Alice Pearce (born 1917). Despite their 16-year age difference, they seemed closer together in age than David White and Kasey Rogers.

[tcr1701]

Bill Asher was quoted at one time denying that they reused any scripts. Of course he could just not have realized what the writers were doing as he had not memorized every plot they filmed (especially 8 years later).

I think the most ludicrous re-use of a script was "A Good Turn Never Goes Unpunished" ( a remake of season 1 "Help, Help, Don't Save Me"). After 8 years of marriage Darrin angrily accuses Samantha of using witchcraft to come up with her slogan ideas but then tells her she is lying about it when she denies it.

I can see in the first year of their marriage when they are still getting to know each other - and especially when Samantha did hide some magical happenings previously - he could think that. But after 8 years Darrin knows she doesn't lie about stuff like that yet he still accuses her. That really is an "I want a divorce" moment for Samantha if you ask me.

Of course Darrin did it in "Is It Magic or Imagination?" in season 5. He yet again accuses Samantha of lying about another slogan and witchcraft. 5 years later he is going to not believe her? But season 5 was the year the writers made Darrin a total jerk instead of mostly being flustered and battling wits with Endora. He even threatened to punch Uncle Arthur. Totally out of character for Darrin previously.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Arfies

I'm not so sure they would've changed it- the writing was awfully lazy at that point.

Besides, when this dialogue was first used in "Illegal Separation," it was with George Tobias (born 1901) and Alice Pearce (born 1917). Despite their 16-year age difference, they seemed closer together in age than David White and Kasey Rogers.

Also, in sitcoms they frequently cast people who are too old for normal child bearing years. David White was 50 in 1966 and Larry and Louise supposedly had a baby boy, Jonathan (Kasey would have been 40 most of that year). Possible but not probable.

[tcr1701]

Originally Posted by stevea

Also, in sitcoms they frequently cast people who are too old for normal child bearing years. David White was 50 in 1966 and Larry and Louise supposedly had a baby boy, Jonathan (Kasey would have been 40 most of that year). Possible but not probable.

Irene Vernon seemed closer in age to David White even though she was only 42 when she started on the show. And even her Louise was surprised that, at her age, she was unexpectedly pregnant in season 1. It happens sometimes in "real" life too, so it never struck me.

Kasey Rogers as Louise seemed to me in her mid-thirties at most. So her having a child does seem more logical - even if we never saw Jonathan again past season 3. Apparently Larry sent that kid right off to military school as soon as possible...

David White said that he thought Irene made more sense as the kind of wife Larry would marry. He said she was "colder" in the role as Larry's wife would be (one who would help further his career). But he also noted that Kasey was more "animated" in the role which probably fit the show's comedy better.

I agree with David White that Irene seems more the kind of woman Larry would marry. But I like Kasey as she was so classy and lively in the role.

[Arfies]

I remember a quote from Bill Asher re: the unused scripts ("You noticed that?!"), as if he honestly didn't think anyone would notice. (Even though reruns were a thing).

Jonathan Tate does show up again in season 7's "Mixed Doubles."

[stevea]

I used to watch the reruns on TBS constantly years ago, but it's been awhile. So is this pregnancy in season 1 (that I forgot about) Jonathan? I'm trying to remember him in season 3 but if so he must have been little older than I thought. Seems I remember some episode where maybe D & S were watching him and for some reason they had to keep Larry & Louise away? Maybe Aunt Clara turned him into something???

[Arfies]

You're right- you're thinking of season 3's "Accidental Twins" where Aunt Clara accidentally creates two Jonathans and Darrin & Samantha have to keep Larry & Louise from finding out.

[stevea]

Oh, yeah! ... funny episode! She was such a great character.

[tcr1701]

Originally Posted by Arfies

I remember a quote from Bill Asher re: the unused scripts ("You noticed that?!"), as if he honestly didn't think anyone would notice. (Even though reruns were a thing).

Jonathan Tate does show up again in season 7's "Mixed Doubles."

When I was a kid I thought there was a third Louise actress when Kasey dropped the wig and went with her own red hair...



And thanks! I had completely blocked the return of Jonathan Tate from my mind...

[stevea]

I'm gonna have to dig out the DVD and watch that one. No recollection of it at all.