It's not I dream of Jeanie, Green Acres, or Get Smart; it's Bewitched! This classic Television show (that many of you have probably never heard of) is straight out of the 1960s and full of brilliant comedy, fun storylines, and fashion! The show was a rating success because it was, at the time, the highest-rated series ever for the network. Bewitched aired for eight seasons, from 1964 to 1972, and has remained an ever-present pop culture icon. Bewitched follows the life of Darren and Samantha Stevens, who live the quintessential suburban life except for one thing: Samantha is a witch! The show emphasizes the peculiar situations Samantha's tampering, supernatural powers, and scheming mother, Endora, put them in, all while keeping the facade of everyday life. Keeping the secret from their nosey neighbor, Gladys Kravitz, and Darren's boss, Larry Tate, adds to the chaos and comedy of it all. Samantha casts spells by twitching her nose most peculiarly. This "witch twitch" and the iconic theme song became synonymous with the television series. Each episode focuses on Samantha's struggle to avoid magic or use it to escape sticky situations. Despite it all, Darren and Samantha's marriage remains the heartbeat of the show.
Samantha, played by Elizabeth Montgomery, is a quirky witch masquerading as a 1960s suburban housewife. She gave up her magical life to live with Darren because of the promise she made to him. Yet, try as she might, she inevitably resorts to using her witchcraft to solve the problems she encounters, but only after she tries every possible mortal way to solve them. Later in the series, Samantha becomes a mother to two, which adds another layer to her façade of normalcy but introduces many more opportunities for things to go wrong.
Darrin, played by Dick York and later by Dick Sargent, is the husband of Samantha and is a mortal. Darrin works as an account executive at the advertising firm McMann & Tate and has a love-hate relationship with Samantha's powers. Darrin wants a normal life and for Samantha to live without witchcraft, but he knows she cannot give it up altogether. Darrin sometimes even finds himself relying on Samantha's magic to help. Darrin's complicated relationship with magic creates tension, but ultimately, he learns to accept it.
Endora, played by Agnes Moorehead, is Samantha's mother and is a very powerful witch. Endora disapproves of her daughter's choice to marry Darrin because he is a mortal. She casts spells on him just for the amusement of it, but mostly to try to drive a wedge between Darrin and Samantha. She even refuses to use Darrin's name, purposely calling him "Durwood," "What's-his-name," "Darwin," "Dum-Dum," "Dagwood," "Dustbin," et cetera, all much to his annoyance. Despite this, Endora loves Samantha and her grandchildren and is a frequent house guest. When she arrives, it always means chaos will ensue.
Larry Tate, played by David White, is Darrin’s boss and president and founder of the advertising firm McMann & Tate. In the show, he is unaware of Samantha's magic despite being put in many odd situations because of it. Keeping magic a secret from Mr. Tate becomes a common theme in many episodes of Bewitched. Bewitched fans feel Larry Tate's presence deeply, and his absence is even more. In the 2005 movie remake of Bewitched, there was no Larry Tate, prompting many to say, "There is no Bewitched without Larry Tate!"
Gladys Kravits, played by Alice Peirce, is the nosey neighbor. She lives across the street and frequently peeks through the window to the Stevenson's home. She is convinced that there is something wrong with the Stevensons, but time after time, she is unable to prove it. Despite witnessing magic multiple times, Samantha Always fabricates excuses for why such unusual events happen around their house. Gladys's own husband doesn't even believe the things she witnesses in the Stevenson house.
Aunt Glara, played by Marion Lorne, is Samantha's aunt. Because of her age, she tends to mess up her magic spells, causing problems. She often forgets spells and casts them wrong. When she arrives, she slides down the chimney and emerges covered in soot. She also has an unusual hobby of collecting doorknobs. Although she causes all sorts of commotion, she remains Stevenson's favorite relative because of her kind nature and acceptance of Darrin. All around, Aunt Clara is a quirky but loveable character!
Serena, also played by Elizabeth Montgomery, is Samantha's sister. She looks similar to Samanth but has some unique features that help distinguish her, including her short black hair and birthmark. Although she tends to cause mischief with her mother, Endora, she is fond of mortals and supports Samantha and Darrin. She occasionally pops in for visits to the Stevenson household and always causes a ruckus!
Favorite Episodes
“I, Darrin, Take This Witch Samantha” Season 1, Episode 1:
Starting with the series pilot episode, Samantha and Darrin have just married and appear to be a perfect match. They are very much in love, but Darrin is unaware that Samantha is a witch. Samantha has to reveal her secret and deal with the aftermath. Darrin's shock eventually wears off, and the two are left trying to figure out what to do.
“Take Two Aspirins and Half a Pint of Porpoise Milk” Season 2, Episode 6:
While Howard Norton shows the Stephens a black Peruvian rose, Samantha tells Darrin she feels ill and has lost her witchcraft. They call Aunt Clara to help solve the problem and discover that the rose has caused her to lose her powers. To cure it, they must collect odd ingredients from around the world to make a potion. Aunt Clara's forgetfulness and Samantha's lack of powers make doing so quite difficult.
“Double, Double, Toil and Trouble” Season 4, Episode 4:
Endora is mad about Samantha's marriage to a mortal because it keeps her from her witch responsibilities. When Samantha leaves for the day, Endora calls Serena to come and impersonate her and destroy their marriage. Eventually, Darrin realizes it is Serena and plans to get even, but by then, the real Samantha has come home.
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