Starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, and Agnes Moorehead, Bewitched began its run in 1964 as the second highest-rated show for the year. The series remained in the top 20 for its first five seasons.
York left the show after five years, largely due to debilitating back pain following an accident on the set of a movie. He was replaced by Dick Sargent in one of the most well-known bits of recasting in TV history. Sargent carried on admirably but the show slipped into 25th place for season six.
The audience began to tire of the concept, scripts were being rehashed, and the face of television was changing. In its final year, Bewitched was aired opposite Norman Lear’s groundbreaking All in the Family sitcom and Bewitched’s viewership really fell.
Despite the poor ratings, it’s believed that a ninth season was planned. Ultimately, Montgomery decided against doing it. The show ended on March 25, 1972 and Darrin, Samantha, and Endora were never seen again.
The final episode, “The Truth, Nothing But The Truth, So Help Me, Sam” isn’t a particularly special one and is actually a remake of a 1965 episode called “Speak the Truth.”
The finale revolves around Endora testing Darrin’s devotion to Samantha by placing a spell on a pin that forces mortals to tell the absolute truth. Take a look…
What do you think? Why did Bewitched decline in popularity? Was it the new Darren or was it just time for the show to go?
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I love Bewitched!! I used to watch it when I was younger(and Evie – cant remember the name..theme tune”would you like to swing on a star?) and when I was on maternity leave last year was lucky enough to catch the reruns – all the way through – Yay!! Doesnt get watched now because theres no imagination any more?! I think the only things that get a second series and more now are the ones where the TV channels think they are politically correct and in vogue with thinking now. Well, they are just SO wrong!!
The stories were getting kind of old, but it was totally the new Darren! He just didn’t fit with the cast at all. He wasn’t the right choice for the show. I don’t really know if you can ever successfully replace a main character on a show with another actor. I think there will always be some resentment there. I much prefer the episodes with the original.
@anne: I have to agree. The tone of the show is very different and I much prefer Dick York. His Darren was quickly agitated so it was easy to see why he sparred with Endora. The second Darren was so mild-mannered that their relationship just didn’t work as well.