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?
I believe it should have kept going the original cast were the best but it was still a good show my hope is they would remake the series with rare talents like the actors they found
I’d like to see any scripts that were not used in the last season & what the Season 9’s would have been
I enjoyed the show growing up as a boy.
did Darrin boss ever know that Samantha was a witch
No he never did.
I was under 6 yrs old when I watched this show. Because I came from an abusive home, I hated the 1st Darren because he was constantly angry. I hated the nosy neighbor concept. I hated Endora, always causing friction between Samantha and Darren. I did love the aunt who loved doorknobs because she was sweetly silly. I loved Samantha’s character and wondered why people wouldn’t just let her be who she was and do what she wanted. I very much liked the new Darren. He was more soft-spoken and didn’t come off as a constant threat. Again, I was… Read more »
I thought the opposite. The second Darrin was more angry, critical and negative than the first Darrin, at least towards the Mother in law
Aunt Clara was the doorknob collector. Great character. I loved Uncle Arthur, played by Paul Lynde. And how could anybody not admire Samantha? I was so saddened when Elizabeth Montgomery passed in 1995. I watched Bewitched in syndication, as even my parents were young teens when it premiered.
Dick York was the best. Darin number 2 just was not as good…York rules !!
I thought that too for the longest time! Then once I realized he played the father in the 1980’s film Teen Witch, my perception changed. Not to mention, he did seem not as angry, and more accepting of Sam’s “abilities”. However, after being married for so long York’s character could have eventually evolved into that same character. I guess we’ll never know! Born in 1987, I used to watch reruns as a child. I still watch it now…and my 8 year old son now knows all the characters, and the actors who play them…even differentiating York and Sergeant. A GREAT… Read more »
The network made a mistake by running bewitched opposite all in the family
I liked the show very much. I thought it would have become even more interesting, with more plot-lines involving Tabitha and Adam growing into their special powers. I’d love to see a reboot of this show.
I loved Bewitched, but when York was replaced by Sargent, I have to admit the whole atmosphere of the show changed and I lost interest!
The new Darrin was just a scapegoat for fans to complain. Personally, I prefer him over the first one. And, yes ABC wanted Asher and Montgomery to do a 9th season, but their marriage was on the rocks and Liz felt that it was time to put her true talent to use in some of her most controversial roles on television movies like A Killing Affair with OJ Simpson. If Bewitched were to have aired that 9th season I would have liked the finale to be Darrin getting a promotion at McMann and Tate. Hence, ending the show with McMann,… Read more »
I enjoy watch their reruns, and honestly, any show after the first Darrin is simply boring.
Dick Sargent was the actor originally cast in the role of Darrin, but due to some scheduling conflicts with some other projects he had going, he wasn’t able to do it.
I much preferred Dick York in the role. Bewitched just wasn’t the same with the new Darrin portrayed by Dick Sargent.
I think if Dick York had stayed the series could
easily have done 9 or 10 season’s.
I think it was just time yes I didn’t like the new Darin at first but after watching him for a while he was great in his own way!