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 think it was a combination of both Darren’s and the writer is not writing anything new. I think had they not made both Darren’s and ogre to her witchcraft it might have been a lot funner and opened a bunch of windows for more storylines
I do believe you got to remember that I Dream of Jeannie came after the show the show was awesome it was before its time that’s how I think I watch it every day on Cozi TV love it I mean the first Darren was okay of course it’s my name but the second Darren was Dick Sargent I don’t know I guess they were okay I know I’m putting two things here to talk about but I’m reading all these post on the show I wish it would have kept going I guess everything is got there ending there’s… Read more »