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 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!