As a 25 year old male these days, it’s likely perceived as odd that a show like Bewitched is among my favorite television shows ever. Most of my peers and maybe even people ten years year older than me have probably never even watched the show and if they have, they usually don’t see the charm to it. Oddly, it also seems to have a reputation as a “women’s” show these days for some reason. That’s fine of course, we all like what we like. However, in life, one of the big questions you tend to get asked is what some of your favorite TV shows are. When I start naming programs from 40-50 years ago, people give me quizzical looks and ask if I like anything recent. I don’t really watch TV anymore because I just can’t get into the shows these days. I’m sure there are some good ones out there, but at the moment, I don’t even have basic cable in my place. I also don’t like watching an episode and waiting a whole week to see the next one. One of my favorite things about DVD is that it has made having whole seasons of shows possible. The only waiting is for each set to come out. Otherwise, I can crank out a handful of episodes each night I come home from work and just relax. When watching something like The X-Files, I would watch an episode and wonder how mad I would have been driven waiting a whole week to see the next one or the continuation of the story.
To the real point of the blog: I have this great love affair with television shows of the past, particularly the 50’s-70’s. Maybe it is similar to my love for horror films of days gone by, but there is a certain charm and quaintness that exists with many older shows. Or maybe they were just truly higher quality. In terms of the more comedic shows like Bewitched, I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeannie, Happy Days, and so on, the strongest aspect is the writing. It is just so well done a majority of the time. In their best moments, the situations, dialogue, and punch-lines are just pure comedy gold. Call me strange, but man, these shows just make me laugh like nothing else can. Taking Bewitched as an example, seeing Larry Tate threaten Darrin to “cool it” when he thinks he’s about to blow the account with a client and then it turns out that the client actually likes it, thus making Larry do a complete 180 and say he supported Darrin the whole time and more than imply he actually came up with the idea himself never fails to make me laugh my ass off…even if it was done hundreds of times during the show’s run and I’ve seen it multiple times. These old shows are so good, witty, and full of life, and even though I wasn’t around for their initial runs, and in some cases like Happy Days, I’ve only very recently begun watching them, I simply have an incredible feeling of nostalgia while I watch them and think about them. The old shows actually have theme songs too and damn are they catchy and pure fun.
Bewitched is the reason I’m up at 2 in the morning thinking about why I love classic television shows that my parents’ generation grew up with. If I had a gun to my head and was asked what my favorite show was and had only 3 seconds to answer, Bewitched would be my answer. The more I watch it over the years, the clearer it becomes to me. My other choices like Seinfeld (this show is definitely hilarious and if I’m going to be honest, yeah, it is funnier than Bewitched), The X-Files, Married…with Children, Tales from the Crypt, the first 8-10 seasons of the Simpsons, The Munsters, I Dream of Jeannie, and many more are all contenders, but there are so many things about Bewitched that personally elevates it above the rest as a whole.
I’ll get the first reason out of the way, the reason my girlfriend thinks I feel like this show is the best, something I don’t completely agree with. Elizabeth Montgomery. I’m not a big celebrity idolizing kind of guy, but there are a few on the female side I make exceptions for, and Ms. Montgomery probably heads my list of reverence and worship. Yes, it is because of this show and her portrayal of Samantha Stevens, the most gorgeous witch put on film in my humble opinion, but I’ve always had this tender spot for her in my heart and I can only imagine how much I would have adored her if I was a young boy in the mid-late 60’s and early 70’s of this show’s initial run. I have a thing for more classical beauties who leave something to the imagination and while she’s not exactly a Kim Novak or Grace Kelly, as has been pointed out to me rather viciously on one occasion, there is something about Elizabeth Montgomery that is insanely appealing to me. She does indeed have the more down to earth every day beauty you’d see in your everyday life look to her, but other things like her voice, manner, and quips just make her an intoxicating woman. She tends to look her best when she is dressed up for dinner or going out to lunch. I realize that I am mainly going off her portrayal as Samantha, but it’s not uncommon for people to get attached to an actresses’ main role, a problem that plagued Montgomery and thousands of other stars to this day of course. While watching the show, she just comes across as the type of girl I’d like to marry. It has nothing to do with her desire to be the “normal, everyday, mortal housewife” or her willingness to do what her husband wants (though we all know she basically almost never listens to him anyway). She is simply a nice, charming, loving woman who is compassionate, serious, and willing to go to great lengths for her relationship. So overall, the show definitely wouldn’t be what it is without her, but she is far from the only good thing about it.
The relationship between her and Darrin comes off as sincere and believable. They obviously have their issues, but they are willing to work them out, which is something I like about back in the day. People didn’t divorce or break up like crazy, they worked at it, and many relationships were probably strengthened because of it. There’s legitimate chemistry between them and it is shocking to hear they didn’t get along off set because you totally believe they love each other. Their romantic scenes are touching. When Darrin is upset with her, it is priceless stuff as well. Another often used line in the series is when Darrin is like “Sam, can I talk to you?” and she’s like “When?” and he’s like “Now.” Simple, not really amusing in print, but because of the couple’s expressions, it works. As for Darrin’s relationship with Samantha’s mother, Endora, it never fails to entertain. The complete disdain she holds for him, and vice versa, is uproariously funny. Like with Montgomery, York has true chemistry with Moorehead; it is so obvious while watching. Endora’s petty behavior towards Darrin is sometimes too much, it is so funny. Even juvenile humor like calling him any name but his own just works because of his outraged expression and her unconcerned look. Whether it is Derwood, Dumbo, Donald, or what’s his name, I doubt think there’s ever been a time I haven’t chuckled. It is simply infectious and I can’t help but smile, and that’s how it is for a lot of the show.
A strange thing about the show, but something I welcome, is that I like all of the characters. Whether it is the other main characters like Darrin and Endora, or supporting characters like Larry Tate, Serena, the Kravitzes, Uncle Arthur, Aunt Clara, Darrin’s parents, and Doctor Bombay among others, I just seem to like them all. All have their fine points and hilarious dialogue and situations exist with each of them. It’s hard to pick a favorite supporting character because they’re all so good. My top three would be Larry, Abner Kravitz, and Serena at the very least. Larry is simply hilarious, right up to the very end of the show. Whether he is inviting himself and a client to dinner at the Stevenses’, threatening to fire Darrin, telling Darrin he’s lucky to have had four good years of marriage and to just roll with the punches the rest of the way like he has, or simply talking about how greedy he is, he is a constant joy to watch and an underrated character in my eyes. Abner Kravitz is equally as hilarious. He never believes his wife, makes constant jokes at the expense of her mental health, and shows a complete lack of affection that makes you wonder why they even got married in the first place. As for Serena, she was a very welcome addition to the show as Samantha’s identical twin cousin. She serves as the complete opposite of Samantha and at times, it give the viewer an opportunity to see Montgomery in a more sultry and seductive role, as well as just providing a more fun loving character. Other background characters like the guy in the bar Darrin talks to whenever he has issues with Samantha are great as well. Both characters aren’t even listening to each other, with the guy talking about how marriage is a journey between two people, etc , etc, while Darrin bitches about whatever problem he has with Samantha. The guy eventually has to go somewhere, claps Darrin on the shoulder and says “Good talking with ya, Darrin. I’m here for you anytime you need to talk”, drawing Darrin out of his stupor and wondering what just happened. Like the usual elements that are on the show, it is humorous every single time.
As a hardcore fan, I can’t be without gripes though. My main issue is the replacement characters. Dick Sargent was a pathetic Darrin compared to Dick York’s dominating high energy and manic performance, but we only had to put up with him for the final few seasons and he replaced York at a time where the storylines were getting recycled, so maybe he doesn’t deserve too much grief…yet, I still feel that if Dick York was able to continue, the original trifecta of Samantha, Darrin, and Endora would have been enough to keep the show energized through the same stories, in a way that just didn’t happen with Sargent on the set. There was zero chemistry between Sargent and Montgomery, and Sargent and Moorehead (Endora), which are the two most important relationships in the show and it hurt the product a lot. Also, the replacement Gladys Kravitz was good in her own right, but she just couldn’t hold a candle to the original. The original was funny because she not only acted cracked out of her mind, but she looked the part as well. You truly believed she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She was also one of the rare people who could make you laugh by making the audible “Gulp” sound. And as funny as it was, you felt sorry for her sometimes. The newer one was just a cunt. She came off way too mean and vindictive most of the time, and unlike Pearce’s snooping, I was just aggravated whenever the new one did it. Supporting characters getting replaced didn’t derail the show like the replacement of Darrin did, but it still sucked sometimes.
When watching the show, I can’t help but feel at home. The humor is well written and plays out masterfully. The actors/actresses almost universally turn in great performances and Montgomery, York, and Moorehead in particular really make the show what it is. It’s something nice to relax to and one of my favorite pastimes is getting home from work and just chilling out to a few episodes before going to bed. Like many shows of the time, it is also something you’d feel comfortable showing to your kid. I know that if I have a kid, I’ll be showing him or her this wonderful classic show, enjoying myself and not having my girlfriend/wife nagging me about its content like she would with my horror films. Nah, she’ll just nag me how Montgomery isn’t the greatest thing in the world ;)
