Welcome to another Situation Comedy Tuesday! Today we’re finishing our coverage of the best episodes from the best supernatural sitcom of the ’60s, Bewitched (1964-1972, ABC). Every single episode is available on DVD.
Advertising executive Darrin Stephens marries Samantha, a beautiful blonde who just happens to be a witch. She agrees to give up witchcraft and live a nice mortal life with Darrin, much to mother Endora’s chagrin. But with family members constantly popping in and interfering with their life, Samantha and Darrin find that living a normal life is easier said than done.
Bewitched stars ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY as Samantha Stephens, DICK SARGENT as Darrin Stephens, AGNES MOOREHEAD as Endora, DAVID WHITE as Larry Tate, and ERIN MURPHY as Tabitha.
I won’t mince words. This is the show’s weakest season. Many of the installments are remakes of far better early season episodes. The actors (for the most part) seem tired and bored with the material, and I can’t blame them. The show does a gimmicky thing by setting the first seven episodes of the season in Europe. (They did not actually go on location, however.) Though the European episodes show more imagination, they are hit and miss. The show gets formulaic upon the return home, and it’s pretty much downhill from there. Additionally, there are no appearances this season by the Kravitzes, Uncle Arthur, or Darrin’s parents. But the problem with Season Eight, tired performers aside, can be pinpointed to one thing: the writing. Simply, it’s weak. I was surprised that I got ten great episodes out of Season Seven. (I thought I’d have to reduce my list for the last two years.) But while Season Seven exceeded my expectations, Season Eight indeed left me wanting. Shockingly, I was able to scrounge up eight episodes that I think exemplify the season’s strongest installments. For new fans, this list will give you a place to start. For seasoned fans, there might be a few surprises.
Here are my picks for the eight best episodes of Season Eight. (They are in AIRING ORDER.)
01) Episode 230: “How Not To Lose Your Head To King Henry VIII (II)” (Aired: 09/22/71 | Completed: 06/29/71)
Darrin and Endora go back in time to rescue the amnesiac Samantha from becoming King Henry VIII’s wife.
Written by Ed Jurist | Directed by William Asher
As the second half of another time travel episode, this installment surprisingly succeeds in becoming the funniest and most memorable of that premise. (Yes, besting even Season Five’s “Samantha Goes South For A Spell.”) The reason this one works exceptionally well is due in part to a twist: Endora goes back in time with Darrin, allowing for some welcome comedy. Moorehead and Sargent work together very well, and turn in two of their finest performances. Shockingly good for an eighth season episode.
02) Episode 233: “Bewitched, Bothered, And Baldoni” (Aired: 10/13/71 | Completed: 07/12/71)
Endora makes trouble in Rome by bringing a statue of Venus de Milo to life, and every mortal male who sees her falls in love.
Written by Michael Morris | Directed by William Asher
This episode gets my vote for the funniest of the season. Endora makes a statue of Venus come to life, enchanting all mortal men in her path. Naturally, Darrin becomes enamored with her, and takes Venus back to Sam with the hope of making her their housekeeper. This is one of the more sexualized episodes of the series, and perhaps one of the most modern in its style. My favorite moment occurs when Darrin first brings Venus home and Samantha and Larry are both stunned: “Darrin, could I speak to you privately?”
03) Episode 235: “The Ghost Who Made A Spectre Of Himself” (Aired: 10/27/71 | Completed: 07/16/71)
A lovesick ghost inhabits Darrin’s body while he and Samantha are vacationing in a British castle with the Tates.
Written by Ed Jurist | Directed by William Asher
This isn’t a great episode, but I think the premise is fascinating. This is only the second or third time this series has dealt with ghosts, and it’s a topic ripe with possibility. (Perhaps The Ghost And Mrs. Muir had ghost stories well covered in the late ’60s.) Once again, I love that the Tates get involved in the action, and the possessed Darrin coming on to Louise is uncomfortably hilarious. It’s a stagey episode (usually my preference — like a one act) with some nice work by Sargent, White, and Rogers. (Montgomery is a little cold here — it doesn’t bother me too much, but it is noticeable.)
04) Episode 237: “A Plague On Maurice And Samantha” (Aired: 11/10/71 | Completed: 08/12/71)
Samantha’s latest loss of powers is contagious — Maurice gets stricken as well.
Written by Ed Jurist | Directed by Richard Michaels
On the surface, this could easily appear to be another “Sam loses her powers” episode, but like the Henry VIII two-parter that adds in a twist by having Endora venture back in time with Darrin, this episode has Maurice falling ill alongside his daughter. Evans gives his best performance of the entire series, and his interference with Darrin’s new client is very enjoyable. The interactions between Endora and Maurice are the highlight, but everyone (save Montgomery, who is decidedly average) gives solid performances.
05) Episode 241: “Three Men And A Witch On A Horse” (Aired: 12/15/71 | Completed: 09/16/71)
Endora hexes Darrin into a gambling fool and turns Tabitha’s hobby horse into his inside source.
Written by Ed Jurist | Directed by Richard Michaels
Reportedly one of Montgomery’s favorite episodes, this fresh and original episode seems out of place in the otherwise creatively dry eighth season. The premise is unique, and though the series dealt with horse racing once in a mediocre Season Two installment, it’s never been addressed as directly as it is here. I particularly enjoy the interactions between Samantha and Endora, where we learn that betting/race-fixing are witch no-nos! Sargent is very funny on the hobby horse, and Larry and the client-of-the-week are quite amusing. Nice premise, solid execution.
06) Episode 244: “Samantha Is Earthbound” (Aired: 01/15/72 | Completed: 10/14/71)
On the day of a charity event, Samantha develops gravititis inflamitis, which makes her weight 300 pounds. But Bombay’s remedy makes her lighter than air.
Written by Michael Morris | Directed by Richard Michaels
This episode works because it’s one of the few Season Eight installments that features an original premise. Samantha wakes up feeling especially heavy and beckons Dr. Bombay. But his remedy has the opposite effect: now Sam’s lighter than air, and she must be held down or risk flying away. Of course, this occurs on the day that Sam is supposed to go to a charity benefit (with wonderful guest star Sara Seegar). There are some laughs, but this episode wins points mainly for creativity. Also, this episode boasts one of the better comings together of witchcraft and advertising.
07) Episode 245: “Serena’s Richcraft” (Aired: 01/22/72 | Completed: 01/15/71)
When Serena’s powers are stripped by a jealous witch, she amuses herself by romancing one of Darrin’s wealthy clients.
Written by Michael Morris | Directed by William Asher
Though a combination of several prior episodes, “Serena’s Richcraft” has the distinction of being probably my favorite Serena episode of the Sargent years. Held over from Season Seven, the level of energy — across the board — is much higher here than in the majority of Season Eight’s installments. Peter Lawford is a classy and well-spoken guest star, and Ellen Weston as the Countess Piranha is a highlight. This episode is chockfull of delicious Serena one-liners, and the whole tone of the episode is just — well, entertaining. Classic Bewitched.
08) Episode 247: “Serena’s Youth Pill” (Aired: 02/05/72 | Completed: 10/07/71)
Serena gives Larry a pill that continually regresses his age.
Written by Michael Morris | Directed by E.W. Swackhamer
This is the last episode to feature both Louise and Serena. Like some of the above, this is not a hilarious episode, but it’s memorable for its creative and entertaining premise. It’s a mix of “Junior Executive” and “There’s Gold In Them Thar Pills,” but works well here with Larry filling the Darrin role in the former, and Serena filling the Bombay role in the latter. Also, Montgomery seems much more interested in playing Serena than Samantha this season, which means that episodes that contain our favorite kooky cousin naturally have a higher energy.
The honorable mentions from this season include: “How Not To Lose Your Head To King Henry VIII (1),” which isn’t as good as the second half, but also features wonderful interplay between Endora and Darrin, “The Warlock In The Gray Flannel Suit,” which’s humor comes solely from an over-the-top guest appearance by the hilarious Bernie Kopell as a hippie warlock, “Adam, Warlock Or Washout?” which finally addresses the question of Adam’s powers, “School Days, School Daze,” which is enjoyable only for a scene in which Samantha gets deliciously vindictive to a snoopy teacher, “Samantha’s Witchcraft Blows A Fuse,” a remake of a Season Two episode that incorporates another campy Macedonian dodo bird, but is only mentioned here for its inclusion of the divine Reta Shaw as Aunt Hagatha, and the final episode, “The Truth, The Whole Truth, And Nothing But The Truth, So Help Me Sam,” which succeeds because it’s almost a verbatim remake of a superior Season Two episode.
*** The MVE Award for the Best Episode from Season Eight of Bewitched goes to…..
“Serena’s Richcraft”
Come back next Tuesday as we begin coverage of another sitcom! And tune in tomorrow for an all new Wildcard Wednesday post!