Product Description
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The magic on Morning Glory Circle continues as Samantha
(Elizabeth Montgomery), Darrin (Dick Sargent), and Endora (Agnes
Moorehead) return in Bewitched - The Complete Sixth Season.
Notable for being Dick Sargent's first season as Darrin.
Samantha, a powerful member of the society of witches that has
lived apart from (and disdained) humanity for many centuries,
falls in love with a mortal, Darrin Stephens. Much to the disgust
of most of her family, she vows to give up witchcraft and become
an ordinary suburban housewife, raising a family (bearing Tabitha
and Adam). Never able to give up her heritage completely, the
friction between the matriarchal, moneyless society of her birth
and the patriarchal, capitalist society of modern advertising
drives the comedy over eight seasons and 256 episodes, from 1964
to 1971.
.com
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Yes, yes, weve heard it before: Bewitched jumped the broom in
season six when Dick Sargent replaced Dick York as Darrin
Stevens, the most infamous cast switcheroo in TV history. But if
you dont purchase this set, be advised that you will miss what
Quentin Tarantino, when he hosted Saturday Night Live, procled
to be "the single greatest moment in television history":
Serenas rendition of "Ill Blow You a Kiss in the Wind" in the
episode "Serena Stops the Show." Beyond that, this season shows
there was still plenty of magic left in this supernatural series.
Over the course of the first five seasons, Bewitched replaced
Louise Tates and Gladys Kravitzes, so why not Darrin? Besides,
Sargent was originally tapped to star as Darrin (but he was
contractually bound elsewhere). However, Marion Lorne, who won an
Emmy as endearingly addled Aunt Clara, was irreplaceable. So when
she passed away, a new character was introduced this season;
Esmeralda (Alice Ghostley), a shy witch whose lack of self
confidence caused her to fade when she got nervous, and whose
good-intentioned spells invariably backfired. If this season
suffers from anything, its more a sense of been there, twitched
that. There is yet another Halloween episode that battles the
"ugly witch" stereotype, and several in which a spell gone awry
is explained away as a concept for one of Darrins ad campaigns
(why else would there be a unicorn in the Stevens backyard in
the episode, "Samanthas Yoo-Hoo Maid"). And Endora (Agnes
Moorehead) continues to cast embarrassing spells on Darrin, like
transforming him into a yes-man in "Youre So Agreeable," or
compelling him to speak in nothing but clichés in "The Phrase is
Familiar." But the writers did conjure up some fresh situations.
In a two-parter, Darrins newfound magic powers go to his head.
In "Samanthas Secret is Discovered," Samantha (Elizabeth
Montgomery) finally reveals to her mother-in-law (Mabel
Albertson) that she is "a cauldron-stirring, card-carrying"
witch. And this season, Samantha gives birth to warlock infant
Adam. The adorable Erin Murphy, as daughter Tabitha, gives the
show some added kid appeal with her misguided uses of her budding
powers. In the season opener, she switches places with Jack
(Family Affairs Johnny Whitaker) to climb the beanstalk and
confront the Giant. In another episode, she creates a double of
Samantha so she can go to the park. In addition to Montgomerys
groovy dual role as Serena, this season offers the always-welcome
return of Paul Lynde as practical joker and insult zinger Uncle
Arthur and Bernard Fox as the cantankerous and contemptuous Dr.
Bombay. This sets extras are limited to two random "minisodes"
of The Partridge Family and I Dream of Jeannie. --Donald
Liebenson