(NOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS AUTHENTIC MATERIAL FROM THE STUDIO, CIRCA 1971. It is duly noted that they refer to Esmerelda as "Aunt" Esmerelda when in fact she was not a relative, but we have left it as we recieved it from the studio materials).
A BEWITCHING CAST OF WITCHES AND MORTALS - TV'S LARGEST Witch or mortal? On Screen Gems' comedy series "Bewitched", that is the question.
In eight fun-filled years on network television, the popular series has mixed witches with mortals and emerged with perhaps the largest cast of regulars in any television comedy. Each character is unique with his own set of human, or superhuman foibles.
The core of the show is Samantha and her family, of course. Samantha (played by the series star Elizabeth Montgomery) is a lovely witch married to Darrin (Dick York 1-170, Dick Sargent 171-254), a rather ordinary if bemused mortal. Darrin worked in Advertising at the McMann & Tate agency.
This marriage has produced two offspring, Tabitha (Erin Murphy), who has already discovered that by wiggling her fingers she can activate witching powers, and Adam (David Lawrence), who has not - to his father's delight - shown himself to be anything but a little boy.
The union has also combined to produce an unusual group of in-laws. Endora (Agnes Moorehead) is a perfect witch of a mother-in-law (Samantha's mother). She uses any tactics she can to prove "Durwood", as she lovingly calls Darrin, is unworthy of her beautiful daughter.
Samantha's father, Maurice (Maurice Evans), also proves to be an adversary for Darrin. Maurice, resplendent in top hat and tails is noted for his eye for the ladies and his tendency to exclaim in a Shakespearean, if bombastic fashion. Maurice resides in London, but materializes in his Rolls Royce from time to time to see his grandchildren and to taunt his son-in-law, "Duncan".
Sam's family tree also includes Cousin Serena (played by Elizabeth Montgomery), Aunt Esmerelda (Alice Ghostley) and Uncle Arthur (Paul Lynde). Serena, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Sam, is playgirl of the western world in witch form. She is irresistible to all men and is likely to be found in any century dallying with Don Juan or Adonis or Henry VIII.
Uncle Arthur, a warlock who can't stop playing practical jokes, specializing in dousing people with water. His corny slapstick raises Darrin's temperature and causes nothing but trouble for Sam.
Aunt Esmerelda is a sweet, lovable witch, but completely incompetent. Due to her devotion to Sam, Esmerelda often acts as a baby sitter and housekeeper with disastrous results. Her attempt at a Caesar salad resulted in Caesar himself, along with Cleopatra and slaves appearing in Sam's kitchen.
Two indispensable gentleman to Sam's family are Dr. Bombay (Bernard Fox) and the Apothecary (Bernie Kopell). Witches do not have ordinary ailments and Dr. Bombay is always on call to remove unusual spells or provide special incantations. The Apothecary, of course, is one of the most important people to the witches craft. What would a self-respecting witch do without a supply of bat's wings, mouse's whiskers, lizard's tails and ground Unicorn horn?
In addition to Sam's eccentric family on the show, there are the confused mortals. Phyllis and Frank Stephens (Mabel Albertson and Robert F. Simon), Darrin's parents, love Sam but often are convinced they need a long rest after spending time in their son's house.
Darrin's boss, Larry Tate (David White) and his battling wife, Louise (Kasey Rogers), find the Stephens' lifestyle rather peculiar. Due to the interference of his in-laws, Darrin gets fired at least twice a month by a fuming Larry Tate.
Lastly, there are Gladys and Abner Kravitz (Sandra Gould and George Tobias), who are typical nosy neighbors with some good reasons to be nosy. Gladys, peeping through keyholes and from behind curtains often sees extraordinary things, but Abner thinks his wife is cracking up.
All in all, it's a big happy group that visits with viewers on each episode. But it makes you wonder what would happen if Sam and Darrin ever held a family reunion!
"Bewitched" is produced by William Asher and Harry Ackerman is the executive producer.