Bewitched Trivia Facts

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Alice Ghostley originally did not appear as Esmeralda but as maid Naomi who caused havoc at the Stephens'. In the same episode ("Maid To Order"), she is asked to help with a client dinner at the Tate's home because their own maid was ill that night. The name of the Tate's usual maid was Esmeralda!
Elizabeth Montgomery (I) played the roles of Samantha Stephens and her more free-spirited cousin Serena. However in the cast listing, the role of Serena was listed as being played by Pandora Spocks. Many viewers didn't realize this, and wrote "Pandora" fan mail. (Montgomery and William Asher - her husband at the time - once left the set together, with Montgomery still wearing her Serena costume and makeup, and checked into a motel instead of going home.)
During the second season, five babies played Tabitha Stephens. Cynthia Black (III) in the episode where Tabitha is born. then it went to twins Heidi Gentry and Laura Gentry. The final set of babies in season where Julie Young (I) and Tamar Young. In season three the Young Twins had been replaced by fraternal twins Erin Murphy (I) and Diane Murphy (I). By season five the role was solely played to Erin Murphy although Diane did appear in a number of episodes afterwards - always wearing a wig.
Although fraternal twins Erin Murphy (I) and Diane Murphy (I) shared the role of Tabitha Stephens up until the middle of the fifth season, Diane only played Tabitha on her own in one episode - Samantha Fights City Hall.
The final black and white episode was "Prodigy".
The show had an unusual amount of roles played by more than one person: two Darrins, two Gladys Kravitzes, two Louise Tates, two of Darrin's father. Dick York (I) left the show in 1969 due to health problems; his role of Darrin was taken over by Dick Sargent. When Alice Pearce died, her role of Mrs. Kravitz was taken over by Sandra Gould (I).
When Dick York (I) was replaced by Dick Sargent the ratings dropped 13 places.
During the first six years, practically every car in sight is a Chevrolet, because the car company was one of the show's original sponsors.
The show aired from 17 September 1964 to 1 July 1972 on ABC for 254 episodes: 74 in black and white (1964-1966) and 180 in color (1966-1972). ABC broadcast reruns of the series weekday afternoons from 1 January 1968 to September 1973. Simultaneously, Saturday morning repeats were transmitted over ABC starting in September 1971.
The series had four different time periods during its eight-year run. It was seen from Sept. 17, 1964 to Jan. 5, 1967 on ABC Thursdays 9:00-9:30 p.m. Then ABC moved it back 30 minutes (Thursday 8:30-9:00 p.m.) where it remained from Jan. 12, 1967 to Sept. 9, 1971. Between Sept. 15, 1971 and Jan. 5, 1972, it was seen over ABC Wednesdays 8:00-8:30 p.m.; after which, it switched time slots for the last time: Saturday 8:00-8:30 p.m., where it remained from Jan. 15 to July 1, 1972.
The 4 April 1968 episode "I Confess", was interrupted by ABC during its original airing for news coverage of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King
The final first-run episode telecast was "The Truth, Nothing But The Truth, So Help Me, Sam" (3/25/1972); its final ABC primetime telecast of all was the 7/1/1972 repeat of "Adam, Warlock Or Washout" from 12/29/1971.
Many of the plots from earlier shows were repeated later.
Elizabeth Montgomery (I) didn't actually twitch her nose to cause Samantha's magic to occur; she twitched her upper lip, causing her nose to follow.
Almost all of the female witches' character names end with the letter "a", including Samantha, Endora, Esmeralda, Clara, Hagatha, Enchantra and Tabitha. Some exceptions include Abigail Beechum (Maurice's private secretary) and Mary (friend of Bertha, Endora and Clara).
Elizabeth Montgomery (I) and William Asher were married during the run of the series. In one episode in 1969, a valentine with the pair's initials is seen on the wall of a baseball stadium. The last season was produced by "Ashmont", the company owner by the couple.
'Bernard Slade', a director with the series, was married to Jill Foster (II), who played Darrin's secretary Betty from 1965-69.
Paul Lynde, who played Uncle Arthur, appeared in an earlier episode as a nervous driving instructor who teaches Samantha how to drive.
Two supporting actresses: Alice Pearce (Gladys) and Marion Lorne (Aunt Clara) both were awarded Emmys posthumously.
The show's now-famous animated opening credits were created by Hanna-Barbera Productions.
The role of Samantha was originally offered to Tammy Grimes.
This popular television series was created from elements of two motion pictures that had been originally produced by Columbia Pictures. The basic concept of 'Bewitched (1964)' was derived from the plot of I Married a Witch (1942), starring Veronica Lake (I), Fredric March and Cecil Kellaway in the role of the witch's mischievous father. (The mischievous parent in 'Bewitched (1964)' would, of course, become Samantha's mother, Endora, portrayed by Agnes Moorehead, while Samantha's father, Maurice, would make only occasional appearances.) Mr. Kellaway would, in fact, appear as Santa Claus in one episode of "Bewitched" long after he made "I Married a Witch." A sub-plot in "I Married a Witch" became the sub-plot of the 'Bewitched (1964)' pilot episode entitled "I, Darrin, Take This Witch Samantha," in which Darrin's former fiancee appears, played by Nancy Kovack. In "I Married a Witch," the fiancee was portrayed by Susan Hayward (I). Elements from another Columbia Pictures classic, Bell Book and Candle (1958) were used for further character development as well as episodic plot development in 'Bewitched (1964)'. For example, Elsa Lanchester's bumbling Aunt Queenie in "Bell, Book and Candle" became the bumbling Aunt Clara in 'Bewitched (1964)'. Likewise, Jack Lemmon (I)'s "Bell, Book and Candle" character, Nicky Holroyd, was a basis for the 'Bewitched (1964)' Uncle Arthur.
Helen Hunt (I) and Jodie Foster were once considered for the role of Tabitha.
Jim Backus was the first choice to play Abner Kravitz, but turned it down, because he was already working on "Gilligan's Island" (1964).
Darrin graduated from the University of Missouri class of 1950.
Elizabeth Montgomery (I) became pregnant on two occasions (her second and third pregnancies) during the show's run and both were written into the show. Her first pregnancy, which occurred at the beginning of the series, wasn't used as part of the storyline, and was covered up by using a lot of close-ups of Montgomery's face.
When it became clear that Dick York (I) could not continue with the series, William Asher considered canceling it, not only because of York's departure, but because he and Elizabeth Montgomery (I) wanted to move on. However, the ratings were still high enough that the network wanted the show to go on. Dick Sargent was brought in to replace York, but there was still one problem: how to explain why Darrin looked and sounded different. Many people working on the show came up with ideas, but Asher thought the viewers understood this was an actor playing a role, so he decided that the best explanation was no explanation.
Bernard Fox (I) appeared earlier on the show as a witch-hunting anthropologist before taking on the role of Dr. Bombay.
In the episode "Hippie, Hippie, Hooray", we see Larry and Louise Tate in their kitchen. It's the same set used as Tony Nelson's kitchen from "I Dream of Jeannie" (1965). The Bewitched house can be seen down the street from Jeannie's house in many outdoor scenes and that house (exteroir and interior) doubles as the residence of fellow NASA coworker Doctor Bellows.
Darrin and Samantha Stephens lived at 1164 Morning Glory Circle, Westport, Connecticut. The Stephens house still exists today on the Warner Bros. Ranch lot in Burbank, California, at Hollywood Way. Originally the Columbia Ranch that was owned by Columbia Studios, which produced 'Bewitched (1964)', the lot was re-named "The Burbank Studios Ranch" in 1972, when Columbia Studios moved onto the Warner Bros. lot. By 1990, Columbia had moved to the former MGM Studio lot in Culver City; and the ranch lot was acquired by Warner Bros. Studios, thereby necessitating another change of name to the "Warner Bros. Ranch". The house still looks very much like it did when 'Bewitched (1964)' ended production.

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