:''For the film, see Bewitched (film). For other meanings, see Bewitched (disambiguation)''
'''''
Bewitched''''' was an American situation comedy starring actress Elizabeth Montgomery, broadcast on ABC from 1964 to 1972.
Background
The show's focus was the mixed marriage of a nose-twitching witch, Samantha Stephens, and her mortal husband, Darrin. Samantha's mother, Endora (played by Agnes Moorehead), disapproves of Darrin, and many episodes revolve around her using magic to make life difficult for her non-magical son-in-law, whose name she invariably mispronounces as "Durwood," "Darwin," and other variations even less complimentary.
The only member of Samantha's family that Darrin really likes is the lovable and forgetful Aunt Clara (played by Marion Lorne, who won a posthumous Emmy in 1968 for the role), an aged witch whose powers have begun to wane. Almost all of her spells end in disasters. She was in 27 episodes and Aunt Clara character was not replaced when Lorne died during the fourth season. A similar character, Esmeralda played by Alice Ghostley would make appearances for the rest of the show's run.
right|thumb|Dick York and Elizabeth Montgomery from a 1964 episode.
Darrin works for McMann and Tate, an advertising company, and his boss, Larry Tate, never learns that Samantha is a witch, despite the strange events that take place on a weekly basis. The Stephenses live at 1164 Morning Glory Circle, Westport, Connecticut. Across the road lives nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz (played first by Alice Pearce, who won a posthumous 1966 Emmy for the role; following Pearce's death in 1966, the character was played by Sandra Gould).
right|thumb|left|Montgomery and "The Second Darrin" — Dick Sargent.
Adding to the fun was the Stephens' witch daughter Tabitha, and the later-added baby boy Adam, and various witches, warlocks, and mere mortals. The program made use of clever-for-its-time special effects to work its magic, and the story lines were imaginative and good-natured. Most episodes ended with Darrin, having been the victim of witchcraft throughout the episode (often with a spell put upon him by Endora), affirming his love for Samantha and acknowledging that, like it or not, he would have to accept witchcraft in his life.
right|thumb|Agnes Moorehead as Endora.
The show was an immediate hit and was second only to ''Bonanza'' in its first season. It continued to perform well for five seasons, but it dropped in popularity when Dick York (who played Darrin) left the series in 1969, owing to health problems, and was replaced by Dick Sargent. Sargent's version of Darrin was a more acidic, disagreeable character, in contrast to York's nervous, frantic portrayal. The drop in ratings was ironic in light of the fact that Sargent had
