The situation comedy Bewitched, which aired from 1964 until 1972 on ABC, was one of television's most popular programs during an era dominated by a number of fantasy- or supernatural-based comedy shows. The series centered on the marriage of a beautiful young witch named Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery, 1933–1995) to Darrin Stephens (Dick York, 1928–1992; also played later by Dick Sargent, 1930–1994), an advertising executive who demanded that his wife give up her powers of sorcery in order that they might live a normal middle-class suburban life together. Samantha's mother Endora (Agnes Moorehead, 1900–1974) often disrupted the couple's happiness, as she disliked her son-in-law and his prohibition against witchcraft. She was further frustrated by Samantha's willingness to live without magic.

Bewitched and the other fantasy sitcoms (see entry under 1950s—TV and Radio in volume 3) of the 1960s provided much needed escapist entertainment from the decade's social and political upheavals. The series was a critical...