When I take a sick day, I'll typically transform into a couch potato and watch reruns of Classic TV shows. My most recent bout with a cold had me watching "Bewitched," the 1960s sitcom about Samantha, a witch, who marries Darrin Stephens, a mortal man. The supporting cast was phenomenal; who could forget befuddled Aunt Clara (Marion Lorne) or the meddling mother-in-law Endora (Agnes Moorehead)?
The heart of the show was the two original leads played by Montgomery and York. You believed their love for each other which always triumphed over their differences. While it is seen as a situation comedy, "Bewitched" was very much a statement on equality and prejudice. Samantha may have been a witch, but you could very easily substitute any group that suffers from discrimination for her character and see how she successfully battles with kindness her detractors and always comes out on top. Sure, there are times that she seems subservient to her husband (you have to watch the show in the context of the times it was created), but there's never a doubt as to who truly runs the household: Samantha. Seen below the two leads are with Dick Wilson, who played a drunk in almost every sitcom of the 1960s, but is probably best known as Mr. Whipple.
By making the discriminated/minority group witches, "Bewitched" was able to do much more social commentary than they would have been allowed otherwise.
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