This Saturday Night Countdown To Halloween Special is Season 02, Episode 07 of the awesome TV show "Bewitched!"
It was an episode called "Trick Or Treat" and it aired on October 28, 1965.
Somebody has delivered some Halloween stuff to the Stephens' household that Samantha and Endora find quite insulting and disturbing, witch's costumes!
It all might seem like a joke, but there are some pretty serious overtones here about stereotypes and prejudice!
The sun goes down and the trick or treaters come out!
Hanging around outside, Endora confronts these kids, so the one that says he's a wizard puts a spell on her and poof.................
........She turns into a tree! It freaks the kid out pretty good!
Endora is always mad at Darrin, but she's extra pissed tonight because she wanted Samantha to come to the big Witch's celebration at the volcano, but Sam wouldn't go because she wants to stay home with her husband on Halloween!
So Endora turns herself into an innocent young gypsy costumed trick or treater! If this bratty looking little girl looks familiar to you, it's because it's Maureen McCormick also known as Marcia Brady on "The Brady Bunch!"
She doesn't like any of the candy that Darrin is giving out so she tells him that she is going to put a spell on him, and he's like "right kid, take your best shot!"
Darrin and Samantha have people coming over for a little Halloween party, and suddenly Darrin has uncontrollable facial hair!
"Well....That little B.........."
That's when they find out that the little gypsy girl is actually Endora, and for some reason, she just can't remember how to undo the spell! Right!
While watching this, I got the feeling that Dick York was really enjoying himself!
He's really the shining star of this episode!
He shaves off all the excess hair on his face and hands before the guests arrive!
But then gradually, the claws and the hair start growing back, right at the wrong time!
Darrin has now gone from just overly hairy to a full blown Rasputin lookin' madman!
Pretty funny that this actually looks like a serious movie at this point!
On the left is David White as Larry Tate. David has the distinction of being in two "Twilight Zone" adventures, "A World Of Difference," and "I Sing The Body Electric!" That's Jack Collins as Jack Rogers on the right. Jack's last role was in the 1988 feature titled "The Nest," as Shakey Jake.
On the left is David White as Larry Tate. David has the distinction of being in two "Twilight Zone" adventures, "A World Of Difference," and "I Sing The Body Electric!" That's Jack Collins as Jack Rogers on the right. Jack's last role was in the 1988 feature titled "The Nest," as Shakey Jake.
I love watching "Bewitched" because it's so much fun to see Samantha's reactions to all the craziness surrounding her, like here!
It's Halloween, so everybody except Samantha thinks that it's just a costume, and that Darrin is playing his character to the hilt, but he's a full-blown werewolf at this point ready to rip somebody's face off!
Imagine their surprise when he starts destroying stuff and totally chewing and ripping a pillow to shreds!
The wives are Irene (Mike Hammer, Johnny Midnight, Boston Blackie) Vernon as Mrs. Tate, and Barbara (Some Like It Hot) Drew as Mrs. Rogers.
Endora finally lifts the spell, and actually says that she's sorry, and when Darrin freaks, she changes him right back again evoking this look from Samantha!
Darrin is just happy to be himself again, and to have his Mother-In-Law gone!
In case you ever wondered why Dick York was replaced on the show, it's because he had severely hurt his back during the filming of a movie in 1959, and was in a lot of pain most of the time. Ten years later, it finally became too much and he had to quit abruptly, never to return. After that, he was replaced by Dick Sargent, but for me at least, the chemistry was gone, and it would just never be the same.
"Smell My Feet!"
