As I grew, so did my attention span and my love for this show. When I was 7-8, we lived at my Grandma and Pa's house for a while. We had just left the Air Force and the transition was, once again, a bit tough. I found that with cable, there came "Nick-at-Nite." This was a completely welcomed gift because as long as my homework was done, I had practiced whatever instrument I was playing at the time, time had been spent outside and I wasn't in trouble for something, I was allowed to watch T.V. I bargained with my parents to push back my bedtime to 9 o'clock because this was when Bewitched ended.
Let let me watch. Pandora's box was opened.
I watched the show and dreamed of someday making magic too. I wanted to be like Samantha, Elizabeth Montgomery's character. Though I didn't have any desire to be stuck inside all day with a dude who comes home to yell at me, I did want to cause/have shenanigans...especially if I could have powers as well. That gave her freedom.
The best time of year to watch Bewitched, summer time. "Nick-at-nite" had this special thing during the summer called "Block Party Summer" and they would play 4 episodes in a row and it was amazing. My Pa hated this. He use to tell me that I could watch it upstairs because he'd already seen this period of time. It makes me laugh now, after he's gone, because I only had to do that one time. He watched it with me all the other times, he just wanted to make an initial point; so him. I watched 60 Minutes with him, he watched Bewitched with me...empathetic.
Elizabeth Montgomery was my hero. I wanted to know everything about the show, her life, how they made the show, what you had to do to be a witch.
As I grew older, around 9 or 10, I knew every trick they used. I learned how the characters changes, who was who, how to "pop" from scene to scene...stop/start camera action!
Summer time became even better, in the morning, Bewitched was on TBS and was in color!! I had only seen the black and white shows and on a rare occasion seen it in color.
My sister and I would watch every weekday morning, loving every moment.
I think my favorite moment in this time, was when I discovered Serina, Samantha's cousin (also played by Elizabeth Montgomery). She was a crazy lady, and that was cool. She was the hipster and the rebel who liked to mess with people. Here's a taste.
On May 18th 1995 I was in the car with my Mom and my sister, Erin, and on the radio they announced that Elizabeth Montgomery had died. I was struck with instantaneous grief. I remember turning to the window and crying. She was the first person in my life to die and bring me to tears. There had been deaths, but I guess I was too young or unaffected, anyway, I was very sad. I wrote it in my little diary that night. I drew a picture and everything. I bought the people magazine with her on the cover and I just remember all of it vividly.
Elizabeth Montgomery, Bewitched, and my family all made me love television and film. I still wish I could have met Ms. Montgomery or been born a person with magical powers (not magic like in Vegas, that's weird, lol). Now I know how to make movie magic and I am living my dreams. Thanks Elizabeth Montgomery, wherever you are.
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