Bewitched

Samantha Stephens seems like any other 1960s suburban housewife, keeping a neat home and tending to family life, but she secretly has real witch powers. Her husband Darrin, determined to live a normal mortal life, asks her to hide that side of herself, and Samantha tries to oblige. Trouble and humor follow when everyday problems are easier to fix with a flick of the wrist than with patience, and Samantha must handle magical mishaps while deflecting interference from her outspoken mother Endora and the curious neighbors. The show balances situational comedy with moments of family drama, always keeping the central secret at its heart.

Created by Sol Saks, Bewitched premiered in 1964 on network television and starred Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha, with Agnes Moorehead, Dick Sargent, and David White among the regulars, helping define its 1960s sitcom look and tone.

Samantha's nose twitch and Endora's biting remarks became visual shorthand for the show's mix of fantasy and domestic life, and the series' image of a witch trying to fit into suburbia kept turning up in later TV and film references. Its characters and moments are often evoked when pop culture wants to riff on household magic or meddling in-laws.

Critics and audiences responded well, reflected in a solid vote average of 7.858/10 from 711 votes. The series repeatedly put marriage, identity, and gender expectations into comedic relief, using magic as a way to question who adapts to whom, and how public appearances shape private choices.

During its run the program and several of its performers earned industry recognition and nominations, highlighting the show's popularity and the strength of its cast work without resting solely on its fantasy premise.