'Bewitched' Might Return, but It'll Never Be Back

This just in from the "Really?" Desk: CBS and Sony are working on a reboot of the classic situation comedy Bewitched. Also on board are the producers of the 2005 film version starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell, which bombed big time. Eh, I give it six episodes at best.

The original Bewitched aired from 1964 to 1972 and was one of the few television series that jumped from black-and-white to color over the course of its run. As you probably know, Bewitched is the story of an advertising executive named Darrin who marries Samantha, a beautiful young woman that turns out to be a witch. They share the same problems any ordinary couple has, exacerbated by Sam's wacky relatives and Darrin's insistence Sam not use her powers. Also, Darrin's mother-in-law literally is a witch!

I don't know what the producers have in mind exactly, but I'm sure there will be some level of modernization involved. Though I can't imagine what that might be, hopefully Samantha won't be morphed into a zany Wiccan desperate housewife.

Of course, casting will be important. Elizabeth Montgomery, as Samantha, was a major reason the original show worked. Looking back, Bewitched seems a little hack-y and forced, but Montgomery's comedic talents still shine. She knew how to sell a joke, and her reaction shots were pitched just right — exaggerated, but not frenetic. And later, when she began playing the dual role of Serena, Samantha's bohemian twin cousin, she was an absolute hoot.

During its run, Bewitched not only transformed from old to new visually — it also bridged two distinct social eras. When it began in 1964, the nation was still recovering from JFK's assassination. America had lost its innocence and needed innocent laughs. But as black-and-white became color, so did the country shift into psychedelia with the arrival of the "Swinging '60s." The fact that Bewitched was able to grow and mildly mirror this shift for a nation in transition was a large part of its success. Simply, it was a show of its time.

I don't know what such a show would look like today. The film version tried to update it and failed miserably. But perhaps television is where Bewitched belongs. Personally, I believe CBS should let Darrin and Sam rest in syndicated peace, alongside The Munsters. They're easy to find if you want to visit them — just click on over to Hulu or change the channel to TV Land. And if you see her, tell Serena I say hello. She's the grooviest!